This is big news in our area. Our local school superintendent has told a local high school that it must take out the "n" word in its "To Kill a Mockingbird" play or they will not be allowed to perform it. At first I thought, "Big deal." Now, I am not so sure. Unfortunately, it was very integral to the message of the book and the times that Harper Lee was trying to convey.

The local paper went to Monroeville, Alabama (not very far from here and Harper Lee's hometown - supposedly the town the fictional town was based on, too) and started asking questions of the residents, black and white. It sort of surprised me that a lot of the black residents were opposed to taking out the "n" word. Most people seem to think that taking it out would water the message of the book/play down so much. Unfortunately, it is a part of history of the South in the 1930s that we should not ever forget or else we will repeat it.

There is talk about turning it into a schoolwide lesson on why it was used then and why it was wrong, but allowing them to say it.

I was just curious what others would say about this.

To Kill a Mockingbird and Huck Finn are gold. You do not mess with them. People who are trying to change history/fiction to be "politically correct" are not seeing the forest for the trees. It would be a huge mistake to do it, it would water down the message, and it would not "correct" anything. Kids need to know & learn this stuff or, like you said, history repeats itself.

I can't tell you how many times I've read something about someone taking offense to a word or comment because it was offensive to some group, and I never heard it because the history was forgotten. Like Beaners coffee changing their name to not offend hispanics. I had no idea the term Beaner was derogatory, and neither did the Beaners folks.

The school should get their head out of the sand and present historical fiction accurately, or they will change the message.

i completely agree with calimari.

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Kimberley

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I completely agree with Calimari too!

I agree. beaner is a 50's term. I never heard of beaner coffee but would not associate them with the old term unless it had a pic of a Mexican eating beans(refried not coffee). Hey maybe I should send in a pic.

allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

w/what Calimari said. Mari, did you ever think you'd have so many people agree with you?

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Yep me too!!

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Jodie....Wife to Andrew (1995)
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Hey, I agree, too! I was just trying to start an interesting topic! I was really surprised though by the NUMBER of people who have come out in support of using the language. I would have thought blacks would be opposed to it, but, for the most part, they are in full support of it.

So, I agree, too!!!

LOL - Kim, this is the only board I go to where my opinion is not always agreed with. I'm very popular elsewhere! Claire - I got that you agreed from your original post, but I'm not surprised that black people don't want it changed. I have black friends and they are aware of what changing that sort of literature would do.