As I get older, my views change. After decades of being “the life of the party“, some might say I have become rather conservative in my middle-age years. But, even though the gray hairs are adding up, I have still managed to maintain a strong sense liberalism. So, when I heard that the good white folks in Huntington Beach wanted to remove Maya Angelou’s book, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”, from their school district, my reaction was mixed.
I have read “Caged Bird Sings“, and its entire series, several times. In fact, I reread the whole series last year. That means I am extremely familiar with its content. Angelou paints a raw, gritty, and often painfully graphic picture of child sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy, and lesbianism. Her language is so vivid, it almost rivals High Definition TV. But, intertwined in the pain, sex, and drama, are some very funny and teachable moments, that can serve as valuable life lessons.
However, I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting an elementary school child read that book, and I am not sure about introducing this literature at the high school level, either. “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” is a brilliant book, a masterpiece, and it should be mandatory reading on ever college campus in America. And although I love Maya to pieces, and I am staunchly opposed to censorship, I have to side with the white folks… this time.
An added note: When they are done banning Maya, they need to add the bible to that list, because I have read far worse things in the bible, than Maya ever wrote. Just a suggestion.
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2 comments:
I wouldn't have a problem with high school students reading this particular story. Especially since they are exposed to a lot of graphic material in many different ways.
I feel that this is a must read before jumping into the rest of the series. Without this foundational knowledge of Maya, the other parts of the series are good-but the reader doesn't really get to see how she grows as an adult female.
I am also anti-book banning. I totally agree that this is not a story for certain age groups. But there are many books on the library shelves that could be banned for their content that have been deemed great American Literature.
Why is it so difficult for our society to be reasonable? Place the book in age appropriate settings and see what happens. If the story is banned, it might spark enough interest within the students minds to read the book any how. But this is the anchor of the series on Maya's life. It is gritty and at time down right ugly-but isn't that the true nature of life?
"It is gritty and at time down right ugly-but isn't that the true nature of life?"
I absolutely agree. Life is not neatly packaged in a gift box. Sooner or later, we ALL have to deal with the not so pleasant parts of life. Hiding behind fairytales and trying to "ban" the truth, isn't going to make the rough parts any smoother.
When I was kid, I lot a stuff I probably wasn't supposed to read. But I could go to my mother and ask her to explain the parts I didn't understand.
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