Grandson of slave learned to read at 98, coauthored a book at 103. Now book is banned

[CatWoman]

Link to tweet

[Haggard Celine]

1. That's just sad.

[Biophilic]

2. This stuff just gets crazier and crazier.

How does that make any sense at all. The school’s named after him.

[questionseverything]

5. Obviously we have woken in bizarro world

[Biophilic]

7. It sure feels like it.

[COL Mustard]

16. See! You said "woke".

That’s the problem!!!

[Rural_Progressive]

21. Not to mention creepier and creepier

[Srkdqltr]

3. Why not.

[gratuitous]

4. Next up, Dr. MLK Jr Day

"Yes class, you're getting Monday off, but we can't tell you why."

[Irish_Dem]

6. It is more than books, the GOP wants to destroy American culture, history and values.

[Biophilic]

8. Sounds just like what Russia wants to do to Ukraine.

[Irish_Dem]

10. Bingo. Exactly 100% the same.

Right out of the GOP/KGB handbook.

[Elessar Zappa]

12. Bull.

Who’s behind the book bannings again? Hint: it’s not the left.

[underpants]

9. That's just ridiculous but what an inspiring story.

[JCMach1]

13. We need to roll this astroturf school board takeover shite

Rite up.

It's freaking infuriating.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

14. The radicalized Republican party wants permanent, total control. Education is in their way.

[TomSlick]

15. The school district denies that the book has been banned.

The story is whether the book is "age appropriate" for required reading.

[link:https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2022/08/23/will-southlake-approve-using-book-by-grandson-of-slave-in-school-bearing-his-name/|

It may be a matter semantics. Either way, it doesn't look good.

[keithbvadu2]

18. Wonder if they consider the Bible "age appropriate" with its incest, murder, and more.

Wonder if they consider the Bible "age appropriate" with its incest, murder, and more.

[calimary]

17. This is just absolutely ASININE.

And those pushing it can own the first syllable, cuz it describes them perfectly.

[Rhiannon12866]

19. Twitter reply:

Link to tweet

[ck4829]

20. That is just straight up evil

[bahboo]

22. this has got to be the work of a minority of parents...

fuck this shit...give all the kids a copy, have them take it to school, and see what happens...

[SharonAnn]

23. I was reading pretty sophisticated books in middle school. Shakespeare, Euripides, etc.

I didn't always understand all the nuances but I really enjoyed them. They had substance.

[JI7]

24. Can we buy this book ?

[intheflow]

25. Librarian here. I'm going with: the book hasn't been banned.

It's been removed from required reading, but as far as I can see from the OP article, excerpts can still be taught (as they have in the past) and its not being removed from the school library. From another article, the age-inappropriateness content at issue is probably an account of a lynching early in the book. And, there actually are books (or parts of books) that are not appropriate for 7th graders in a public classroom situation. 7th grade in particular is prickly because at least a third of the kids are still emotionally immature for their ages.

Before you all jump on me, I'm not saying I agree with this decision. I read Helter Skelter in 6th grade, so I'm sure the majority of 7th graders in this Texas town could handle one horrific scene in an otherwise inspirational book. But this didn't come about in response to a parental request, or any MAGA assholes, it was reviewed by a panel of "teachers, principals and curriculum coordinators" as part of a regular review of teaching materials.

But okay, let's be true progressives and shit on public educators because - obviously, if they live in Texas, they must all be criminally insane and incompetent.

[CatWoman]

26. why don't we just shit on Texas?