Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.

If you often scroll on TikTok or Instagram, you’ve probably seen videos covering the discourse of people “making” engaged reading a negative concept. But no matter where you fall on an ideological spectrum, reading is a political tool.

The act was once banned for certain people, and book burnings have long served as powerful symbols of suppression. This doesn’t exclude reading for escapism or entertainment, but publishing and acquiring those options illustrates political undertones many fail to see.

Especially now with certain books being banned, what we select to read depending on where we are geographically in the United States is a political decision. The choice to remove a book from a library is never neutral — it’s an intentional blow with a clear motive.

Which stories, and histories, are allowed to be told and learned seem to be decided by a power beyond our control. Banning books is never just about content, it’s a deliberate and punitive repression reflecting a larger ideological battle for hegemony over knowledge, identity and power.

With drops in reading scores across the nation and the public’s growing distrust in the media, it’s clear the future of our current reading comprehension under the new administration will put America at risk. Politics are an intricate part of relationships in society, making it hard to separate public affairs and books. We need to exercise literacy and scrutiny of information productively with President Donald Trump’s restrictive ideals becoming real.

Reading comprehension is a skill we ideally all learn in school and aids young students in grasping the material to be able to decode messages the author is expressing. This decline in reading scores reflects an alarming weakening of critical thinking skills across the most important generations of America’s future. This talent, at risk of disappearing altogether, is crucial for deciphering today’s media landscape, especially when it comes to politics.

Understand that parallels between books and politics are not limited to fiction. Writers take inspiration from their real lives, whether consciously or unconsciously, providing raw experience we must learn to harness. Without strong literacy skills, we jeopardize losing the ability to critically engage with literature and, by extension, the overwhelming world around us.

Declining reading scores and political moves to remove access to relevant texts reduce my confidence in Americans’ ability to rely on credible news over the next four years.

Misinformation is being spread rapidly by elected officials, news outlets and online — especially thanks to the exacerbating rise of AI and deep-fake personification of trusted sources. If citizens can’t filter out credible sources and against biased, falsified information, their ability to engage meaningfully in political dialogue dwindles.

Addressing this crisis requires intentional efforts nationwide to preserve our constitutional rights, like enhancing media literacy in schools for young students and ensuring maintained public access to diverse reading materials.

We want a democratic society that’s capable of critical thinking and informed decision-making, so we must recognize that reading isn’t just a personal act — it’s a political instrument for reducing exploitation.

As college students, we have a unique responsibility to challenge censorship and promote literacy, not ignorance, among our peers. Support and use your SU resources, like the library and local Syracuse bookstores. Push back against book bans by accessing diverse literature while it’s still allowed.

Most importantly, read widely and intentionally. Our ability to think and act critically determines the strength of our democracy and the security of its future.

If you often scroll on TikTok or Instagram, you’ve probably seen videos covering the discourse of people “making” engaged reading a negative concept. But no matter where you fall on an ideological spectrum, reading is a political tool.

The act was once banned for certain people, and book burnings have long served as powerful symbols of suppression. This doesn’t exclude reading for escapism or entertainment, but publishing and acquiring those options illustrates political undertones many fail to see.

Especially now with certain books being banned, what we select to read depending on where we are geographically in the United States is a political decision. The choice to remove a book from a library is never neutral — it’s an intentional blow with a clear motive.

Which stories, and histories, are allowed to be told and learned seem to be decided by a power beyond our control. Banning books is never just about content, it’s a deliberate and punitive repression reflecting a larger ideological battle for hegemony over knowledge, identity and power.

With drops in reading scores across the nation and the public’s growing distrust in the media, it’s clear the future of our current reading comprehension under the new administration will put America at risk. Politics are an intricate part of relationships in society, making it hard to separate public affairs and books. We need to exercise literacy and scrutiny of information productively with President Donald Trump’s restrictive ideals becoming real.

Reading comprehension is a skill we ideally all learn in school and aids young students in grasping the material to be able to decode messages the author is expressing. This decline in reading scores reflects an alarming weakening of critical thinking skills across the most important generations of America’s future. This talent, at risk of disappearing altogether, is crucial for deciphering today’s media landscape, especially when it comes to politics.

Understand that parallels between books and politics are not limited to fiction. Writers take inspiration from their real lives, whether consciously or unconsciously, providing raw experience we must learn to harness. Without strong literacy skills, we jeopardize losing the ability to critically engage with literature and, by extension, the overwhelming world around us.

Declining reading scores and political moves to remove access to relevant texts reduce my confidence in Americans’ ability to rely on credible news over the next four years.

Misinformation is being spread rapidly by elected officials, news outlets and online — especially thanks to the exacerbating rise of AI and deep-fake personification of trusted sources. If citizens can’t filter out credible sources and against biased, falsified information, their ability to engage meaningfully in political dialogue dwindles.

Addressing this crisis requires intentional efforts nationwide to preserve our constitutional rights, like enhancing media literacy in schools for young students and ensuring maintained public access to diverse reading materials.

We want a democratic society that’s capable of critical thinking and informed decision-making, so we must recognize that reading isn’t just a personal act — it’s a political instrument for reducing exploitation.

As college students, we have a unique responsibility to challenge censorship and promote literacy, not ignorance, among our peers. Support and use your SU resources, like the library and local Syracuse bookstores. Push back against book bans by accessing diverse literature while it’s still allowed.

Most importantly, read widely and intentionally. Our ability to think and act critically determines the strength of our democracy and the security of its future.

Sarhia Rahim is a senior policy studies major. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at slrahim@syr.edu.

Published on February 3, 2025 at 9:57 pm