B-Word Project (Banned, Blacklisted and Boycotted: Censorship and the Response to It)

Censorship has been a hot topic in the media lately, with stories highlighting the elimination of certain books from school curriculums due to vulgarity and sexual content or even the censorship of certain Los Angeles art exhibitions.

In order to create a space where others can have engaging discussions about censorship and its affect on society, the Carpenter Center at CSULB started a project titled, Banned, Blacklisted, and Boycotted: Censorship and the Response to it, otherwise popularly known as the “B-Word Project.”

 “We’re trying to create an open dialogue; we aren’t trying to make a political statement. We want people to make that for themselves and for students to engage on those topics and to be aware of how prominent censorship is all over the world,” said Beto Gonzalez, Program Coordinator of the B-Word Project.

After a year of planning with departments, organizations, and the community--the project is now in full effect, with courses on the topic of censorship being offered to CSULB students, including plenty of upcoming author lectures, visual dances, films, and art exhibitions featuring Peace Press Graphics at the University Art Museum at CSULB open to the public. 

The ALA has also declared September 24 – October 1^st as Banned Books Week – which will give the public the opportunity to learn about some of the consequences of censorship as well as the importance of being able to express one’s First Amendment rights.   

            For more information about the B-Word Project in particular, check out http://www.bwordproject.org/ and learn more about the project’s goal and upcoming events.

Upcoming events range from special lectures to exhibitions of historical posters:

September 10: 5-8pm
Peace Press Graphics 1967-1987: Art in the Pursuit of Social Change at the University Art Museum.