To Kill A Mocking Bird Censorship

To Kill a Mocking Bird is one of the most iconic novels in American literature. The novelis well received and highly praised by many. Written in 1960, the novel quickly went into the school curriculum by the mid-1960s. This novel sparked controversy on both sides of the political spectrum. Many parents wanted the novel to be taken out of school libraries, due to certain topics addressed in the novel. Because of this, many people have advocated to censor the novel to make it more adequate for adolescents to read. However, there are people who think that the novel should not be censored. They say that censoring the novel will prevent children from understanding the tribulations that African Americans had to go through during the 1930s in the

However, they soon revoked these ideals once they realized that they were wrong. One example of this is from the article in, “Defense of to Kill a Mocking Bird”. It said, “Typically, the Hanover County School Board in Virginia first ruled the book immoral, then withdrew their criticism and declared that the ruckus was all a mistake” (Jill May 303). The novel received more harsh criticism by liberals. “In Warren, Indiana, three black parents resigned from the township Human Relations Advisory Council when the Warren County school administration refused to remove the novel from Warren junior high school classes. They contended that the book "does psychological damage to the positive integration process and represents institutionalized racism" In Warren, Indiana, three black parents resigned from the township Human Relations Advisory Council when the Warren County school administration refused to remove the book from Warren junior high school classes. They contended that the book ‘does psychological damage to the positive integration process and represents institutionalized racism’”(Jill May 304). Parents in urban areas say the novel institutionalizes racism because of its harsh language and therefore wanted the novel to be removed from school

There are many good reasons why the novel should be censored or taken out of school libraries. There are some really inflammatory situations that go on in the novel. The novel offends both blacks and whites in their respective ways. However, this helps adolescents understand the novel better. People need to look past the vulgar language and accept the cultural depiction for what is was. To Kill a Mocking Bird is a great American classic. For it to be censored and edited would ruin the novel. We should respect American Literature for what it is and the lessons it teaches instead of focusing on mere