Image from PEN America.
The Trump administration has no official banned words list—but, PEN America explains, it has nevertheless ordered that growing list of words be removed from federal websites and materials. PEN’s full list is accessible above and at this link. As you read my creative reflection on the listed words, I invite you to consider the impacts of the government’s burgeoning censorship. How different is the complete effacement of these concepts from just avoiding some words?
I owe many thanks to Tommy Art, who made me aware of this list and gave me the idea for the story.
