Censorship Should NOT be Placed on Books "Censorship... a system under which official censors must give permission before communications of a specified type can lawfully be made" (Wilgoren, 1). Recently censorship has become a major problem in our society. Censorship should not be banned on books. People should not be told they cannot read a book. Unfortunately history has shown that words can be used for ill as well as for good, to destroy lives as well as to enhance them? (Steffens, 9) Words and reading them gives us a better understanding of other peoples views. Censorship should not be placed on books. Every person can find a particular section in a book that they do not agree is appropriate. ?Many local censorship incidents still consist of one parent complaining about one book? (Fege, 10). ?In Colorado kids were eager to hear the fascinating tales of Harry Potter. That all stopped when people thought the book was evil and thought that it did not belong in the schools.? (1) How can people take a book that a child enjoys based on their views? In schools some kids may or may not have read the book Huckleberry Finn. ?Huckleberry Finn is not only one of the best books ever written in this country but it?s also the most influential? (West, 43). Reading books gives people a sense of what history is all about. ?If black kids are never taught Huckleberry Finn they are put at a real disadvantage if they ever go on to study literature at the college level? (43). ?You can get all hyped up about the fact that the word ?nigger? appears in the book over two hundred times, but that was what black Americans were called in the 1840?s, which when the book takes place? (43). Some people might take the word nigger in an unfashionable way. It was never meant to do any harm. ?Even though Huck calls Jim ?nigger,? he treats him like a friend? (43). Slaves were known as niggers at that point of history. ?Black kids need to know the history behind the word so that when they hear it on the playground they know where it comes from? (43). ?They (parents) might not want their own children to declare their own independence in the way that Huck does at the end of the book, and perhaps this is one of the reasons why they don?t want the book taught in the schools? (44). One alternative from the banning of any book is to provide a different bo... ... middle of paper ... ...1991:10-12. Lueker, Donna Harrington. ?Book Battles.? American School Board Journal Feb. 1991: 18+ Ockerbloom, John Mark. The on-line Books Page Presents Banned Books On-Line. 13. Oct. 2000. http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/banned-books.html. Sipe, Rebecca Bowers. ?Don?t Confront Censors, Prepare for Them.? Education Digest Feb. 1996: 42-46. Steffens, Bradley. Censorship. San Diego: Lucent Books, 1996. West, Mark I. ?Some Thoughts on Censorship and the Teaching of Huckleberry Finn.? Multi-Cultural Review December. 1996: 42-44. Wilgoren, Jodi. ?Don?t Give Us Little Wizards, The Anti-Potter Parents Cry.? New York Times 1 Nov. 1999:1. Thesis: Censorshipe should not be placed on books. I. Unfairness A. Listening 1. Parents Views 2. Kids Views 3. Teachers Views B. Freedom of Learning 1. Expressing Views 2. Trust II. Choice A. Kids and Parents B. People 1. School Boards 2. Government Officials 3. Censors III. Constitutional Rights A. What it states B. How we can change Censorship by an alternative
The authors do eventually (pg. 205) acknowledge that some may see the book as trying to enrage the public just to sell books. In fact, Ron Levy, P...
Not only were blacks referred to as “niggers” but, anyone associated with them, except for slave masters, were called, “nigger” lovers. An example of this is that a character named Atticus Finch is defending a black person named Tom Robinson in court. Because he is doing this, most people in town are calling him a “nigger” lover. Not only are the adults saying it, but their children are saying it too. Since Atticus is defending this man, he has also tried to been jumped many time also. But Atticus makes a very interesting point during the court case. “The witnesses for the state have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted. Confident that you gentlemen, would go along with them on one assumption, the evil assumption, that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are immoral beings, that all Negroes are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption that of one mind of their caliber.
This fictional, satirical follow-up to to Mark Twain’s 1876 novel is just as popular, although for most it’s for different reasons. The amount of times that the “n-word” is used is between 160 and 213 [2]. Since the 1950s, black parents and some white sympathizers have called this book out as being racist. As for my opinion on this, I never got why this was bad. Sure, it may seem racist to us, but in the context of it’s time, there’s really nothing wrong. That was the controversy of it, as for the story itself, it’s a classic in it’s own right.
