Mexican White Boy Should Not Be Banned

Currently, one of the greatest controversies in today's school system surrounds whether or not certain books should be banned from school libraries. For instance, some educators believe that books that contain language, drugs, and violence can aid in teaching children to think for themselves. Meanwhile, many parents feel that books containing language, drugs, and violence need to be banned, to protect children from these strenuous ideas and information. One of the books that have been banned is Mexican White Boy. Those who support the banning of this book often point out the sensitive topics within. However, This book should not be banned in public schools today. It brings to light Imposter syndrome and Absent Parent Syndrome.

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For instance, Danny had just been beaten up, and he wrote to his dad, “A big black dude who was trying to mess with Sofia. I pushed him and yelled at him in Spanish and then I punched him right in the face, Dad. You should have seen how fast this kid fell to the asphalt. And then I just stood over him, waiting to see if he’d try to get up.” (De La Peña, pg 28) Here, Danny is making up false reality, pretending to be someone he is not for his father. He is doing this because he misses his father, and he feels that if his dad were here then he would not have been beaten up. This is one of the very common symptoms of A.P.S among high schoolers. Many argue that this topic does not need awareness, and not many high schoolers struggle with A.P.S. However, in a 2023 study on A.P.S., researchers from Valparaiso College found, “One in 4 high schoolers struggle with A.P.S.” That is a shockingly large number, and if the proper awareness is not given, then the number could continue to grow. Thus, if we ban this book then others will never be able to discover that they are suffering from A.P.S. To conclude, the book Mexican White Boy should not be banned from schools because it sheds light on