Classic Books Banned in Virginia School System Over Racial Slur Back on Shelves

ACCOMACK COUNTY, VA — Two classic novels in American literature that recently had been banned from classrooms and libraries of an Eastern Shore school district in Virginia are back on the shelves after the Accomack County School Board voted Tuesday to rescind the ban.

Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," and Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" contain racial slurs, and a parent complained to the school board after her bi-racial son told her he was uncomfortable having to read the books.

School Board chairman Ronnie Holdman said the board agreed that some of the language in the books is offensive, teachers and staff "have a wonderful talent for conveying the bigger meanings and messages in literature."

Offensive language is one of the most common reasons that books are challenged in schools. According to the American Library Association, both books have been among the most challenged in the nation.

Superintendent Warren Holland, citing policy, said late last month the books had temporarily been shelved pending a review of the complaint.

Racial slurs appear 219 times in Huckleberry Finn and 48 times in Mockingbird, according to the Huffington Post.

At a Nov. 15 school board meeting, the parent said: "Right now, we are a nation divided as it is. So what are we teaching our children? We’re validating that these words are acceptable, and they are not acceptable by any means."

Chris Sergel, vice president of Dramatic Publishing, told PBS they receive many requests for specific words to be changed or removed from Mockingbird, but they’re always denied.

“Being uncomfortable with history is not means to change it,” he said. “People need to figure out how to confront issues.”

Offensive language is ranked second among reasons given for challenging books in schools, second only to sexually explicit content.

The website bannedbooksweek has a list of books that often come under critical scrutiny because of language some might find offensive.

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