To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been challenged/banned countless times since it’s original publication in 1960. The reasoning people could have behind banning it is that they feel that the racism, language and subject matter in the book is offensive, inappropriate, immoral and that it encourages and condones such things. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb, a small town in Alabama, during the depression from 1935-1937, and is told from the perspective of a little girl named Scout. In the book Scout’s father Atticus teaches her and her brother Jem many valuable lessons. The things Atticus teaches Scout and Jem are things we all need to know. To Kill a Mockingbird is an inspirational book that teaches valuable moral values, and should not be banned. It can be argued that To Kill a Mockingbird should be banned because of the foul language used in the book; for example damn, hell, whore-lady, goddamn whore and nigger ( Lee 90, 94, 221). Some might argue that it encourages cursing and portrays it as an acceptable thing, but in truth it does the complete opposite. When Scout asks Atticus if he defends niggers, he discourages her from using words like nigger (Lee 85). Scout stops using the term nigger but starts using words like damn hell and whore-lady. She think if she talks way than Atticus will stop sending her to school, because that where she learned those words. Atticus knows what she’s trying to do, so he decides to ignore it thinking that when she realizes it’s not going to work she’ll stop. When Scout says to her uncle Jack things like “That’s a damn story.” and “Pass the damn ham, please.” he doesn’t just ignore her (Lee 90). He sits her down and tells her that he doesn’t like words like damn and hell, and tha... ... middle of paper ... ...s like with the mob that was after Tom Robinson. To Kill a Mockingbird is full of many truths that people need to know; Harper Lee has done an amazing job bring those truths to light through the eyes of a child. To Kill a Mockingbird does not need to be banned. people need to open their eyes to the truth, there is evil all around us. Harper Lee shows us that evil through the eyes of a little girl and teaches us how to respond to that evil. To kill a mockingbird is wrong because they don’t do us any harm, they just share their music with us. To ban To Kill a Mockingbird is wrong because it doesn’t harm anyone, it simply opens up our eyes to truths we need to know. Works Cited Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. 1960. New York. First Perennial Classics. 2002. Print Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird. Dir. Mary Murphy. First Run Features. 2011. Netflix
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a heartbreaking, timeless novel that examines stereotyping and its consequences. The novel shadows Atticus Finch, a small-town lawyer, as he defends a black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a white woman in racist Maycomb, Alabama. Frequently, To Kill a Mockingbird has been banned for use in many schools because of the racial content in it. In the novel, racial tension and slurs are used frequently. Although the novel does contain these things, To Kill a Mockingbird should definitely be taught in schools because it represents accurately what it was like before blacks received their civil right, it teaches valuable life lessons, and it shows how novels like To Kill a Mockingbird helped the civil rights movement.
Some people think that harper lee’s to kill a mockingbird should not be taught in schools for example malcolm gladwell a journalist says he wishes that the author had made finch(referring to atticus) a man sufficiently outraged by racial injustice to seek systemic change, rather
To Kill A Mockingbird took place in the 1930’s, a time that was enormously charged with racial tension. One example of this is the existence of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Even though the KKK was in a time of decline in the 1930’s, it had been very prominent in the 1920’s and had still not completely died out. The KKK had rallies and marches. They even marched in Washington D.C. several times. They burned crosses on the lawns of any white person who would show favor towards blacks in an effort to scare them away from helping black folks. The KKK was an extremely violent group. “While African-Americans still bore the brunt of much Klan violence, Jews and Catholics topped the enemy’s list, followed by immigrants and those who transgressed Klan’s vision of morality” (“History”). The KKK showed their violence in several ways. Lynchings occurred very frequently as did raids of people’s homes.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper lee in 1960. The novel tells the story of Atticus Finch, a white lawyer, and Tom Robinson, a black servant, accused of raping a white female. Finch defends Robinson in court arguing lack of evidence as his main point. However, the judge and jury still believe the woman’s testimony and orders Robinson to be killed. The novel has been praised for its outstanding literature since its publication. However, it remains a banned book by the American Library Association for its use of racial slurs and profanity. Due to it being banned, many high schools have reconsidered the notion of teaching it to their students. Two prominent authors wrote articles pertaining to this piece of literature: Angela Shaw-Thornburg wrote an article on her re-reading of the novel and her opinions on it; while Malcom Gladwell wrote an article comparing Atticus Finch to a state governor liberalist, James Folsom, and the restraints of liberalism in the south. In addition, Rebecca Best contributes her thought on how the novel should be taught by introducing the idea of “the other.” Regardless of the modern day political arguments surrounding this piece of literature, this novel contains a large insight into the time period of the 1960s which is an influential topic that should be taught to young high school students.
Banning a book on the basis of profanity is merely a superficial reason of those who wish to limit beliefs that do not coincide with their own. By excluding a novel from a high school curriculum in order to shelter students from profanity, is an attempt to do the impossible. Profanity is found everywhere. According to TV Guide, "Profanity is uttered once every six minutes on American primetime television...
