Across the nation, schools, libraries, and book stores have banned many classic novels from their shelves. Books are challenged and banned all of the time for problems such as racial issues, sexual references, violence, and profane language. Among these books have been Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.

To Kill a Mockingbird is considered one of the best novels of the 20th century, but a few aspects of the book have caused it to be challenged by readers. This has led to the removal of the book in classrooms and libraries, although many places still assign it for required reading.

According to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, To Kill A Mockingbird is one of the most frequently banned books in schools and workplaces. Dramatic Publishing receives requests for many words and phrases in the book to be removed, but they always deny the requests. Should this classic novel be banned?

One resounding “no” to this question was recently delivered on a daytime talk show. Three girls, Belissa Escobedo, Rhiannon McGavin, and Zariya Allen appeared on the Queen Latifah Show and delivered a strong message about our society telling you how you should behave, and what is acceptable. They call it “Changing the World, One Word at a Time.”

In their speech, they reference Harper Lee’s book. “And somewhere in America there is a child sitting at his mother’s computer reading the homepage of the KKK’s website and that’s open to the public. But that child will have never read ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ because his school has banned it for it’s use of the ‘N’-word… we’re not allowed to talk about rape in school. We are taught that just because something happens doesn’t mean we are to talk about it.”

Even though To Kill a Mockingbird contains a rape trial, and makes derogatory references to colored people, the book has a sophisticated storyline that teaches a moral. The book actually contains quite a few lessons. Some lessons the book teaches would include, people are not always as they first appear, respect others, and it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.

In the book, Atticus teaches Jem and Scout to be opened minded, because people and things are not always as they seem. He tells Scout that to truly understand a person you need to walk around in their skin. When you understand someone and consider things from their point of view, you find yourself able to get along better.

Throughout the book, Atticus also teaches his children to respect others and their space. Atticus addresses everyone as ma’am and mister. His children are told that it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird, because they do nothing but make music for us to enjoy. The mockingbird symbolizes innocent, good people destroyed by evil.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a story that teaches compassion and forgiveness. It’s a book that is still relevant to people today to help combat the prejudice and hate that still exists in our society.