Tennessee's Ban on Alex Haley's 'Roots' Reversed After Public Pressure
On May 26, 2026, Knox County Schools in Tennessee reinstated Alex Haley's renowned work, 'Roots: The Saga of an American Family,' in their libraries following widespread criticism. The book had previously been removed under the controversial Age-Appropriate Materials Act, which resulted in the prohibition of 124 titles in the local district and over 1,600 across Tennessee from mid-2024 to mid-2025. Superintendent Jon Rysewyk cited the law's vagueness as a key reason for the decision, emphasizing the commitment to literary access. While 'Roots' returns, 123 other titles related to Black history and LGBTQ+ issues remain banned.
Key facts
- Knox County Schools restored 'Roots' to libraries on May 26, 2026.
- The book was banned under Tennessee's Age-Appropriate Materials Act (2022).
- 124 books are banned in Knox County Schools as of May 2026.
- Tennessee banned at least 1,600 books between July 2024 and June 2025.
- Superintendent Jon Rysewyk cited legal uncertainty for the reversal.
- Other banned books include works by Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, Sherman Alexie, and Kurt Vonnegut.
- Alex Haley lived in Knoxville and has a statue in Morningside Park.
- The novel 'Roots' won a special Pulitzer and its miniseries was a landmark broadcast.
Entities
Artists
- Alex Haley
- Toni Morrison
- Margaret Atwood
- Sherman Alexie
- Kurt Vonnegut
- Kunta Kinte
Institutions
- Knox County Schools
- PEN America
- Guardian
- Supreme Court
- Moms for Liberty
- Knox County Board of Education
- Tennessee General Assembly
- University of Tennessee
- Tennessee Press Association
- USA Today Network
- Knoxville News Sentinel
- Capital B News
- Tennessee Lookout
- WATE
Locations
- Tennessee
- Knox County
- Knoxville
- Gambia
- Texas
- Florida
- United States
- Lauderdale County
- Clinton
- Morningside Park
- Alex Haley Heritage Square
- East Knoxville