Banned Books discussion

The school board in McMinn County, Tennessee has banned Art Spiegelman’s two-part graphic novel series on the Holocaust, Maus, from the curriculum. The reason: the author used the word ‘damn’ and showed his mother in the bathtub where she died; she wasn’t even fully nude. I have personally read both Maus I and Maus II and have these copies in my personal library. Maus has won so many awards and is an important part of Holocaust literature. It’s a shame that this will no longer be used as a teaching tool. Here is the link to the article:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/27/us/ten...

If you read further the supposed nudity and profanity are actually an excuse because many of the board members just do not want students reading about the Holocaust.

Manybooks wrote: "If you read further the supposed nudity and profanity are actually an excuse because many of the board members just do not want students reading about the Holocaust."

I did read it. And you are correct. The board’s reasoning is similar to the Wentzville school board that banned The Bluest Eye. They are both targeting minority authors (Jewish and African American) and using archaic ideas about decency to do it. It’s racism and Antisemitism, pure and simple.

>:(

Matal wrote: "Manybooks wrote: "If you read further the supposed nudity and profanity are actually an excuse because many of the board members just do not want students reading about the Holocaust."

I did read ..."

Yup, there are lots of goose stepping little Nazis in the USA and they have way way too much power.

I've been following this news. It's intense to be sure and ridiculous. Before all of this came out I had not heard of the book. Millions of books are out there so how can we expect to know them all, right?

Anyways, when I heard that this book was being banned, I was certainly one of those who got curious about it. I always like finding out about banned/challenged books. WIth all of the controversy surrounding it I ordered the books immediately. They won't arrive until March because of how fast they've been selling out but I'm in no rush.

To see books about the Holocaust being silenced is harmful to the extreme. I remember learning about it in the 5th grade and going on a school field trip to a Holocaust museum. So for it to be banned in an 8th-grade level curriculum speaks volumes as to how far our country is becoming when it comes to educating our kids.

So happy that this book is becoming a best seller and is being sold out. If kids can't get the books that are deemed banned then it's up to them, and us as adults, to find other avenues to not be silenced.

@Ron these books are really awesome and I can’t wait for you to get them and read them yourself. Kudos to you!

Matal wrote: "@Ron these books are really awesome and I can’t wait for you to get them and read them yourself. Kudos to you!"

Thanks. I can't wait to get into them too. I've only recently gotten into the nonfiction genre when it comes to graphic novels but with all of the controversy surrounding this one, it was an absolute must.

Ron wrote: "I've been following this news. It's intense to be sure and ridiculous. Before all of this came out I had not heard of the book. Millions of books are out there so how can we expect to know them all..."

I also think that teachers (even if it might mean them getting fired or even arrested) need to rise up and take a stand against books being banned and both encourage their students to still read these titles and to also refuse to follow the “rules” and to still teach books like Maus in open defiance. For let’s face it, Nazi Germany was successful because even the many against Hitler were afraid of going against the rules and we really do not want this scenario repeating itself in the USA, so yes, teachers need to openly defy their school boards, idiotic parents wanting books banned, state governments (including Fascist governors) and even the police if required.

I see Maus is selling out all over! :D

I already have a copy, need to dig it out. I think it's one of the best books on the Holocaust I've ever read.

Some university professors are providing free online classes on Maus for the students affected by the ban.

But as I posted before, what I want to see happen is open defiance, I want to see students bring in copies of Maus and to MAKE their teachers use it in class, to engage in sit ins etc. until their teachers defy the ban and use Maus in class.

And I guess I am also a little concerned that there has not been a concerted totally collective effort made by anti racist and Jewish lobby groups to fight against this tooth and nail and yes also with civil disobedience if necessary, and not just regarding Maus but regarding the recent book banning disease in many areas, in far too many states.

I ordered Maus a couple of days ago but it won't get here until mid-February, early March! I love how it's being sold out like that so I'm really in no rush for it to arrive. Just getting it is something to be proud of in terms of supporting the book.