Why ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Keeps Getting Banned
By Becky Little
A school board’s decision to
remove To Kill a Mockingbird from eighth grade curriculums in Biloxi,
Mississippi, is the latest in a long line of attempts to ban the novel. Since
its publication in 1960, the novel about a white lawyer’s defense of a black
man against a false rape charge by a white woman has become one of the most frequently
challenged books in the U.S.
Typically, challenges to the
book over the past century have usually cited the book’s strong language,
discussion of sexuality and rape, and use of the n-word.
“The Biloxi School Board “just
says it ‘makes people uncomfortable.’” This argument is unconvincing because
“the whole point to classics is they challenge the way we think about things.”
One of the earliest and most
prominent challenges was in Hanover County, Virginia, in 1966. In that
instance, the school board said it would remove the book from county schools,
citing the book’s mention of rape and charged that the novel was “immoral.” The board changed its
decision, however, after residents complained about it in letters to local
papers. One of the most prominent critics of the decision was Lee herself, who
wrote a letter that began “Recently I have received echoes down this way of the
Hanover County School Board’s activities, and what I’ve heard makes me wonder
if any of its members can read.”
Into the 1970s and 1980s,
school boards and parents continued
to challenge the book for its “filthy” or “trashy” content and racial slurs. Over
time, attempts to ban the book shifted from removing it from school libraries to
removing the book from school curriculums, as is the case with Biloxi (the city
will keep the book in school libraries).
The book, though imperfect,
can spark important discussions among students about racial tolerance.
Moving Beyond the Ban
Discussion
Many have denounced Biloxi’s
ban by citing the book’s message of racial tolerance. Still others have taken a
slightly different approach. Writer Kristian Wilson argues that although the
novel shouldn’t be banned from schools, its use as a teaching tool should be
reassessed.
“Lee’s is not the best book to
teach white kids about racism, because it grounds its narrative in the
experiences of a white narrator and presents her father as the white savior,” she writes.
Again, this doesn’t mean that To
Kill a Mockingbird shouldn’t be taught in schools. But it does suggest that
teachers should encourage their students to think critically about the text as
whole.
-What are the various reasons
that people have been trying to ban To
Kill a Mockingbird for years?
- Do you agree books that make
people uncomfortable should be banned? Or do they make people uncomfortable with
the purpose of teaching them something? Explain your response.
-Based on this article, can
you make any predictions about To Kill a
Mockingbird? Do we know what kind of case Atticus might be dealing with
later on in the book?
Various reasons why people are trying to ban TKAM is that would would remove the book from county schools, citing the book’s theme of rape and the charge that the novel was immoral Into the 1970s and 1980s, school boards and parents continued to challenge the book for its “filthy” or “trashy” content and racial slurs. over time, attempts to ban the book shifted from removing it from school libraries, as was the case Though many readers were dismayed, scholars have long argued that if you read To Kill a Mockingbird from a racial justice perspective, it’s clear that Atticus’ defense of Tom Robinson, the black man wrongly accused of rape, doesn’t mean that he favors changing the status quo of segregation. I like the book personally but if this many people are getting offended by it then maybe they actually should ban the book. I see where these people are coming from about feeling a type a away, but it was in the past and now were in a better society. It's just a book, i don't think people should feel insulted by the book, or if the book is teaching “racism”. i don't think we should get rid of the book like i know it's about real life and it happened and stuff but like it's just a book so idk that's just how i feel. It's like going to health class one day and learning about sex and how kids are made and stuff. People are gonna feel weird and uncomfortable, but were not gonna ban it and not let kids learn, same with the book. We're not gonna ban the book over people's input. They kinda need to grow up and learn how to face stuff they don't like. That's just how the world is. They need to suck it up, if they don't like the book then why continue reading it? They should learn what the book is about before actually reading and finding out if they are going to get offended over little things. Atticus is going to win the case to keep the book. Until everyone complains about it and there going to try to ban it again and this time Atticus is going to lose the case and the book gets banned in all schools in the Maycomb area.
ReplyDeleteVarious reasons why people have been trying to ban to kill a mockingbird for years, is because it makes some people uncomfortable. Because of the language used and the racial slurs. Also the use of the n-word. People want to ban it because of its discussion of sexuality and rape. People also think that “Lee’s is not the best book to teach white kids about racism, because it grounds its narrative in the experiences of a white narrator and presents her father as the white savior,”. in virginia they banned the book from county schools because of how it's “immoral”. In the 1970s and 1980s the book was continued to be challenged because of its content. I don't agree that books that make people uncomfortable should be banned they just shouldn't read them and avoid the book. Because what if other people like the book and want to read it and now they cant because its banned. If the book makes the person that uncomfortable then why are you reading it. Based on the article i feel like the case that atticus deals with in the book to kill a mockingbird is about a black man who is falsely accused of raping a white women.
