Why are books like Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, and to Kill a Mocking Bird on banned books lists?
“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain was banned in Concord, Massachusetts (1885) as “trash and suitable only for the slums.” This fictional work was excluded from the children’s room of the Brooklyn Public Library (1905) on the grounds that “Huck not only itched but scratched, and said sweat when he should have said perspiration.” It was removed from Waukegan, Illinois high school reading list (1984) because of “racially offensive language and tone.” Removed from classrooms in the Cherry Hill, New Jersey schools (1997) after concerns were raised about its “racial epithets” and “depiction of its African-American characters.” Huck Finn was alos pulled from reading lists at three Renton, Washington high schools (2004) after an African-American student said the book degraded her and her culture. Ironically, this book which was attacked after its first publication for being “too racially tolerant” is now being attacked for being “too racist.” Twain’s classic was deemed upon pu
