To Kill A Mockingbird Gala Fri. Sept 7, 2018

By Christopher Sergel, based on the novel by Harper Lee

Directed by Patrick Taylor

The first of our series of plays that were once banned.  (see below) About doing the right thing no matter what the cost.

SHOW DATES:  September 7-16 
General Admission - Doors at 6:30 pm | Show 7:30 pm

To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic novel, receiving the 1961 Pulitzer Prize. Even though it has been deemed classic literature, To Kill a Mockingbird still finds itself on the banned books list. The racial content, profanity, and references to rape have caused many to challenge the novel and remove it from school libraries and classrooms.

Throughout the novel, words such as “damn” and “nigger” are used over and over.  The fact that the young children characters are using this profanity causes many to question the novel because they don’t want their children using that type of language.  

Racism is a constant theme in To Kill a Mockingbird.   The Tom Robinson rape case shows that even though he is innocent, he is convicted because of his race. It’s stated several times throughout the book a black person will always be convicted if it’s a white person accusing them. Colored women are depicted as the “help” because they cook, clean, and take care of children for the white families. Racial slurs such as “nigger lover” are used which many find offensive and promotes racism and inequality of the races.

When and Where was it Banned?

A few example of where, when, and why the novel was challenged include:

1966- Hanover, Virginia, parents argued that the plot containing rape was immoral. The school received many letters complaining about the novel and its use in classrooms but also received letters from those who found the situations ridiculous and funny.

1968- Second most complained about book receiving negative attention from all over.

1977- Eden Valley, Minnesota for the words “damn” and “whore lady”

1980-Vernon Verona Sherill, N.Y School District as a "filthy, trashy novel"

1981-Warren, Ind.Township schools because the book does "psychological damage to the positive integration process" and "represents institutionalized racism under the guise of good literature"

1984- Waukegan, III. School District because the novel uses the word "nigger."

1996-Banned from the Lindale, Texas advanced placement English reading list because the book "conflicted with the values of the community.”

2003-Normal, ILL Community High Schools sophomore literature class (2003) as being degrading to African Americans.

To this day To Kill a Mockingbird is still not approved by most school districts and is not allowed to be used as part of classroom curriculums. To Kill a Mockingbird has been removed from all recommended reading lists schools provide students.