I was half-listening to the news on television during the holiday break when I heard a reporter mention something about removing Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Color Purple from a school. I immediately went into “what kind of backwoods, narrow-minded, slack-jawed, academically challenged yokel” mode, but my internal rant was cut short when the reporter said the school in question is in North Carolina.
Of course it is.
According to portcitydaily.com, this all started when concerned parent Michael Norton emailed Brunswick County school board members, blind-copying several other citizens, with some excerpts from The Color Purple that had strong language, rape scenes, incest and detailed a lesbian relationship.
Norton went on to say [sic throughout]: “I say do not expose the minds of our youth to this immoral filth and somehow link it to an educational need, when the only ‘educational need’ on this matter is quite well-defined in a biblical manner. There’s enough of this offered [to] them by the worldly-wise as it is, through television, movies, music, ‘non-educational books,’ magazines, internet/social media, etc.” A county commissioner shared Norton’s disgust that the book had been included in approved reading material, which added fire to a debate that raged for months in the eastern corner of the state and garnered the national media’s attention. (In a 3-2 vote, the school board voted in January to keep the book on a list of advance placement reading material.)
The film adaptation of The Color Purple has also come under fire — even by some in the NAACP. In a truly polarizing move, the Beverly Hills chapter of the NAACP criticized the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for not awarding the film any Oscars. Yet, prior to that, the group publicly scolded the film for its “stereotypical portrayal of black males.”
Both that branch of the NAACP and Norton have unrealistic expectations. It is not the sole responsibility of one film to support the experiences of a group. The real challenge is to make sure there are enough films made that explore the rich diversity of that group. Similarly, a book should not be shunned due to its alternative content, but rather used as a teachable moment to highlight experiences, ideas and concepts that may differ from more mainstream and, in some cases, homogenized environments. After all, it’s not like we are debating a magazine subscription to Juggs — we are talking about classic volumes of literature.
This is not North Carolina’s first time at the “let’s ban some classic literature” goat rodeo. Last year, the Randolph County Board of Education voted 6-1 to reverse an earlier vote banning another literary classic, Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, which explores and critiques race in America.
I guess my real issue with all of this, beyond the obvious censorship, is that, yes, parents have the right to filter information in their own homes. But academic environments and educators should always be vigilant in promoting academic freedom and fostering environments that encourage a free exchange of ideas and information. Included in the process of becoming a learned adult is exploration so that, with more information, we can accept, reject or edit ideologies that have been so germane to our upbringing. This process allows us to become our own unique individual.
I went to film school, and we were expected to see more than 500 films during our course of study. One of those films was Birth of A Nation, where the protagonist of the film is the KKK. Did I enjoy sitting through three hours of racist propaganda? Not really, but if I was going to be a film student, that film had to be a part of my professional vocabulary. This is the expectation within an academic environment — exposure.
Banning or challenging alternative literature sends an implicit message that the content’s experiences or ideas are somehow inferior to more mainstream works. When I was a young student in public school, I checked out a book on Malcolm X from the library. One of my favorite teachers saw the book and asked why I was reading about that bad man. Because I held my teacher in such high esteem, I returned the book unread. It would be years later, as an adult college student, before I read The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Imagine my horror when I realized what an incredible story and role model of personal change I had been robbed of for so many years, due to my teacher’s inability to entertain ideologies different from his own. That is the power and responsibility that comes with being an educator.
If any good comes from North Carolina’s book banning tirade, it will be that instructional leaders become more learned and sensitive to their responsibility. Hopefully then, we can close the book on this unfortunate chapter of censorship.
This article appears in Feb 12-18, 2014.
Not having read The Color Purple (but having seen the movie) there’s only a couple thoughts I can share. First, not a fan of censorship, and unfortunately, it’s not new or unique to this situation. As a mom and educator, I would hope two things. First, that controversial material of all types is intended for the appropriate age group, which if this is on an AP reading list, it seems to be. Second, that the teachers are equipped to discuss controversial subject matter of all types in intelligent and critically thought-provoking ways. I know how we discuss things in our home, but not everyone has that to fall back on. It does fall on educators to be responsible for dealing with tough subjects in caring and intelligent ways. On another track, I’m disappointed in “Christians” who feel the need to decide for the populous what they need and don’t need based on their religious convictions. I suppose I’m just a libertarian that way–I’d like the government out of my business as much as possible, no matter how “noble” their intentions.
