Knox County Schools in Tennessee have banned Alex Haley's 1976 Pulitzer-winning novel 'Roots: The Saga of an American Family' due to a passage in chapter 84 that the district deemed age-inappropriate under the state's 2022 Age-Appropriate Materials Act.The novel, which traces the life of Kunta Kinte and his descendants through several generations of enslaved Africans in the U.S., has been celebrated for its historical and cultural significance and was adapted into a widely-watched 1977 ABC miniseries.

District spokesperson Carly Harrington stated that the removal of the book is not a judgment on its literary or cultural value but a legal compliance issue.

The decision is specifically based on the content in chapter 84, which the review committee determined met the legal definition of 'sadomasochistic abuse.' The broader historical themes of the novel were not considered under the law.

Despite the ban for general use, 'Roots' may still be taught in AP or Dual Enrollment English courses if it aligns with the curriculum and is included in the syllabus.Tennessee has seen a rise in book bans since the passage of the Age-Appropriate Materials Act, ranking third-highest among U.S.states for book removals.