LOS ANGELES — In order to fight against book bans in California, Assembly member Dr. Corey Jackson has authored AB 1078, which would require a supermajority vote from school boards to ban a book in schools.

Jackson joined “Inside the Issues” host Alex Cohen to discuss his legislation and the fight against white Christian nationalism.

Classic books like “All Quiet on the Western Front’ and “To Kill a Mockingbird” helped get Jackson into reading back when he was in high school. 

“Those books showed me that I could actually get excited and captured into a story, and loved reading ever since,” Jackson said.

Now in the California State Assembly, he’s using his platform to keep these books in school with AB 1078. This legislation would require California schools to provide books that reflect the diversity of the state.

“[AB 1078] declares that parents actually have a right for their child to have access to diverse curriculum, that they can actually see themselves in the very books that they read, to be able to ignite learning,” Jackson said.

The legislation would institute that a two-thirds vote is required for a school board to ban a book from school. If done so, parents would have the chance to appeal to the county Board of Education.

“My first attempt was really to stop the banning of books, but then, of course, once you try to do one thing, another issue can actually arise. So this really represents a balanced approach,” Jackson said.

The reason Jackson says he authored AB 1078 is to push against the threat of white Christian nationalism, which is on the rise not only in California, but all over the world.

“This is an international, white Christian Nationalism movement that is trying to pull on the strings of people who feel marginalized, left out, in economic trouble, and using that anger to target specific groups for political gains,” Jackson said.

As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, Jackson says more actions are going to be taken to create fears about what’s being taught at schools.

“We know that people who are trying to run for president know that the only way to really win is to get people angry; to identify a boogeyman that everyone needs to be scared of and if you don’t elect me, the worst will happen to your children,” Jackson said.

Jackson is a Christian himself and feels the rise in white Christian Nationalism completely goes against his faith.

“The real Bible talks about nothing but loving people and if you want to win people over to Christ, it is not to hate them and shame them. It’s to love them, embrace them and break bread with them,” Jackson said.

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