The Great State of Alabama should declare war on the landmass-masquerading-as-a-state, Florida.
That was my first thought after learning “To Kill a Mockingbird” was on a list of books banned in the Sunshine State.
But should I trust a social media post? I mean, if I’m going to go so far as to advocate for war, I probably should at least check the internet and make sure the affront is real.
I didn’t find evidence that Harper Lee’s classic was banned in Florida. I found a bunch of other books being blacklisted by assorted county schools, but not “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
The Alabama-Florida war might need to be put on hold for now. However, they’re on a roll down there and might eventually get to tossing Scout’s story onto a proverbial bonfire.
Alabama probably should keep its powder dry unless it’s worth traveling out to California to start that war.
There have been multiple attempts to ban “To Kill a Mockingbird” in California. The same thing has happened in Oklahoma, Virginia, New Jersey and — say it ain’t so — Mississippi.
Before conducting my research, I would’ve thought people wanted to ban the book because they didn’t want the rest of the world to think that such soul-searing literature could come from Alabama. I suspected the people agitating to ban the work wanted to maintain their illiterate stereotypes of the state.
But I tapped a few keys and found out it was because of the “N-word.”
Now, I know using the “N-word” is bad because I wasn’t able to write it out. I’m not complaining. My life hasn’t been diminished by society telling me not to use the word.
With that said, I still don’t understand why the word would lead to a ban of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” It was written at a different time. And the themes of the book seem in line with the motives of those who don’t want the “N-word” in wide use.
When I was teaching, I heard African-American students say the “N-word” in the halls on a fairly regular basis.
I also knew African-American students who were offended by the way their fellow students used the word so casually.
I used to teach “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” by Mildred Taylor. It’s another book that’s been subject to potential bans.
When my high school students read it aloud, some said, “N-word,” others said the actual, 100 percent “N-word,” and a few skipped over it when it was their turn to read.
In case you were wondering, I said, “N-word,” not the actual, 100 percent “N-word,” when I read.
Maybe I was wrong; maybe I was right. It’s every American’s prerogative to judge.
I believe in literature. If someone wants to ban a book, then there’s more reason than ever to read that particular book.
I could be out of touch here. I was taught about the marketplace of ideas when I was in school. Good ideas were supposed to rise and fall as citizens considered and then accepted and/or rejected them as they saw fit.
I thought we were sending our kids to school so they could learn to engage with complicated ideas and become more informed citizens.
If the day comes when there’s no place for “To Kill a Mockingbird” on school shelves, then a war will have been lost to all of our shame.
M. Scott Morris is a former editor of The South Alabamian. He’s a writer and editor living in Tupelo, Mississippi.