How would you feel if an author published a book that contained a word that was once used frequently but has now developed into one of the most derogatory and unfriendly things a person can say? Since 1884, when the book was first published, there has been much controversy regarding the use of the word “nigger” in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. Many people all over the world, predominantly the African-American population, feel that the word demoralizes the Blacks, and feel that the novel should be strongly censored from society. Some say that the constant use of the “n-word” forces the reader to conceive one of the main characters, Jim (Huck’s slave friend), as a buffoon, and it therefore embarrasses the African-American community through the use of stereotype. Although it may be hard for many people to read it without having a negative reaction, the censorship of this American classic would be preposterous. As one reads this novel, one can begin to notice that the main character, Huckleberry Finn, reached a turning point with his troublesome behavior and slowly but surely began to mature and settle down into adulthood. Mark Twain actually used the relationship of Jim and Huck to portray the moral values these characters come to learn and, therefore, his book should not in any way be censored or be kept away from the classrooms. This message is more powerful than the usage of the n-word in the novel.
Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the world’s most acclaimed books. Twain accomplishes this with his extraordinary power of humor, his use of dialect, and by creating complex and unique characters. Developing his characters is one of the greatest assets he has in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. A character that exemplifies this most is Huck Finn, first appearing as rouge, but later transforming into a character with high moral values.
When a book uses the "N-word" 213 times (Carey-Webb 24) and portrays the African American characters as inferior to their white counterparts, it becomes easy to assume that the book’s author Mark Twain is using this novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, as a form of racist propaganda to display upon America in the late 19th century post-Civil War Era. By the late 19th century slavery had finally ended across the United States, but racial tension, discord and discrimination were still very much at large. For those opposed to slavery in its original iteration, and, therefore, opposed to its continuation in this form, the only thing left to do was to continue fighting the battle for equality and rights in any way they knew how.
The story takes place when black people were not considered equal to white people. Back then the word "nigger" referred to black people. Mark Twain did not write the word to degrade black people or to be racist, he wrote it to be historically accurate of the times. " To say that Twain is racist because of his desire for historical accuracy is absurd."
...s restricting author’s freedom of expression. By practicing tolerance and self-censorship we can help lower the amount of censored books in the upcoming decade.
...in high school and are normally subjected to crude language and sexual content throughout the day, so this would also give them a better understanding of the book. Banning of certain books help protect children from the evil ways of the world that they should not see until an older, more mature age. The cruel language and violence within this book may influence children to act out and may possibly alter their future.
Growing up in a place where free speech is strongly pressed, why is censorship no stranger? We live in a world where television, video games, music and even literary documents have all been censored. Literature can be defined as the body of written works of a language, period, or culture. This is everything from newspapers and magazines to textbooks and novels. Literary censorship has been around for a long time. These books are challenged and banned.
Rose, Arnold. “The Negro in America”. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, Incorporated, 1964. Print
The idea of literature being an important aspect of life has always been greatly prevalent in my upbringing. This notion that I supported was spurred on at the cause of my obstinate parents insisting upon my reading of two books a week to benefit my vocabulary and to develop the articulate thought process of a skilled reader. As a young child, my biggest influences were my parents’ passionate and persuasive ideas regarding the correlation between
The most debatable and controversial form of censorship today is the banning of books in school libraries. Banning books that educate students is wrong and selfish. Censorship of books in school libraries is neither uncommon nor an issue of the past. Books with artistic and cultural worth are still challenged constantly by those who want to control what others read. The roots of bigotry and illiteracy that fuel efforts to censor books and free expression are unacceptable and unconditional. Censoring school books in libraries can often lead to censorship of our basic freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. In some cases, a minority ends up dictating the majority in censorship cases. To be told what is permissible reading material and what is not is a direct violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Dr. Joseph Bentz, a literature professor, argued against banning the book from schools and libraries. I completely agree with this article which is why I am using it as one of my sources. The author believes that changing the book would defeat its satirical purpose, which I feel is correct. If people decided to change the words in the book, it will take away from the meaning of the book in general. With the information provided, I will support the fact that the book is also a historical story that help understand a certain time period in America. Young people being exposed to this material will understand the life of African American. The author also gives a personal view from an African American male stand point o reading the book during his youth. The man had experienced embarrassment because when the word “nigger” was said out loud, the white students would laugh about it. Later on he would find relief when the word was not used a few pages ahead (par 9). This example is very important, it made known that the children was well aware of the term, just like any other curse word. Bentz ends his point of view with the fact that keeping the book keeps his students on their toes and guessing, just like most
The first point of the novel from which most controversy stems is the inclusion of the word “nigger”. The inclusion of the word in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is unnecessary and offensive. Initially, critics of the novel disliked Twain’s use of vernacular because it was “vulgar and unpleasant”, disturbing genteel white Americans, not because the word “nigger” was found to be offensive (Kaye 3). Fostering an uncomfortable atmosphere for black students, critics believe that primarily white educators allow the novel because they prefer Twain’s depiction of subservient blacks (Kaye 4). Due to the prolific use of the “n-word” throughout the novel, the NAACP believes the story causes damage to black students’ self-esteem (Powell 3). Critics argue Twain’s use of a...