Gang: Mississippi just doesn't get it. I taught 'Mockingbird' to 9th graders for 32 years. It was by far the gateway novel to discuss issues of compassion and tolerance and how only by understanding others via 'walking in their shoes" can all the little "Scout's" out there understand why we have done the things we (continue) to do. When school boards ban it from the curriculum,I guess they just don't want to hear about America's continuing issue of race (not to mention the hypocrisy of religious extremism and sexual harassment--all subtle sub-themes). Just remember this, banning a book that is the #1 "Most Influential Book" (other than the Bible, Koran and Torah) according to the Library of Congress, will just make more children want to read it...just as they always have since 1960. If you don't mind, here are some of the lessons I learned while teaching this novel for 32 years.
1. "If you can learn a simple trick, you'll get along a lot better with all kind of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.step into their shoes and walk around for a while."
2. "It's not okay to hate anyone."
3. "Our courts are the Great Levelers."4. "There is evil in the world, Son. I'd like to keep it from you, but that's not possible."
5.“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience. Before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself."
6. “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.”7. "People in their right minds never take pride in their talents."
8. “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”
9. “This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.”
10."Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them."
In 24 hours over 400 page views and many interesting comments on my FB page. One that I found really profound was the issue of whether Atticus Finch fails or succeeds in the novel, since (spoiler alert)a major character dies. My reaction is simple: he makes a difference in the community, black and white, and he eventually proves that ignorance can be defeated by compassion and courage. Why? First, the black community realizes his efforts and rewards him with what really matters: respect(other than casseroles they bring). Atticus understands that B;lack Lives Matter--all lives do, as well. Second, his children learn what real courage is, and it is not a man with a gun but someone who defends others even when the chances of victory are bleak because it is the right thing to do. Atticus explains to Jem and Scout that what matters most is a person's conscience, and that issues cannot be decided by the majority's rule. They live out his legacy. Even the sheriff, Heck Tate does the right thing in listening to his own conscience when he finds a way for justice to win out in the end--all because his conscience was awakened by Atticus. In 1933, in a deeply prejudiced town in the Deep South, Harper Lee's novel published in 1960 as the Civil Rights Movement in America was beginning to move forward helped advance the theme of "stepping into one's shoes and walkin' around in them"--it's the only way to understand other people, no matter the color of their skin, the religion they profess, or their country of origin.
ReplyDeleteGang: Thanks for all your support. This has been viewed over 500 times--making it my biggest blog hit. I think it is even more appropriate today in the aftermath of KKK and Neo-Nazi movements and the terrible tragic circumstances in Texas. Pulling together is what matters. A house divided must fall.--Honest Abe
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