@Marty Kindall Chester I agree that the book is more than appropriate given the age group and course of study. I also agree that educators should be responsible for facilitating discussion surrounding controversial topics but everyone is not comfortable with that and it should not be assumed that a teacher is well equipped.
I also am a Christian but become very uncomfortable when folks try and push their own belief system especially in an academic environment.
Thank you as always for your very learned comments.
Their way of pervasiveness that continues to impact on the most innocent and powerless members of society. ” I’ve never been convinced that experienceis linear, circular, or even random. It just is. I try to put it in some kindoforder to extract meaning from it, to bringmeaning to it.” Toni Cade Bambara
@Katherine Smith Wow! What a wonderful and appropriate quote! Thank you for reading and sharing your views on this topic!
I haven’t read the book but The Color Purple was a part of my childhood. My mother, while watching the movie, explained to me the conflicts that they were faced with. She is a minster so it was a little hard to explain Suge and Celie’s relationship but that didn’t deter her from wanting me to see what she grew up around and what she had to deal with. Outside of all of this…this book is for educational purposes, and hopefully open up dialogue about the personal conflicts the characters face and how they relate to this day and age. It shouldn’t be shunned because some father is scared of what reading this book will do to his children, when they are probably already looking at Beiber and Cyrus as role models. The parents should think about what they are teaching their children about themselves and this nation by banning the book. *steps of soapbox*
*I apologize in advance, my comment contains some very slight spoilers-but nothing that’s already been hinted at, and nothing that doesn’t show up in the movie.*
Color Purple is one of the last books that needs to be banned. Really, no book needs to be banned. We need equal access to all information so that we can grow as people. The idea of it even up for being banned kind of brings tears to my eyes.
I remember seeing the movie a lot coming up. It’s probably one of the few films I’ve seen over 100 times. The book itself is amazing and made me dig even deeper about the history of black women’s post-emancipation treatment, and seeing so many stories that mirrored this one.
Hell, if anything, it should be required reading, though on a High School Junior level. But even then, and no one wants to think about it, there could be younger teenagers that relate to Celie in some way, especially abuse survivors. It shows the long struggle of someone overcoming abuse and lack of education, to the slow transformation of a self-made human with the ability to express herself powerfully. No one really rushes in to save her–it’s better than that. People collaborate to save and lift each other up. Shug becomes the enabler, the catalyst; she never tells what Celie to do. She was Celie’s Prometheus, and Celie took the fire and ran.
The lesbian and masturbation portions aren’t voyeuristic and explicit (they are blunt, though); they’re showing a woman who, after having something so sacred abused and used against her for so long, slowly reclaiming her sexuality.
It’s a powerful, unpretty, unromanticized book that ends on a note of Fuck Yeah Ms. Celie. It reminds people, black women in particular, of how far we and our ancestors have come. Everyone can take something strong away from it.
Or you know what? Let it be banned. That’ll make the kids even more thirsty to read it. The know how to sneak around, especially in the age of eBooks. God forbid they take something great away from it.
North Carolina is so Wishy washy.We go first public High school to do a play about the story to Banning it?
First of all why is a public school banning a book based on religious values. Last time I checked we still have separation of church and state in NC of all places as well. The fact that we are educating our kids about this keeps them from being so close minded and broadening their knowledge on everything. This is just like bringing sexual education into the school system, the parent would receive a note saying your child will be learning such and such in sexually education if you feel the need not to let your child participate in this class you will need to sign this and they will be directed to some other educated activity of schools choice. To close a child off entirely from something that they will eventually come across later in life anyway is just a stupid move. We are suppose to be educating our children, opening their minds to all kinds of possibilities and history and know that when they are old enough to make decisions and hopefully good decisions for themselves and on their own. We can never grow and learn from our mistakes if we continue to instill the same in our kids and future generations.
