Chapter 7: Intellectual Freedom as Political Pawn: Aligning the Historical Context of Policing Access with Propositions of Critical Race Theory and InfoCrit Theory

While the need for libraries is constantly being questioned with anti-access legislation, libraries are consistently being called upon by communities desiring literacy that could transform lives. Libraries fight, to freely exist, on behalf of the societies we serve. In yet another height of all things against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), we must assist society in recognizing this battle is not new. It is an ongoing war against access, literacy, and intellectual freedom. It is critical to examine recent attacks from a historical perspective of intellectual freedom as a political pawn. Jim Crow laws legitimized racism and paved the way for violent exclusion to become natural. Such violence reigned over the Southern region and when regarded as inhumane, it evolved into policy. The effects of discriminatory practices on society are thoroughly documented, while we have more to unveil concerning libraries and access. Ironically, those same barriers of racism were used by an oppressed culture to end Jim Crow practices in Southern libraries. At least we thought, but the embedded factors have stood the test of time in the 21st century with intellectual freedom as a political pawn. This chapter serves as an acknowledgment of historical attacks on libraries and intellectual freedom, highlighting today’s relevance of Critical Race Theory in understanding the systemic racism inherent in institutions and aligning InfoCrit Theory as a means of critically analyzing and addressing issues of intellectual freedom in libraries.