ReplyDeletePeople have been trying to ban To Kill A Mockingbird almost since the day it was published,but why? Well here are a few reasons that people want to ban To Kill A Mockingbird from schools.The first reason is because some schools fell as this is too much for the young kids too hear because of the bad language and use of the n-word in this novel.In To Kill A Mockingbird they say oh well that's all some n***** talk wich I was not happy about my self it is what happen in the past and we changed it in this present time.Some one also said they feel this book is about a white lawyer who is superior to everyone and a little white girl and also it is written in the perspective of a white family and not a black families prospective as one critic stated.
ReplyDeleteI feel those books should not be banned.I feel this way because this shows how we use too act then how we act now.On the other side of things if a book makes you uncomfortable why do you read it? If your in an alley are you going to stay there or are you going to get out of their?Are you going to go to a bad part of town by yourself and be comfortable?I feel as if some people just want to hop on the bandwagon because they want to be public.They also do this so they have something to gossip about because that is basically the definition of a critic, a person who says things without consequences.
In To Kill A Mockingbird I feel that there is going to be a lot of racial discrimination in these few up and coming chapters.The thing in this book that may also happen is the arresting of a black man because of a lie that a WHITE WOMEN MADE UP!I feel that this is going to be very disappointing in the book because people lying about something and people getting the death sentence happens today still.The case her father is going too have too do is this fake rape crime against this poor innocent black male.I think this is very pitiful and should not be allowed to happen.
The various reasons that people have been trying to ban “to kill a mockingbird” is because of the strong language. I don't exactly agree with this concept of banning the book for strong language because it is just the reality of life. The only real strong language is the word “nigger”. This word is used frequently throughout the book but it is the reality of the way they spoke back then. It's not like the person reading the book has never heard the n-word before. Another reason people have been trying to ban “to kill a mockingbird” is for discussion of sexuality and rape. The book is started on a white lawyer that is offending a black man accused of rape. I really don't think that is bad at all because yes rape is sexual but it is life and once again you have to face that fact.
ReplyDeleteI think that this book might make people uncomfortable but i strongly do not think it should be banned. I think this type of book teaches people about a very important time period. I think that if it makes somebody extremely uncomfortable they should read the back of the book before they go further into the book. My prediction on one of the cases Atticus might have to deal with later in the story. I think he might have to deal with a book trying to be banned from schools. That is because the article is about TKAM trying to be banned by the court. And Atticus is a lawyer and in Scouts school there going to try to ban a similar book. And Atticus is going to be the lawyer to try to keep the book and not get it banned. And I think Atticus is going to win the case to keep the book. Until everyone complains about it and there going to try to ban it again and this time Atticus is going to lose the case and the book gets banned in all schools in the Maycomb area. Then a few years later when Scout gets older and after she reads the book she is going to complain and try to get the book back into schools. And this time it works and she gets the book back into schools for good. That is what I think will happen later in the story.
I agree with Michael. People wanted to ban to kill a mocking bird because of its strong language. I don't agree with banning the book either because you cant just get rid of all strong language. I also agree with the fact that this does teach an important time. I do think that the ending will be something different with the case.
DeleteJohn Ferro
ReplyDeleteMrs. Mazzuca
Period 9-10
The various reasons that people have been trying to ban the book “ How to kill a mockingbird “ is because of the language in the book. During numerous parts it says n***** in the book. I don't think that this should be the reasoning of why they want it to get banned. The author is writing how the people back then might have spoken like. Another reason is an incident of a bunch of black boys that were accused of raping two woman. This is later in the book but the two women were actually prostitutes. I think this is pretty stupid because some of the boys weren't even with the two women in the same train compartment. I haven't read this far into the book so far, but I hope that the boys were let free of the crime that they didn’t commit, this happened because of racism at the time it was because of their skin color.
I think that books that make people uncomfortable should not be banned because you can choose whether you would like to hear it or not. Books like these make you learn about what happened back then and how it was like to live in that time period. The whole purpose of reading books like these are to teach people about racism or other topics. Based on the article I have a prediction on the book How to kill a mockingbird. I think that atticus is going to win his case on defending the black boys against a white woman. I think that this will be the case that atticus is going to be dealing with later in the story. Before reading this book we learned about the author and during the notes we talked about this case about the so called raping of the woman. There might be another case for atticus that is trying to ban a book. But I think that my first thought about the raping is going to be the case that he will encounter and hopefully win by the end of the book.
I agree with John in his comment. If it does make you uncomfortable you can just tune it out. I disagree with John on the case. I believe that he will lose the case. It might be close but I think that's the whole meaning behind the title.
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ReplyDeleteVarious reasons people want to ban “To Kill a Mockingbird” are that it makes people uncomfortable with it’s strong language, sexuality and rape, and use the n-word. Another one is that the examples of sexuality and rape in the book are “immoral.” Also it is filled with “filthy” and “trashy” comments and racial slurs. These are just a couple of reasons people say that the book should not be read at schools.
