Beloved
by Toni Morrison
77 jurisdictions · Banned 1990-2025 · Published
Beloved is Toni Morrison's 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a formerly enslaved woman haunted by the daughter she killed, banned or restricted in 77+ U.S. jurisdictions for its depictions of slavery's violence.
Why it was banned
The novel became a flashpoint in Virginia's 2021 gubernatorial election when a parent's complaint about it was featured in a campaign ad. Since then, challenges have multiplied, with cited reasoning combining objections to graphic violence (specifically the historically-accurate depictions of slavery) with broader objections to teaching American history from a Black perspective.
Cited reasons
- graphic violence
- sexual content
- depiction of slavery
Primary states
Virginia, Florida, Texas, Tennessee
Why it matters
Beloved is widely considered the greatest American novel of the late twentieth century. It is built on the historical record of Margaret Garner, who killed her own child rather than see her returned to slavery. Removing the book from schools removes one of the most rigorous reckonings with American slavery from the American education system. Morrison won the Nobel Prize in 1993; Beloved won the Pulitzer in 1988.
Themes
- slavery
- memory
- motherhood
- American classics
Awards
- Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1988)
- Nobel Prize in Literature (1993, body of work)
Where to buy
The Ledger recommends Black-owned booksellers. Each stocks this title or can order it.
- MahoganyBooksNational Harbor, Maryland · Founded
Independent bookstore specializing in books written for, by, and about people of the African diaspora.
- Marcus BooksOakland, California · Founded
The oldest independent Black-owned bookstore in the United States, named for political activist Marcus Garvey.
- Hakim's BookstorePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania · Founded
Philadelphia's oldest Black-owned bookstore, specializing in African American history, philosophy, and religion.
- The Lit. BarBronx, New York · Founded
The only independent bookstore in the Bronx, combining a curated bookshop with a wine bar.
The Ledger may earn commission on affiliate links. All commissions route to Black-owned booksellers.
Related banned books
Books in the catalog that share themes with this one.
Documented by The Ledger. A record of what Black America built and what was taken.
Book cover via Open Library. Editorial use under fair use.