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Miriam Brantley asked this question about Gone with the Wind:
Is this book ok for teenagers to read? Is it fiction?
Stephanie Phillips I agree with previous commenters who say that a conversation about the racist aspects of the book needs to happen, especially with the casual nature o…moreI agree with previous commenters who say that a conversation about the racist aspects of the book needs to happen, especially with the casual nature of some of the very problematic statements and attitudes. While some slaveowners may have been kinder in their treatment of slaves, the bottom line is that they were property and the relationships between master and slave always had this at the root. It's also challenging that the attitude is very clear that the slaves who left the plantations when the Union army appeared in Georgia are very clearly viewed negatively, either as cowards or disloyal, while the slaves who remained are viewed favorably. Interesting conversations can definitely happen as well about the internalized racism of the slaves who stayed, as it's pretty clear that they also hold negative attitudes toward the slaves who left.

It's a complicated issue, but I think the last thing that should happen is that someone would take away from this book the dangerous attitude that some things weren't so bad for some slaves in the antebellum south. We should never lose sight of the fact that they were property and were owned by their masters, regardless of how "benevolent" the masters may be portrayed.(less)
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Gone with the Wind
by Margaret Mitchell
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