An East Texas county’s libraries have come under fire for categorizing a Native American history book as fiction, a decision made by a citizen review committee.
“Colonization and the Wampanoag Story” by Native American historian Linda Coombs was moved to the “fiction” shelves of Montgomery County public libraries, according to records by the Texas Freedom to Read Project. The action was prompted when a resident challenged the book during a meeting of the Montgomery County Citizens Review Committee. The group has been reviewing children’s books amid pressure from right-wing activists, San Antonio Current reports.
The Citizens Review Committee did not receive any input from librarians, the Texas Freedom to Read Project states.
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In response to the decision, the progressive group National Campaign for Justice has started a petition for Linda Coombs’ book to be returned to the nonfiction shelves of Montgomery County libraries.
“Montgomery County, Texas has crossed a dangerous line by ordering public libraries to reclassify a factual children’s book on Native American history as ‘fiction’ — effectively labeling the brutal mistreatment of Indigenous peoples as make-believe,” the campaign’s petition reads in part.
The petition encouraged supporters to write letters to the county’s five commissioners voicing their opposition to the committee’s decision. Commissioners were scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday to review the Citizens Review Committee’s policies.
As of the start of the meeting, the campaign had sent over 35,000 letters, nearing its goal of 51,2000.
While Montgomery County’s public libraries currently have “Colonization and the Wampanoag Story” in fiction sections, the Houston Public Library, the Austin Public Library, the Fort Worth Public Library, and the Library of Congress label the book as nonfiction. Its publisher, Penguin Random House, also recognizes it as nonfiction.
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