The Sumner County School Board voted this week not to ban the book “A Place Inside of Me.” The book has a poem and illustrations showing a Black child navigating his emotions in the aftermath of a police shooting. 

The school board discussed the same book last month, after a parent filed a complaint about it. A majority of the members at that meeting voted in favor of keeping the book then. But they’d fallen short of the six votes needed for the decision to stick.

In public comments Tuesday, community members claimed that illustrations in the book, which included the words “Black lives matter,” were offensive and violated state law, which prohibits certain teachings on race and inequality. 

But other residents, including high school student Julia Garnett, defended the book. 

“I am here as a voice for the youth, because unfortunately in these times, it feels like we must stand up for ourselves,” Garnett said. “I’m here because I am sick and tired of the censorship that has been occurring in our schools.”

After lengthy public comments and some debate, board members voted 7-3 to keep the book available to students, upholding the decision of the review committee from a local elementary school. 

This debate comes as a state-appointed commission prepares to hold a meeting on library materials Friday after a new law gave it more regulatory power.  

The Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission is supposed to issue guidance on what qualifies as “age-appropriate materials” by Dec. 1. They’re also tasked with creating a process for people to appeal local decisions, giving the commission a say on whether books should be banned. 

The agenda for Friday’s gathering shows members will participate in a workshop on library materials, but doesn’t specify whether anything may come up for a vote during the meeting portion.