Just about a month ago a controversial discussion developed amongst the Randolph County Board of Education over the book “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison, after Kimiyutta Parson, a mother of a Randleman High School junior submitted a lengthy request for the removal of the book from the shelves because of strong language and its sexual content. The book, which first was published in 1952, discussed social and intellectual issues that African-Americans faced during half of the 20th century. The board met on the issues and with a vote of 5-2 against the book it was declared banned from the Randolph County Schools. The school board met a week or less after the original vote to reverse their decision on “Invisible Man” because of local and nationwide disagreement with the decision.
I personally have never read “Invisible Man.” With that said, I still believe that the book should have never been banned from the shelves in the Randolph County school libraries. America has had many weak points and I think that this book touches on what really happened that many African Americans that certain people would want to not be addressed in school anymore. Even though the book is a “hard read” it is still a learning tool in how America has evolved from the early 20th century until present with African American social and intellectual issues. Fortunately, there is an overwhelming majority of people that want to see the book remain on the shelves in school libraries and also see that history which now is looked down upon today is used as a learning tool in how the world today is a different place today in the 21st century.
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