Native Son
by Richard Wright
Censorship Status
Banned in Various US schools
Reason: Violence, racial themes, challenging white perceptions
A novel about a young Black man in 1930s Chicago.
Why Native Son Was Banned
Censorship Concerns
A literary classic that was banned despite (or because of) its enduring cultural significance.
Specifically, Native Son was targeted for: Violence, racial themes, challenging white perceptions. The book's themes and content were deemed threatening to the social, political, or religious order in Various US schools.
Why Read Native Son Today?
- ✓ Historical Significance: Understand why this book was considered dangerous enough to ban.
- ✓ Intellectual Freedom: Support the right to read diverse perspectives and challenging ideas.
- ✓ Critical Thinking: Engage with ideas that authorities didn't want people to consider.
- ✓ Cultural Understanding: Gain insight into the fears and concerns of different societies and eras.
Other Banned Books You Might Like
The Bluest Eye
by Toni Morrison
This Nobel Prize winner's devastating novel about a Black girl who wishes for blue eyes has been restored in Florida after court challenges but remains targeted by Republican school boards. Morrison's unflinching examination of how racism and beauty standards destroy Black children's self-worth continues to make conservatives uncomfortable with America's racist history.
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
This Pulitzer Prize winner has been removed from required reading lists by progressive school districts in California, Minnesota, and Mississippi. Left-leaning educators argue that despite its anti-racist message, the book centers white characters in Black stories and its frequent use of the N-word can be harmful to Black students. Unlike Republican bans, these removals come from a desire to de-center whiteness in discussions of racism.
Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck
Steinbeck's Depression-era classic has been removed from multiple progressive school districts including in California and Washington for its use of racial slurs and problematic depictions of Black characters. Progressive educators argue that while historically important, the book's language can cause harm to students of color and its portrayal of disability is outdated.
Don't Let This Story Be Silenced
Support intellectual freedom by reading the books that challenged the powerful. Get your copy of Native Son today and discover why it's still being banned.
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