The Banning of Books

While watching and analyzing the movie Beautiful Creatures, I was particularly struck by its exploration of banned books. Set in the fictional small southern town of Gatlin, South Carolina, where everyone knows everybody, the film portrays a community deeply rooted in Christianity, where faith permeates every aspect of life. The townspeople, devout and conservative, lead holy lives and only consume materials that align with their beliefs and bring them happiness.

One scene that stood out to me was a classroom discussion in which high school students were debating the summer reading assignment, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. The conversation takes a turn when a student, Emily Asher, dismisses the book as "banned" and refuses to read it because it goes against her church's teachings. This scene, though fictional, mirrors real-world situations where censorship restricts access to important works that address issues like racism, sexism, and antisemitism.

This moment prompted me to delve into a list of hallmark books banned around the world, including 1984, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Catcher in the Rye, The Color Purple, The Great Gatsby, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Lord of the Flies, and Of Mice and Men. I realized that I had read over half of these books in school, and they had played a crucial role in shaping my worldview and understanding of social issues. 

It's disheartening to think that the powerful words of authors like Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, and Mark Twain have been silenced by censorship. These authors have the ability to inspire positive social change, and their works should be embraced rather than suppressed.

As we strive for a more understanding world, I hope that these banned books will find their way back into reading curricula nationwide. They have the power to break down barriers and foster empathy, compassion, and a thirst for knowledge.