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Knox County Restores ‘Roots’ Amid Tennessee Book Ban Controversy

5/31/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Superintendent Jon Rysewyk reinstated Alex Haley’s novel “Roots” to Knox County Schools’ libraries.
The district removed “Roots” to obey Tennessee’s 2022 Age-Appropriate Materials Act, which bans sexual content, abuse, nudity or excessive violence.
Legal experts could not agree the law required the ban, prompting the reversal.
Knox County’s list now shows 124 banned titles, and Tennessee has removed at least 1,600 books from July 2024 to June 2025.

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Story summary

Superintendent Jon Rysewyk reinstated Alex Haley’s novel “Roots” to Knox County Schools’ libraries.
The district removed “Roots” to obey Tennessee’s 2022 Age-Appropriate Materials Act, which bans sexual content, abuse, nudity or excessive violence.
Legal experts could not agree the law required the ban, prompting the reversal.
Knox County’s list now shows 124 banned titles, and Tennessee has removed at least 1,600 books from July 2024 to June 2025.