By Ivana Ellis
HAMMOND, La- Sex, witchcraft, talking animals and racial language are thought to be top priority reasons when banning a book. Since 2000, more than 100 books have been challenged to the American Library Association in the United States. Books that are read in schools such as “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White and “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee made the list for The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books (2000-2009) for having talking animals and use of racial language.
"I'm with the banned" button supports Banned Books Week 2010 in Sims Memorial library. Each button was being sold for $1. Photo by Ivana Ellis
Banned Books Week is celebrated nationwide every year during the last week of September since 1982. BBW represents the freedom to read whatever someone wants and the importance of the First Amendment. The freedom to express ideas and access information, even if they may seem inappropriate or against a religion is the platform of BBW.
Beth West, reference and distance learning librarian at Sims Memorial Library on Southeastern Louisiana University campus, said “It’s an awareness thing,” referring to Banned Books week, “It makes people aware of books that have been challenged and banned. All books that have been are classics and there are books still being challenged and banned.” West stated books are usually banned because people feel it’s inappropriate for children to read. Therefore, banned books are most likely removed from the school and its library.
Stated on the ALA website, in a majority of cases the books not banned were due to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to keep the books in the library collections.
Sean Neuerburg, a graduate student in English of Southeastern Louisiana University, participated in Banned Books Week 2010 in the Sims Memorial Library by reading the poem “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg. “It’s so artistic and is made up fundamentally of things that shock,” Neuerburg expressed about “Howl.” Neuerburg also mentioned a myth he has heard about the author Ginsberg, stating that he wrote the entire poem and did not read over it. Ginsberg considered the poem to be done and ready for print.
According to poets.org, not long after “Howl” was published in 1956 by City Lights Bookstore, it was banned for obscenity. However, the poem passed censorship trials and is now one of the most widely read poems of the century.
Traditional "Banned Book" display for Southeastern Louisiana University's library, Sims Memorial. Photo by Ivana Ellis
Along with the poem “Howl”, read by Neuerburg, pages of the books “Charlotte’s Web”, “Harry Potter” and other banned book classics were read at the BBW program in Sims Memorial Library on Sept. 30 by students, teachers and librarians.
In addition to the readings held at Sims Memorial Library, the award-winning radio program Rock School aired a special episode about Banned Books week on Thursday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. and will re-air Sunday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. on KSLU. Co-hosts Dr. Joe Burns and Chad P., assisted by librarian Beth West, will feature songs that reference banned books, along with trivia about the works.
Breathe In Letters, Exhale Words 