Knox County Schools Reverses Ban on Alex Haley's 'Roots' After Backlash

In a significant turn of events, Knox County Schools in Tennessee has lifted its ban on Alex Haley's acclaimed novel 'Roots: The Saga of an American Family,' reinstating it to school libraries following weeks of heated debate. Superintendent Jon Rysewyk detailed this decision in a memo dated May 26, 2026, referencing legal ambiguities surrounding the Tennessee Age-Appropriate Materials Act, which had led to the book's removal. The ban faced backlash from board member Katherine Bike and state Representatives Sam McKenzie and Gloria Johnson, who criticized it as indicative of a wider issue of white supremacy. The district's list of banned books had expanded to 124 titles, rising from 113 in May 2025. Notably, Haley's connection to Knoxville is underscored by a 13-foot bronze statue of him in Morningside Park, erected in 1998. In 2024, 'Roots' was recognized as one of Tennessee's first official state books. Rysewyk announced that the district will discuss the Age-Appropriate Materials Act during a work session on June 1.