Removal of Pulitzer Prize-Winning ‘Roots’ From Tennessee Schools Causes Backlash
The district said the removal followed a review of one passage and was required by state law, while the book can still be taught in class.
- Tennessee's Knox County Schools removed Alex Haley's 1976 novel 'Roots' from library shelves on Thursday, citing a passage in Chapter 84 that officials deemed 'sadomasochistic'.
- Officials cited Tennessee's Age-Appropriate Materials Act as the basis for the decision, which mandates evaluating isolated passages rather than a work's broader historical context. Assistant Superintendent Keith Wilson noted the law eliminates nuance.
- 'Roots' joins 124 books banned by the district over the past two years. District spokesperson Carly Harrington revealed the district does not 'track or document the original source' of complaints.
- Board member John Butler denounced the ban as an 'injustice,' while Bill Haley, the author's grandson, questioned why the district targets such significant American literature. Butler urged colleagues to fight the banning process.
- KCS administrators are considering an appeals process for committee decisions as board members prepare to discuss the ban at their next meeting. The district currently lacks a formal process for appealing removals.
16 Articles
16 Articles
‘Roots’ Removed: Knox County Schools Pull Alex Haley’s Pulitzer Prize Winning Classic From Libraries Ahead Of 50th Anniversary
Months before the 50th anniversary of Roots, a Tennessee school district removed it from libraries due to "abuse" that violates a state law
'We cannot erase history': Knox County Schools removes Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from school libraries
"Roots" by Alex Haley was taken off shelves after a district review found part of the book violated a relatively new state law called the age-appropriate materials act.
Removal of Pulitzer Prize winner "Roots" from Knox County Schools causes backlash
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Knox County Schools has banned "Roots," a Pulitzer Prize-winning historical novel by Alex Haley that recounts the multi-generational struggle of his family, starting from the mid-Atlantic slave trade. Under Tennessee's Age-Appropriate Materials Act, parents can file a report if they believe classroom materials are inappropriate. KCS banned "Roots" because of Chapter [...]
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