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There’s a phrase we use and hear a lot in Texas.

“Don’t mess with Texas.”

It’s supposed to refer to us having a feeling of independence, grit, and self-reliance.
But when it comes to books, and who gets to read them, we Texans have a long, complicated history of messing with what our fellow Texans do.

Today, when we hear about book bans or library purges, it can feel like something new. Like a sudden crisis.

But the truth is far less comfortable.

Book censorship in Texas isn’t an anomaly.
It’s a tradition.

And like most traditions, it tells us a lot about who has power… and who’s afraid of losing it.

Not a complete transcript…..