I totally agree. Most of what I have read would be banned. But both the book and the film are a needed addition to any students knowledge of what’s transpired throughout another ethnicity’s history. The book is written with letters and is descriptive; the film was adapted fairly well, but one has to remember that Speilberg brought his on point of view of the book to the screen. Even so, exposure for students to all of this is still appropriate. It reminds me of the recent book I read and the film I saw about Nazi Germany…The Book Thief. We can’t let this happen here!
LOL…
I can hardly muster enough to give second glance to such a hypocritical dictatorial undertaking that seeks to cut freedom while using a form of the same to advance its cause. We have been at this since antiquity. Have we not learned anything?
So portrayal of graphic acts graphically as seen in Color Purple is Mr. Norton’s concern? What a concept. How else to portray them?
Bans of this kind ultimately are not about protecting the readers as promoting the raiders. Such censures almost always create salaciousness for cordoned works they could never acquire outside these supercilious sequesters.
If Mr. Norton has opposition to Ms.Walker’s themes, for his labors he should give some diligence to some of the deemed classic works of authors likes Mark Twain, William Faulkner, Aldous Huxley, Katherine Patterson, John Steinbeck, Harriet Beecher Stowe and of recent, JK Rowling, among others, whose graphic works details everything from child abuse, sexuality and racial stereotyping to cannibalisms, lewd violence and the occult. All of these authors have almost unlimited access to public school library audiences of all ages.
Again if “minds of our youth” is a disquiet, Mr. Norton should catch gander of current history, civic and social studies books. Much improved certainly over what they were a generation ago, still they are selectively skewed both factually and socially so that the usual suspects always emerge the most learned and self-possessed.
Further, if Mr. Norton is suggesting that Color Purple is unsuitable for school youth because its coverage is “offered [to] them by the worldly-wise as it is, through television, movies, music, ‘non-educational books,’ magazines, internet/social media”, who determines which media platforms ought to be the most utilized or exclusive?
I offer that even for our purposes here we avoid of terms like “alternative” and “mainstream”. The country —indeed our heritage—is founded on expression of all types. Where does alternative end and mainstream begin and then after that what?
A great thing remains that even in what appears to be a very arbitrary pursuit, Mr. Nortons of the world are allowed dissent. If for no other reason avoidance of ban reassures that it is all right if they face some as well.
@Nikita Minter You bring forth so many valid points but I think this is one of my favorite analysis of yours: “No one really rushes in to save her–it’s better than that. People collaborate to save and lift each other up. Shug becomes the enabler, the catalyst; she never tells what Celie to do. She was Celie’s Prometheus, and Celie took the fire and ran.”
This is the kind of dialogue and critical thinking that should come forth by sharing such a well written volume of literature.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts on this subject!
@ Anthony O’Neal Dupree You make a good point thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts!
@Jmiller84 You are so correct. I like the sex education example. The purpose of education is to expose our youth to other ideas and concepts and you are correct that is how we grow as a society. Otherwise we just perpetuate the same philosophies over and over again.
Thank you for reading and sharing your views on this topic!
@Sue Johnson I know you can appreciate this being an educator and especially as one who has taught both English and Film Literature courses. I have instructed similar courses where like you say you can use sometimes controversial material to engage students in important and engaging dialogue. Those are some of the most magical moments in the classroom.
Thank you for reading and sharing your views on this topic!
@Tony-Tony Stark You make so many valid and insightful points but I really love this one you share, “still they are selectively skewed both factually and socially so that the usual suspects always emerge the most learned and self-possessed.”
That point is why I typically do not like Hollywood films that deal with historical periods concerning race. They are typically watered down for a mass appeal and usually at the expense of the marginalized community they at least on the surface seem to want to explore.
And you are correct that as much as I do not understand some folks decision to oppose such works I will defend their right to do so less we regress as a free society.
Thank you for reading and sharing your very learned commentary!
@ Kandyce Ferguson The experience you share with your mother and how she used the film The Color Purple to illustrate important lessons to you even at a young age is an excellent example of how as a parent you can use even uncomfortable material as a teaching tool.
