By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Mitchell Kaplan, who founded Books & Books in Coral Gables more than four decades ago and has become a prominent Florida voice against book bans, has received a national anti-censorship honor alongside former late-night host Stephen Colbert.
Kaplan and Colbert were named recipients of the anti-censorship award presented as part of the 47th annual American Book Awards. The winners were announced Wednesday by the Before Columbus Foundation, an Oakland-based nonprofit that promotes multicultural American literature.
“To be at all in the same sentence with Stephen Colbert was an extremely humbling feeling,” Kaplan told WLRN after learning of the honor.
From Coral Gables bookseller to national literary figure
Kaplan founded Books & Books in Coral Gables in 1982. The independent bookstore grew from its original location into a South Florida literary institution known for its author programs, community events and advocacy on behalf of booksellers and readers.
Kaplan also co-founded the Miami Book Fair, served as president of the American Booksellers Association and sat on the board of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression. Books & Books was named Publishers Weekly’s Bookstore of the Year in 2015, and Kaplan received the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community in 2011.
That broader literary work has increasingly included opposition to efforts to remove books from public schools and libraries.
Florida ranked first in PEN America’s count of school book bans for the third consecutive year in 2024-25, with the organization recording 2,304 instances of bans in the state. Texas ranked second with 1,781.
Turning the bookstore into a center of opposition
Kaplan and Books & Books have helped organize public events opposing those restrictions.
In October 2023, Books & Books co-sponsored a “Walk for FREADOM” that began at Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ and ended at the bookstore’s Aragon Avenue flagship with readings and a rally.
The following year, the Books & Books Literary Foundation presented “Sing for FREADOM,” a concert at Coral Gables Congregational Church featuring Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Joanie Leeds, readings from challenged children’s books and information about resisting educational censorship.
Kaplan said he views the award as recognition not only of his own work but of booksellers across the country who have defended access to literature. He told WLRN that accepting it placed him alongside other booksellers who have resisted censorship for years and underscored the need for more in the profession to join that effort.
Sharing the honor with Colbert
Kaplan shares the anti-censorship award with Colbert, whose 11-year run as host of CBS’s “The Late Show” ended May 21.
CBS announced the previous year that it would end both Colbert’s program and the “Late Show” franchise, describing the decision as financial and unrelated to the show’s performance or content. Colbert, one of television’s most persistent critics of President Donald Trump, and others questioned that explanation.
The pairing places the Coral Gables bookseller and the former network television host under the same recognition for defending expression against efforts to restrict it.
An award designed to broaden recognition
The Before Columbus Foundation was founded in 1976 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting contemporary multicultural literature.
Its board began developing the American Book Awards in 1978 to recognize literary achievement without restrictions based on race, sex, cultural origin, genre, publisher size or advertising resources. The foundation describes diversity not as a quota imposed on the awards but as a natural reflection of the breadth of American literature.
This year’s honorees include Nicholas Boggs for “Baldwin,” a biography of James Baldwin; John Fugelsang for “Separation of Church and Hate”; and Adela Najarro for the poetry collection “Variations in Blue.” Novelist and playwright Karen Tei Yamashita received the foundation’s lifetime achievement award.
The winners will be formally recognized Sept. 26 at Alumni House on the University of California, Berkeley campus. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.
Kaplan said Books & Books also plans to celebrate the award in South Florida during Banned Books Week, scheduled for Oct. 4 through 10. Details of the local programming have not yet been announced.
Congratulations!
What a horror we live in with totalitarian Censorship.
Thank you for your reporting on this.
That’s surprising to know about Kaplan, for him to actually proclaim : “To be at all in the same sentence with Stephen Colbert was an extremely humbling feeling,”
I was a fan of Colbert’s at the Daily show, but he lost his mind and became an obsessed talking head for the democrat establishment.
Wow, a humbling feeling?
.
These are the same hypocritical, partisan hacks who were fine “policing public language” to cover up for Joe and Hunter Biden — to get him elected!
And “censoring the free market of ideas” — covering up countless covid lies including that the virus didn’t come from the Wuhan Lab, and acting like masks would save us, along with closing schools on children. Fortunately, our governor didn’t listen to Kaplan and Colbert and close our schools for a year and a half. . . Of the near 500,000 students Pre-k to 18 years old in Miam-iDade County — literally not one student died from covid while going to school.
Colbert also lost me and countless Floridians when he aligned with the scammers from Burbank, California (Disney elites). who invented a fictitious bill they called the “don’t say gay bill”. Even though in factual reality, the Florida legislature merely did the will of the people and passed legislation to protect small
Children from predators attempting to put deviant trans ideas and discussing sexual preferences into books and educational curriculum. Hopefully Kaplan doesn’t support those fringe predators who lost their phony narrative when they were exposed. Let’s hope Kaplan stands up for protecting parent’s rights (Parental Rights in Education Bill), to protect their elementary children from such ideologues and curriculum predators.
Freedom is to do as I ought to, not as a may. There’s no freedom in attempting to eliminate Godly and family values from the public square.
Nor is censoring parent’s rights who believe in family and protecting their children from ideologues, who’s desire is to expose their children to their fringe world view.
Maria, I am a mom of three and a grandmother of three, along with having been an early childhood and elementary school teacher…and I’m at a loss as to the meaning of your comment. Censorship doesn’t protect anyone. It restricts all of us.
Congratulations to Mitchell Kaplan on a well deserved honor!
Mitchell is a bright light in the world of books, and in our community at large. From its inception, Books & Books, has been a unique and wonderful place, bringing authors to our doorstep, promoting reading, and broadening the horizons of all who are lucky enough to be able to spend time there. There is no other place like it!
Censorship has no place in our society, and I’m proud we have an advocate like Mitchell who has taken a stand against the horrific banning of books in our state, which has been supported and encouraged by our narrow minded governor. It’s shameful to think of the number of books taken out of our school libraries under the guise of protecting our children. Absolutely shameful.
Besides his stand against censorship, Mitchell has made unparalleled contributions to literacy with the creation of the Miami Book Fair, and most recently the Books & Books Literary Foundation.
Mitchell Kaplan is a treasure in our community, and I’m so happy to know that he is being recognized nationally for his contributions.
Congratulations, Mitchell!
The live section here is absolutely incredible. Real dealers, zero lag, and the chat feature makes it feel like hanging out with mates. Withdrawals are processed quicker than I expected. Really solid platform. betwalalive
This place feels like a home away from home for gamers who want fair play and great bonuses. The customer support team actually listens and solves issues within minutes. I will definitely be coming back for the weekly tournaments. infn77
I switched from my previous site months ago and have not looked back since. The betting options cover everything from mainstream leagues to niche tournaments and the live streaming quality keeps me glued to the action. Promotions drop regularly and the team always explains the rules clearly before we claim them. A fantastic experience for dedicated fans. apuestasdenba