Hi Elaine,
A little clarification would be good. After discussing your question with my public librarian friend, here are our questions: Are you considering weeding because
of lack of circulation? Do you consider the book not age appropriate because of the N word? Are you considering sending the book to the MS or HS because it’s not age appropriate? All of that is not censorship.
Good luck,
Lizanne
Lizanne Johnson
Groton Middle School & Fitch High School
Library Media Specialist
“A book is a dream that you hold in your hand.”
Neil Gaiman
From: Elaine Shapiro <elaine.shapiro7@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2021 4:05 PM
To: casl-l@mylist.net
Subject: [CASL-L] Censorship question
Dear CAS-L members,
The book Pass it On, African American Poetry for Children,
selected by Wade Hudson, published in 1993, includes the poem "Incident" by Countee Cullen, which contains the N word. It's a powerful poem, and describes apparently a true event.
I am curious what you all think about whether this book belongs on an elementary library shelf in 2021, whether it is self censorship to remove it.
Elaine Shapiro
Broad Brook School.