Reasons For Banning The Book Fahrenheit 451

The book Fahrenheit 451 describes what life would be like if books were banned. It is a very bleak world with no diversity. Why are books written by diverse authors typically banned or censored? Here is what Allison Flood has to say, “Books that fall outside the white, straight, abled mainstream are challenged more often than books that do not destabilize the status quo.” The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is one of the top 10 challenged books in the US. The reasons that this book is on the ban/challenged list is due to cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, sexual scenes, unsuited for age group, and violence. When I finished reading this book I was surprised that people are trying to ban it. His book actually gives an interesting look into the lives of some Native Americans. I agree with the first part of this quote by Alexie, “Book banners want to control debate and limit the imagination. I encourage debate and celebrate imagination". Reading fiction leads to increased empathy, which suggests to me that it’s more important than ever to make sure books with diverse

When you think of the word empathy you should imagine yourself seeing through the eyes of another, hearing through the ears of another, and walking in another person’s shoes. Reading The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian will allow you to experience through words a whole new world. You can now understand what it feels like to be the so called “underdog” on the reservation or society in general. Banning a book like this may limit the contact that younger readers have with foul words or violence but really what do you think happens on the school bus or in schools. Kids are going to hear these words and experience these things no matter what throughout their lives. Parents are trying to get there kids ready for the “real world”…like they are not living in the real world