Ready, Set, READ! LeVar Burton Wants You to Read Banned Books! Here's What He Said on 'The Daily Show with Trevor Noah'!
LeVar Burton is encouraging everyone to move banned books to the top of their TBR (to be read) list.
The host of the show Reading Rainbow has spoken out in the midst of book-banning controversy. According to an article on The Hollywood Reporter, Burton came on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah to poke important fun in the shocking up-tick in book-banning conversations.
In the clip, Burton parody's his well-beloved children's show Reading Rainbow. He goes through several books that, at one point or another, have been banned. This includes Rosa, a children's book about Rosa Parks, And Tango Makes Three, a children's book about two male penguins that adopt a baby penguin, and Hop on Pop, which is a Dr. Seuss tale.
As each clip comedically cuts out, Burton makes a point of directing attention to the absurdity of these book bans. He ends the bit by saying, "You got to be kidding me! Alright, there are plenty of books to choose from, but you know what? No. Read the books they don't want you to. That's where the good stuff is...Oh shit. They're coming. Read banned books!"
Book-banning has become a surprisingly prevalent topic of conversation in recent times. In December of 2021, a law was passed by State Senator Rob Stanridge offering a $10,000 bounty if banned books were found on the shelves of schools. As Trevor Noah points out in his segment:
"It's one thing for parents to be upset about a book that their kid is reading at school. But once you offer a $10,000 bounty, think about what you're doing there. Now, you're using money to just try and stir up shit...I mean, of course, people are gonna start combing the shelves for anything that might payout. $10,000 is a lot of money. Ten thousand dollars for banning a book is more than most authors made for writing that book!"
This major issue needs attention.
