Reading TKAM

Through too many hours spent on social media and online forums, I've found that there's a semi-universal experience: reading To Kill a Mockingbird in class towards the end of middle school or beginning of high school and often — but not always — hearing a non-Black person in the classroom read out the n-word. The argument over teaching To Kill a Mockingbird is one that has existed since its publication and will likely exist for long after the next generation finishes high school. Some administrators might have more "traditional" rationales for banning the novel (for instance, the appearance of racism is enough in some areas), while others have repeatedly stated that reading such novels by uninformed authors is not the way to have educated discussions on racism and other social issues; they're fine with making students feel uncomfortable by discussing racism, but there's a problem with how the issue is presented. However, many argue that TKAM is an important work of literature, a part of the traditional 20th century literary canon that must be read.

In How to Read Literature like a Professor, Foster presents his own take on this category of controversial novels: yes, we should attempt to read novels in their original context and perhaps make ourselves uncomfortable, but it is understandable that students might not read literature that stretches beyond just mild discomfort because some works of literature stretch discomfort too far.

I don't have a perfect solution to this problem. If one existed, someone long before me would likely have already suggested it. But a solution that has been proposed multiple times (and it does have inherent problems, like being incompatible with already overfilled curricula) is to acknowledge that books themselves should not be the center of general lessons but rather a part of teaching broader ideas. So, when racism or point of view or prejudice is taught, outdated books like To Kill a Mockingbird can — and perhaps should — be a part of the conversation, but that conversation should be guided by moderators who know their audience better (teachers, for instance) and should include Black voices and voices from other people of color.  

If books like TKAM must be read in class, they should be a part of a larger lesson including discussion on Lee's controversial writing and problematic description of characters in the book. Lee is undeniably an incredibly talented writer, and TKAM is a great introduction to symbolism, unreliable narrators, and other literary elements that are instrumental to gaining a greater appreciation for literature as a whole; however, there's a reason why it makes some students of color (especially Black students) feel so uncomfortable, and addressing that issue is vital in addressing the issue of education in a multicultural society.