What astounds me is that if you have read the book or seen the film then you should know that it is the main characters relationship with God that brings her through such an incredible struggle of abuse to emerge as a stronger and inspirational person.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts on this subject!
Book-banning initiatives are among the most selfish of acts. If you don’t want your child exposed to literature or science, all you have to do is let school administrators know that you don’t approve of a certain book, and they will accommodate you — more radically, you can take your child out of public education and teach them whatever fairy tales you want to teach them. But to have great pieces of literature or science books banned deprives all young minds of intellectual growth. Thanks for an excellent column, Charles!
It is the job of the English teacher to bring any written piece to their students by looking at it through a literary lens; not political, not religious, not racial. Purely literary. Students are asked to question what is symbolic to or about the character(s). They are asked to probe the universal themes present and how they relate to the society and the individual.
It is important to understand that some of these novels require a certain level of maturity. Therefore, most teachers I know offer these choices in AP courses. The key word is choices. I do not now any teacher worth their weight that would make these mandatory in a standard English class, but if they did it is always understood that an alternative novel may be assigned at no penalty to the student.
I wish parents realized that educators are not out to ruin their children’s innocence. Miley and Justin to a way better job than I ever could. However, religious beliefs aside, you child will have to be a functioning citizen in a world where bad things happen. Would these parents prefer their child figure this out once they are in the world on their own, or in the safety and professionalism of a classroom?
@Mark Kemp you are so correct that there are already policies in place for students to have alternative assignments if the parents feel a subject is too controversial or in their eyes inappropriate.
I also agree that that is what private, charter schools and even home schooling is for if you want a more specific curriculum taught that is more in line with your belief system but I still maintain you deprive a young mind by not exposing them to different ideas and concepts.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts on this topic!
@ Lisa you have certainly explained the role and expectation of an educator perfectly. There is this misconception that teachers are just a bunch of tree hugging liberals out to turn youth into radicals…lol
I love your statement: “I wish parents realized that educators are not out to ruin their children’s innocence. Miley and Justin to a way better job than I ever could.” so true and so funny!
Thank you for reading and sharing some very insightful views on this topic!
I believe students should be exposed to as many substantive authors as possible, particularly women and black writers since there are so few in traditional American public school curricula. Diversity is sorely missing. Given the intended audience for this school district is AP high school students, the students should certainly be capable of handling the content.
My greatest concern with the movement to ban The Color Purple is the seemingly endless attempt to silence the voices of black women writers, to erase our experiences (whether fact, fiction, or somewhere in between) as if they don’t deserve the affirmation that light of day gives. The effort to silence sister writers always elicits the same reaction in me, and is brilliantly framed in the words of Viola Davis’ character in “The Help”: “Don’t you get tired?”
In The Color Purple, the protagonist overcomes her extremely dysfunctional life at home and goes on to become a whole human/mother/woman/entrepreneur/ artist/writer, free of shame, bitterness, and insecurity. The positive takeaways from reading The Color Purple are far more numerous than any potential negative impressions from reading or not reading this Pulitzer Prize winning novel.
@Tameka You share some very important points. I agree that there should be more effort given to bringing forth diverse voices rather than trying to censor their work.
I also believe that The Color Purple is an excellent teaching tool of how someone who has a strong faith in God can overcome even the most unbelievable circumstances.
Thank you for reading and sharing your very learned views on this topic!
This book has been quietly banned for much longer than you think. There were many titles that were simply “not available” in my school library in the late 90’s. Educators that attempted to broaden our horizons with these “controversial” pieces of literature were demoted or pushed out/fired. I sought to bring this to light and was also threatened. I love the comment from the “educator” that “has not read the book but has seen the movie”…seriously? This is your school system, NC. Outraged yet?
@Jennifer Hargett You are correct this form of censorship has been going on and has placed other classic forms of literature in the “controversial” zone.
It is unfortunate that educators and even brave students like yourself are demonized for trying to be champions for an enlightened environment of free exchange which is what academia is about.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts and experiences!