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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an autobiography of the author Maya Angelou. The book takes place in Arkansas during the 1930s and 1940s and highlights Angelou's early life as she faces racism, isolation, and sexual abuse. Since 1983, this book has faced many challenges and bans with common complaints regarding sexual content, the topic of rape, offensive language, and homosexuality. Because I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a book typically assigned to high school students, most complaints are made by the parents of high school students who believe the content is too graphic. Some students appreciate the powerful message the story presents while others may feel uncomfortable with the difficult topic portrayed. Because the subject of rape is exceedingly difficult and handled differently by individuals this book will continue to be challenged by schools, parents, districts, and students.

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The main argument and concern for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the sexual abuse depicted may be too inappropriate and distressing for school-age children to read. Many believe that parents should be able to determine what their children read especially when introducing an upsetting topic like rape. Defenders of the book argue introducing difficult topics to students will help prepare them for real-world issues. They also believe that because the main character is a school-age child scared to speak up about her trauma, students reading this book will be encouraged and inspired to speak up about their own difficult experiences. Other people do not want this book completely banned from their district or school, but they would prefer an age limit for students reading this book.

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This issue with the book arose because some parents shelter their children longer than necessary. High school students' parents who find this book too explicit fail to realize their children will be adults in an unsheltered world in just a few years. I believe parents who make this argument genuinely believe the book is an issue and have no other malicious intent. However, in rural southern states, the topic of African Americans, especially during the era of Jim Crow is a topic they do not want taught to their students.

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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings should be allowed in all school districts because of the literary significance and inspirational elements of the book. Though this story presents difficult topics, they are real-life experiences school-aged kids encounter. It would be more beneficial for students to read an uplifting story rather than be shielded from the harsh realities. Aside from the difficult topics, the story has a wonderful use of metaphors, symbolism, and themes which could all be used for students to analyze. Overall, the powerful message in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings outweighs its upsetting topics.

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The Color Purple authored by Alice Walker tells the story of Celie, an African American woman who experiences extreme abuse during the early 1900s in Georgia. This book has become controversial by many Parents because of sexual violence, profanity, and lesbianism. The Color Purple is well recognized for highlighting not only the struggles African American women went through due to the dehumanization of the black race, but also because of the power dynamics between men and women in the early 1900s. Because Walker’s book discusses topics considered controversial, for years there have been, and continued to be, arguments and challenges on the age, topic, and discussion appropriation. In states like Florida and Texas, there have been successful bans in school districts for explicit content and sexual violence.

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The main arguments parents make against The Color Purple are the complex issues presented in the story are too intense for school-age children to read. They believe the racism certain characters experience may make some students feel uncomfortable. Also, they argue that the abuse the women in the story endure would be very upsetting for students to read. Supporters of the book believe that Walker's powerful writing and storytelling should be taught to students. They also believe the themes of female empowerment and resilience presented in the story should be showcased to students. Others argue for the historical and cultural significance of African Americans which should be taught to students. One usual but relevant argument against the book is its negative depiction of African American men presented throughout the book.

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This issue with The Color Purple arose because of the bluntness from Walker when writing about sexual violence. Walker wrote directly on the subjects rather than implying violence. Parents struggled with the idea of their children reading an uncensored story and the possible questions their children may ask them. Other issues arose because of the realistic harsh portrayal of African American women in the 1920s. Many schools are against teaching students the harsh reality experienced by minorities because parents argue their kids will be uncomfortable, or they believe the mistreatment was deserved.

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I believe The Color Purple should be allowed in school, but there should be a limit on grade levels allowed to utilize the book in their teaching. This book discusses topics that should ideally be taught to students by parents at an elementary level, but if a parent at that level allows their child to read it, they should have the option to check it out of their school library. Once a student begins to hit middle and high school, they should understand topics presented in the story, allowing the teacher to focus on analyzing the literacy in the book rather than having to explain the difficult topics. These topics should not be ignored but they should not be the primary focus. I also believe this story teaches a good historical lesson about the issues African American women faced in the early 1900s.