Table of Contents
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by the well-known novelist Harper Lee is often referred to be a masterpiece of American literature. People like it because it examines ingrained racial prejudice and the loss of innocence in the context of the American South in the 1930s. But in addition to being a literary masterpiece, the book is also controversial, which has caused it to be banned in many American schools. This article investigates the reasons behind the censorship and examines the consequences of prohibiting a book of this caliber.
Some claim that the book is being banned because of “To Kill a Mockingbird’s” strong and honest portrayal of racial prejudice, which some claim might be distressing or offensive to young readers. Since the novel depicts racial violence and includes racist slurs, several schools have removed it from their curricula.
However, many who like the book claim that it provides significant historical context and initiates a discussion about America’s history regarding race. Reading the book helps young people cope with the uncomfortable realities of racial injustice and leads a dialogue that may otherwise be avoided. Those who disagree with the ban contend that dealing with the deeply ingrained racial issues in our culture requires dealing with the anguish that the book’s racial themes inflict.
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various reviewers have various issues with the book. They contend that “To Kill a Mockingbird” follows the “white savior” narrative and fosters racial stereotypes. They claim that the African-American characters in the novel lack depth and agency, giving the impression that they are dependent on the white protagonist and are thus docile.
These viewpoints make it obvious that how the text is taught is crucial. Students have the opportunity to discuss these challenging passages and get a greater knowledge of the book’s contents if instructors can assist them in reading the book critically.
Conclusion
The fact that “To Kill a Mockingbird” was prohibited demonstrates how difficult it is for schools to strike a balance between freedom of expression and the need to address racial and socioeconomic issues. Even if concerns about the book’s content shouldn’t be disregarded, we should also consider the advantages of helping young readers learn about real-world issues via the prism of literature. We build a generation that is more empathetic and sensitive by encouraging kids to think critically about these types of texts and providing them with the skills to think thoroughly about social issues.
References
- Harper Lee. The novel is titled “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Harper Perennial published Modern Classics in 2006.
- Förster, Herbert N. the book “Banned in the U.S.A.: A Reference Guide to Censorship of Books in Schools and Public Libraries.” 2002, the year. Publishing house Greenwood Group.
- Judith Durst Johnson. A student casebook addressing issues, sources, and historical documents is called “Understanding ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.” Greenwood Publishing Group, 1994.
- Shields, Charles J. In 2006, Henry Holt & Company published “A Portrait of Harper Lee in To Kill a Mockingbird.”
- Hentoff, Nat. Read “Free Speech for Me, But Not for You: How the American Left and Right Censor Each Other Over and Over Again.” It was released by HarperCollins in 1992.
