Alex Haley’s ROOTS Banned by Tennessee School District
Alex Haley's influential book 'Roots' has been banned by the Knox County Schools in Tennessee. The book, which chronicles the story of Kunta Kinte and his descendants, has had a significant cultural impact since its release in 1976. This decision reflects ongoing debates about educational content and censorship in schools.
- ▪The book 'Roots' follows the story of Kunta Kinte, who was kidnapped from Gambia as part of the transatlantic slave trade.
- ▪It has inspired many people to investigate their heritage since its publication in 1976.
- ▪Knox County Schools has decided to remove the book from its libraries.
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Today in Books Alex Haley’s ROOTS Banned by Tennessee School District Plus, James Patterson pledges $10 million to early adolescent literacy, the British Book Awards, and AAPI Books for Read Harder. Erica Ezeifedi May 18, 2026 <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7dbd23f15106794f4c356c047ec7e483?s=160&d=blank&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7dbd23f15106794f4c356c047ec7e483?s=320&d=blank&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-160 photo' height='160' width='160' decoding='async'/> Erica Ezeifedi Associate Editor Erica Ezeifedi, Associate Editor, is a transplant from Nashville, TN that has settled in the North East.
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