Red Clay Readers pose an interesting question

As I mentioned earlier in the blog, I'm participating in the Red Clay Readers' Book Club, a 5 week book discussion held over at www.al.com. This was the first discussion point posted by Jessica Rigby, a staff writer and host of the Red Clay Readers:

The n-word appears early on in "To Kill a Mockingbird." Should TKaM be banned or edited to make it more politically correct for today’s audience?

Specifically, should references to the n-word be taken out so that the text more closely fits where we are as a society today - or is editing a classic book going too far?

What a firestorm that erupted with the posing of this question! Here is my response:

If we censor our history, we put our future generations in danger of repeating the mistakes made by those in the past. While we as adults know what life was like during this time in the South, future generations depend on us to help them learn. If all we show them is a muted version, we are treading dangerous ground. They must see the struggles, feel the fear, hear the jeers...and literature is one of the ways these things come to life. By removing that word, we are essentially slapping the face of those who fought, some giving their lives, to spur change in our nation, in our communities, in our homes, and in our hearts.

So, what are your thoughts? Head on over to al.com and join the discussion!

http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/03/should_a_classic_book_be_edite.html

Enjoy!

~Reese