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November 02, 2005
The Bad-Boy Boom
Mallioux, ''The Bad-Boy Boom'' (pp. 43-49) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
One line that I thought was very interesting was on page 48. The quote was from a member of the Concord Library Committee. It said, "The whole book is of a class that is more profitable for the slums than it is for respectable people, and it is trash of the veriest sort." Obviously they thought that this book was not good enough for their community. This may seem far-fetched but that quote sounds pretty racist to me. This book was not good enough for their community it belongs in the slums? That sounds as though it should be given to the lower class people, even if it should be censored in other places. Like the lower class people still deserve to read it.
Posted by StacyEstatico at November 2, 2005 09:02 AM
Comments
yes like the upper class is too good to read some redneck book about racism!!
Posted by: michelle koss at November 2, 2005 05:39 PM
I agree, that was pretty snippy of that person to say that about the book. I personally think that when it comes to books about this particular topic, people were afraid to willingly admit, "Yes, that WAS how people were treated then."
Instead, people who held any sort of title of prestige would rather ban such books and pretend the whole thing didn't happen, because then it helps them sleep a little better at night.
Goodness, that sounded like I was mad or something...
Posted by: Valerie Masciarelli at November 2, 2005 08:53 PM