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Toni Morrison's "Beloved" pulled from class because of racism

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Freelance Hack, Mar 29, 2007.

  1. outofplace

    outofplace Well-Known Member

    This is so educational for me. I just started reading Beloved. :)
     
  2. farmerjerome

    farmerjerome Active Member

    Ban that book. It's rubbish.

    I got as far as an animal being thrown around the room in beginning and refused to finish it.

    My prof's response? "But the dog didn't die."
     
  3. zeke12

    zeke12 Guest

    fj --

    You're kidding about the banning the book part, right?
     
  4. farmerjerome

    farmerjerome Active Member

    Nope. Not in this instance. This book really, really got under my skin.

    I know it wouldn't be right to ban it, but it really bugs me. I wish they could ban it.
     
  5. LiveStrong

    LiveStrong Active Member

  6. farmerjerome

    farmerjerome Active Member

    Can't help it. Just feel like playing the asshole card tonight.
     
  7. sportschick

    sportschick Active Member

    You're doing that well.
     
  8. LiveStrong

    LiveStrong Active Member

    we all have those nights.
     
  9. outofplace

    outofplace Well-Known Member

    Well, fairly early in the reading of it myself and I already don't like it. Yeah, ban the thing!

    Though I must admit, I've already read more about cow fucking than I expected.
     
  10. heyabbott

    heyabbott Well-Known Member

    Books shouldn't be banned.

    BUT, given the breadth of literature available and finite number of books that can be read in public high schools, it's an extremely poor choice. As I Lay Dying is a difficult book to read, but infinitely better than Beloved
     
  11. Pastor

    Pastor Active Member


    This conversation has really gone in a different direction. I don't mind, at all, but I am going to point it out. Alma, while insightful in his disagreement, is not even close to making the same argument as those wishing the book to be banned.

    For the comments stated here, maybe there should be an adjustment made and a different book can be selected. However, until one of the parents makes that argument, the whole subject of banning this book should be removed.

    You can't ban books because they make you feel icky. You can't ban books because they make you uncomfortable. Next thing you know, we'll be sitting around reading My Pet Goat hoping that a part two comes out.

    We are talking about 17 and 18 year old kids taking a COLLEGE LEVEL course. You can't claim it is a high school course when you receive college credit. Can anyone at any point argue that this book should be banned for college students as well?
     
  12. heyabbott

    heyabbott Well-Known Member

    I guess I should have read the story more closely, they substituted The Scarlet Letter for Beloved in an AP English Class. Hawthorne should be read in 8th or 9th grade. It's not an AP English book. As an editorially decision concerning which book will be read and taught in class, removing Beloved is an extremely justifiable position. The book isn't banned from the library, so saying it's been banned is a poor choice of words from a site of writers.
    The principal, however, lacks some principles when it comes to supprting his teachers and the educational process. As poor a choice as Morrison may be, removing the book from class was a cowardly editorial decision.
     
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