ReplyDeleteI personally do not agree with banning books because it makes people uncomfortable. I agree that it is uncomfortable but it teaches a valuable lesson. We can teach about how our country blows other countries to bloody bits, but we can’t read a book based off a court case that happened years ago. That just sounds like a double standard to me. Just because it has some racism we have to treat it different than learning about how we dropped a nuke on Nagasaki and killed thousands of lives. Yes, it is very tragic what we did in the past but the only way we can do better is too learn from and read the facts. This might also sound harsh to some, but I think people need to grow up and see the world for what it is. I think that if the teacher wants to read the class the book then I think she should be able to teach it. I don’t think it should be forced to, but if it’s the decision of the teacher then I think it should be fine.
I predict that the book will have many more examples of racism and such in the future for the book. I mean if so many people complained that there was such a big influence of sexuality and rape I’d figure it would be in the most important part which is the case. Atticus’s case probably will involve a black man getting accused of raping a girl and if I had to guess she was probably white.
I agree with Zach because a lot of people wanted to ban the book because of the strong language. I agree that there is sexual content and there is definitely a rape case because in the beginning of the book the father was a lawyer and he was the lawyer in a case where black men were accused of raping a woman. I agree with Zach disagreeing with banning books for people that it makes uncomfortable. I think that they should not ban the book because it has a very good teaching behind it. I wrote the same thing in my comment as Zach when he said "I think people have to actually grow and see the world for what it is. I agree with his ending paragraph that the book will show other examples of racism as well.
Deletei agree with zach
DeleteThe reasons why people want to banned the book “To kill a Mocking Bird” because they say that it makes them feel uncomfortable reading the book because of the strong language they use. The only really strong word that I really heard in the book is n***** but that is just a way they talked back then. Another reason is because it talks about sexuality and rape. Some people find this book to be racist because of how they talk in the book. Those are the reasons why people want to band the book. In my opinion I don’t think they should banned the book. I know it makes people feel uncomfortable but trust me it does sometimes to me too reading it but it is teaching us lessons and what happened back in the olden days. If it strongly makes someone feel uncomfortable they should just not read it because some people might enjoy reading stuff like this. In my opinion I don’t think the book is that bad it’s really good if you pay attention to what they are saying and what it is about. This book also teaches us lessons and what actually went on in the early time periods. I think this book mainly makes people uncomfortable because it is based on true facts on what used to happen and they don’t be like it. That’s y they want this book banned but I am against on banning this book. The predictions that I think that will happen later on in The book is I think the language is gonna get worse and I feel like we will find out what happens to boo and will find out more things towards the ending of the book. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Allison. The book makes me uncomfortable at times to but I still read it and listen because I know that there’s a bigger picture and that it’s teaching me something in the end.
DeleteVarious reasons why people are trying to ban “To Kill a Mockingbird” is because in my opinion they think “kids” can’t handle the reality of the world they live in. Parents and schools want to shelter their children from the truth and i don’t think they should for many reasons. On day your kids are going to grow up and be struck with reality and not know what to do so you should just let them figure it out now. The book isn’t even all that bad.
ReplyDeleteNo i don’t think books that make people uncomfortable should be banned. A lot of things are going to make you uncomfortable or you aren’t going to want to do something but you have too because that’s life.
Based on this article the only predictions i can make on “To Kill a Mockingbird” is that there might be things in it that make me or my classmates uncomfortable. I think that Atticus will be dealing with a book that has to do with race and the town doesn’t like it. Maycomb County is a really racist area and the fact that Atticus could be defending a black man doesn’t go over well with the town so they state their opinions. Maybe in the wrong ways like be rude and yelling but he knows that he’s going to get backlash for it even before he agreed to do it.
he various reasons that people have been trying to ban “to kill a mockingbird” is because of the strong language. I don't exactly agree with this concept of banning the book for strong language because it is just the reality of life. The only real strong language is the word “nigger”. This word is used frequently throughout the book but it is the reality of the way they spoke back then. It's not like the person reading the book has never heard the n-word before. Another reason people have been trying to ban “to kill a mockingbird” is for discussion of sexuality and rape. The book is started on a white lawyer that is offending a black man accused of rape. I really don't think that is bad at all because yes rape is sexual but it is life and once again you have to face that fact.I feel those books should not be banned.I feel this way because this shows how we use too act then how we act now.On the other side of things if a book makes you uncomfortable why do you read it? If your in an alley are you going to stay there or are you going to get out of their?Are you going to go to a bad part of town by yourself and be comfortable?I feel as if some people just want to hop on the bandwagon because they want to be public.They also do this so they have something to gossip about because that is basically the definition of a critic, a person who says things without consequences. I predict that the book will have many more examples of racism and such in the future for the book. I mean if so many people complained that there was such a big influence of sexuality and rape I’d figure it would be in the most important part which is the case. Atticus’s case probably will involve a black man getting accused of raping a girl and if I had to guess she was probably white.
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