Ralph Ellison's 'Invisible Man' banned in North Carolina

[jaysunb]

Ralph Ellison's novel "Invisible Man" has been banned from school libraries in Randolph County, N.C. The book is considered by many to be an masterful novel dealing with race in America.

“I didn’t find any literary value,” said school board member Gary Mason before the board voted 5-2 to ban the book.

Ellison's "Invisible Man" won the National Book Award in 1953. In 1965, a national poll of book critics deemed it the greatest American novel written since World War II.

The book was brought before the board by a parent who lodged a 12-page complaint, Asheboro's Courier-Tribune reports. She found the book's contents inappropriate for her child, an 11th grader, citing its lack of innocence, its language and sexual content.

http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-ralph-ellison-invisible-man-banned-north-carolina-20130919,0,3907081.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fmostviewed+%28L.A.+Times+-+Most+Viewed+Stories%29

I can still remember my excitement and fascination when I read this as a teenager. It was about ME and my life. It was required reading for my 11th grade english lit class. Even the white students were enthralled and educated by this book.

We have NOT overcome.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. That is shameful

Excellent excellent book. The dummies in America are taking over - book by book.

[treestar]

2. How insane

No literary value? The National Book Award says differently. As far as language and sexual content, lololololololol. From 1953? Really? Today's 11th grader?

[Blue_Tires]

3. so one nutbar complaint from a parent is enough to get it banned??

it's a wonder that the library has any books left

[roody]

4. I doubt that Gary Mason read it.

What bs.