After Rapid City danced with a potential book ban from public schools, the community, authors and filmmakers rallied and delivered a strong message to local board members – not here. Reflecting on the moment, the same residents are now learning to move forward.
In downtown Rapid City right behind Mitzi’s Books, author Dave Eggers is about to crack open his newest book for a group of young readers, families, and local media.
But this is only the first part of the evening. While Eggers is here celebrating books, signing copies and encouraging young readers and authors, he’s also on his way to the John T. Vucurevich Events Center at the Dahl Museum.
The experience is different at the Dahl. In contrast to Eggers’ love letter to literature at a local bookstore, this event is about the battle to ban certain books in Rapid City public schools. It was punctuated by an airing of the “To Be Destroyed” documentary and panel discussion of those involved with the project.
In 2022, it was one of the biggest news stories in the state and gave Rapid City a nationwide spotlight many community members soundly rejected. That was seen in the full crowd, panel of fiery literature advocates, and warm reception to the film.
Filmmaker Arthur Bradford explained his perspective as the credits roll.
“I really believe it’s important when making a documentary not to come at it with a goal of trying to convince people of a certain point of view," Bradford said. "I was really curious about what was going on in South Dakota, I live in Portland, Oregon, and I was eager to come to South Dakota and see what was going on here. It was a very educational experience.”
And what did the West Coast filmmaker find in ruby red West River, South Dakota?
“On the coasts of America, people are led to believe the middle of America went off the rails and was becoming a Handmaids Tale dystopian nightmare," Bradford said. "I don’t think I believed that, but I thought maybe people we’re going to be hostile towards us. I realized in the same ways in which my city of Portland, Oregon has been misrepresented to conservatives, I think places like Rapid City are misrepresented to liberals.”
Bradford said he found a community ready to engage in adult conversations about challenging issues, a community with diverse and contrasting opinions, and a community with a passionate love for literature.
“I’ve been back to Rapid City a couple of times since we filmed this," Bradford said. "From all appearances, it really looks like the community took the school board voting very seriously and they elected people more representative of the points of view they felt were important here.”
People like local educator Jill Haugo, who reflects on participating in a Washington Post column about the book banning effort.
“It was scary, and you can see in the film – I think – the fear just in answering Arthurs questions and talking about what was happening," Haugo said. "That was conceptually going to make its way into the community. Once it got into print, I was actually pretty pleased it came out in the summer so I wouldn’t have to walk back in that day.”
A link to that column, written by Eggers and featuring commentary from Haugo and other Rapid City educators, can be found here.
Another educator, Stevens English teacher Sean Bradley said book banning reflect challenges faced by his most vulnerable students.
“When we are in the classroom, we see in a very real way how marginalizing language and book banning effect our kids," Bradley said. "I’ve always approached it from the perspective of individual liberty. Why are you okay with the government telling you what you can or can’t do in this instance?”
The documentary, “To Be Destroyed,” can be found for free online.
