tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756638971486779169.post1676700937685606422..comments2023-08-19T23:53:28.347-07:00Comments on Ink & Pen: To Censor or Not to Censor: Does Racist Language Have a Place in Children's Books?Ink and Penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04867668733240740046noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756638971486779169.post-85045466915996518492023-08-19T23:53:28.347-07:002023-08-19T23:53:28.347-07:00Heello nice blogHeello nice blogMiss Celie's Musingshttps://missceliesmusings.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756638971486779169.post-33947896076606991032013-02-19T14:22:34.985-08:002013-02-19T14:22:34.985-08:00So good to hear that my point got across, Elaine!
...So good to hear that my point got across, Elaine!<br /><br />I think there is an argument to be made for reading these types of novels with older teens--though I'm not willing to make it. College, yes, high school... not sure. If all teachers were sensitive, perhaps. However, your idea about asking the students what they're comfortable with--specifically the students who would be directly affected by whatever slurs are in the text--might be the best answer. That way they can decide themselves whether they can handle it or not.<br /><br />And yes, that guy completely failed in whatever he was trying to do. Why would anyone ever think blackface would be a good idea?<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts!Ink and Penhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04867668733240740046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756638971486779169.post-14420298672945980812013-02-19T12:46:31.470-08:002013-02-19T12:46:31.470-08:00I love this post. I think I'm going to have my...I love this post. I think I'm going to have my students read it. You explain the "ejection" phenomenon so articulately:<br /><br />"There is something deeply fracturing and violating about being suddenly and violently ejected from the world of the book you were inhabiting by the presence of a racial slur. If this has not ever happened to you, it would be great if you would take my word for it—it's a horribly exclusionary experience that no one should ever be subjected to."<br /><br />This is a convincing argument, and one that readers who haven't experienced such exclusion can't necessarily see if it's not pointed out to them. (I include myself here.) I can see how an inflammatory racial slur, encountered once, can startle a reader out of the story -- and encountered over and over, can absolutely deflate/traumatize the reader (and no, I don't think "trauma" is too strong a word).<br /><br />It's not as if we're burning the originals, anyway... they will live on in academic libraries.<br /><br />I think Ashley's question about age is a good one. I do think it's different if we're talking about literature a nine year old reads for pleasure versus a text discussed in an eleventh grade English class. You might disagree, but I think a sensitive teacher at a first rate high school or college might be able to have just this discussion with his/her students. Maybe they could even vote on whether or not a book gets read and studied. (I do think it should be upper high school and college, though. I taught Huck Finn to a class of ninth graders -- I probably wouldn't do that again.)<br /><br />By the way, the guy in blackface from the New Yorker article really missed the mark. Yeech.Elainehttp://elainedimopoulos.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756638971486779169.post-79366484363203214682013-02-13T12:49:13.820-08:002013-02-13T12:49:13.820-08:00Your experience is completely valid, Ashley, and w...Your experience is completely valid, Ashley, and we're glad you shared it! It's good to remember that children/teens can be very subversive in their reading and, as in your case, a positive result can come from something negative. Thanks again for reading and commenting!Ink and Penhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04867668733240740046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756638971486779169.post-23037062515771077772013-02-13T07:49:55.205-08:002013-02-13T07:49:55.205-08:00I know it probably seems sort of strange to say ra...I know it probably seems sort of strange to say racist words helped me. Even thinking about how ironic that is is strange to me, yet hearing horrible words and phrases used against people does indeed make me want to turn from ideas and thinking like that. It is so sad people have been subjected to any types of racism, and I hope other people are turned off by that too when reading such dialogue. Can't wait for more posts Stephanie!Ashley Dixonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756638971486779169.post-72776950720034017632013-02-13T00:38:13.895-08:002013-02-13T00:38:13.895-08:00Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ashley! When I s...Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ashley! When I said "children's" books I was speaking broadly. I don't think I would cap the age at a certain place--I know that for teens and even adults reading racial slurs can be hurtful--so I'm not sure where to draw a line, if one need be drawn.<br /><br />That reading racial slurs actually worked to drive home the wrongness of racism for you and helped you to empathize with the characters experiencing racism is very interesting. Thank you for sharing your experience!Ink and Penhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04867668733240740046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-756638971486779169.post-58474709646763709492013-02-12T15:35:28.464-08:002013-02-12T15:35:28.464-08:00Thanks for a thought-provoking post Stephanie! I g...Thanks for a thought-provoking post Stephanie! I guess my first question is when you say "childrens books", what age exactly does this refer to? For example, I do not think young children should be subjected to racist words (and that also goes for sex, violence, and other adult themes). Children need to remain innocent however long they can. But if we are talking teenagers, that's where I have a tougher time. Now IN NO WAY would I ever promote racism. It is vile and wrong and it is a travesty for anyone to be subjected to it. I can think back to some texts I have read while in school and have come accross racist language. It always made me uncomfortable and cringe, yet it was a good reminder of what was going on in the story (whether fictional or fact-based). Whether we like it or not, racist talk/actions have been a huge part of history. While words like the "n" word are despicable, it sometimes has the most powerful effect to hear that word uttered in a story to get the full picture and feeling of what someone has gone through. It gets right at your heart and (at least for me) makes me empathize with those who were the subject of racism. People need to understand what different people/ethnic groups have had to endure over the years.Ashley Dixonnoreply@blogger.com