Kiki The Bunny On The Racist History Of Banned Books

Sep 19, 2025

An angry bunny who is cartoon cursing — Illustrations by Natalie Kim

Panel 2: A kawaii bunny, Kiki says: “I wondered why my favorite books were being banned. Kiki says: I love this book (Title of book: Class Act)Panel 3 Kiki asks his mom: “Why are there book bans?” His mom is holding cookies and thinking: please acknowledge how hard I’ve worked on these cookies. Panel 4: His mom says: “Books have always been banned.” Kiki asks: “But why Black authors?”

Panel 1: A picture of an ancient Roman rabbit saying “oops” and burning a scroll. The Roman Empire burned Pagan scrolls. Below that drawing is a drawing of a Colonial rabbit burning a Quaker book. Panel 2: In the 19th century it was about subjugating and censoring materials about racism. Panel 3: Abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy’s printing press was destroyed and he was assassinated. Panel 4: Kiki is mad! In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin was banned in the South.

Panel 1 What does that have to do with my favorite books being banned. Panel 2: Kiki is holding a sign that says: Book Bans Stop Freedom of Thought. Mom says: “That’s true, now eat these cookies I worked so hard on, ok? Panel 3: Its about Control: of schools of textbooks of curriculum. When you have that power, you control what’s happening.

Panel 1: These people want to control Black people’s narrative. They are racist. Panel 2: Kiki curses in a cartoon language. Panel 3: Kiki says: I’m gonna start a banned book club! His mom says: “Go for it!” Panel 4: Get involved with your school board, the NAACP, National Urban League, American Library Association & Eat your dang cookies!

Thanks so much for reading!

If you enjoyed this cartoon, please share it. And check out this very funny article by Julie Kling & Emily Menez:

The Correct Public Toilet Stall To Choose

By Julie Kling & Emily Menez

medium.com

xo, Natalie Kim

To watch Natalie read this piece live, stream in / attend the NYC “Slackjaw: LIVE” on 09/22. The event is dedicated to original humor pieces inspired by and centering on banned books.

Slackjaw

Kiki The Bunny On The Racist History Of Banned Books

The Correct Public Toilet Stall To Choose

By Julie Kling & Emily Menez

Published in Slackjaw

Written by Natalie Kim

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