It is so important to read books like these. Not only to teach what is was like back in the 1930s, but to get an understanding on what racism was like. If we read books like these today, we have a chance of getting kids to get a better understanding on why racism is so wrong. every child should read To Kill A Mockingbird because it will get them to realize how wrong segregation was back then Why should we ban this book when it’s only teaching kids more about
I personally believe that the story, To Kill a Mockingbird should not be banned in schools, and the story should be allowed in students’ curriculum. The first reason to why I believe this to be true would be the fact that it allows students the opportunity to learn about human mistakes and how to be better people in the future. A second reason would be that students are able to learn important parts of our history within the book. It also teaches students important morals that may be hard to teach without the context of a book such as this one.
The novel To Kill A Mockingbird, written by renowned author Harper Lee, was published on July 11, 1960. Her novel received the prestigious Pulitzer Prize and has become a modern-day American classic novel. The book’s setting is in Alabama and occurs when widespread racism and discrimination are high in the South. The name of the book arises from the common belief and saying that, ’It is a sin to kill a mockingbird’. To Kill A Mockingbird is narrated by Scout Finch, about her father, Atticus Finch, a well-known lawyer who fights to prove the innocence of a black man (Tom Robinson), who is unjustly accused of rape, and about Boo Radley, her mysterious neighbor who saves both her and her brother Jem from being killed.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has become a mainstay in American high-schools. This is a classic novel that has inspired many people of all ages. It had a big impact on how people viewed and treated each other. This is a story that teaches everyone about the value of honesty, love, friendship and trust. Every word written in this book has a truly deep meaning to it. The time period that the book was written in was during the Great Depression in the 1930’s. This setting was in a small town in Maycomb, Alabama with people who did not get along. During this time there was a lot of segregation within America and different races. To Kill a Mockingbird is about a family who believes in doing the right thing and being honest. There was a court case that had gone viral about a black man who raped a white woman. A white lawyer named Atticus Finch gave his all to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. There was no evidence that showed that Tom raped Mayella Ewell and he was convicted guilty because of his color. When a black folk was accused of something they are immediately accused guilty. To Kill a Mockingbird should be taught in American high-schools because it teaches students about segregation/racism, right from wrong, and courage.
The lightly creaking rocking chair sways back and forth under the starry sky. The distant buzz of crickets and mumbled bullfrog croaks are broken by the grating sound of a person trying for stealth in opening the door. This is the scene for a classic book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Set in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, in segregist 1933, it show some of the trials everyday people and children face with racism and understanding life’s cruel lessons. Why is this educative and eye opening novel, however, a banned book in schools around the country?
The fictional novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee displayed a wide variety of characters and their characteristics. It was filled with discrimination and at the same time, kindness. Jean Louise Finch, (Scout), was just a girl starting 1st grade when this story began. Her older brother, Jem, and her best friend, Dill, experience many things together. Her dad’s, Atticus, court case between a colored fella, his defendant, named Tom Robinson and a Mayella Ewell. Harper Lee takes you on all Scout’s adventures from the Boo Radley house to school. But it’s not all fine and dandy. This book is full of discrimination. Well obviously this book is going to discriminate blacks because it took place in the 1930’s where racial segregation was normal
Banning books goes against the First Amendment, it restricts learning, and it discourages creative and critical thinking. Banned books are books that have been censored by an authority – a government, a library, or a school system. Banning a book means having it removed from our libraries and school systems. They say that books are ban to protect people – mostly children – from the difficult ideas and information that are written in them. It seems to be that most of these ideas are too frightening or controversial for others to have to endure. But when you sit to think about it, banning a book often just makes the children want to go and read it and find out exactly why it is banned in the first place.
Schools should not ban Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird because it teaches readers valuable morals as well as acts as an accurate example of life in the 1930s. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee PAGE #). When Atticus says this to Scout after she has trouble judging others, it has much more of an effect than just to teach Scout a lesson. This quote addresses all types of discrimination in the world and how people should never judge others without knowing their story first. Renditions of this quote appear constantly throughout the work, so therefore Harper Lee aims to open readers eyes to the reality
To Kill a Mockingbird is a fantastic read for many reasons, but a major reason this story has had and will continue to have an impact on societies is because of the characters and the way you can relate to them. To Kill a Mockingbird not only kept you guessing what was going to happen next it made you truly think about yourself and how you would react in certain situations that you would not always encounter in your daily routine. A major theme in the story that was important when the book was written and continues to be a thought provoking question when you ask yourself, “What would I do if I had to walk around in their shoes/ skin?” The narrator of the story was a major part of everything that went on because of her characteristics and how they were portrayed such as her compassion, curiosity, and coming of age.
Being banned in states all over the continental united states. Sparking controversy in the youth of america for the past 58 years. Due to its harsh realities of america's past history. And the extreme usage of american “slang” that cause many to remorse at it’s usage. The book covering everything from southern childhood life. Neighborhood relations. The education system. And the extremely tense racial climate. Being incredibly socially aware for it’s time, seems as though it’s written purposely for today events. At first glance To Kill a Mockingbird is all about childhood and realities of growing up. However Lee’s true overarching theme is the subjugation of minorities. With kids in the school yard using minorities as an insult. Minority