We have banned literature for violence, explicit language, religious objections, drug abuse, and “anti-American ideology.”
Whose stories see the light of day? Whose stories get annotated, analyzed, and read aloud in an English classroom?
Whose stories do we consider valuable? Whose stories do we consider harmful or too rebellious?
In this editorial, we explore pages from three banned books by Black women through the form of blackout poetry. We erase parts of the narrative and find new truths by looking censorship in its face.
Page 164, Their Eyes Were Watching God (Zora Neale Hurston)
Ah got tuh have mah sleep Mah mama’s house is yours.” Mah mama’s house is yours.” some distance before they struck serious water. could not hold up place to rest hit a ridge the wind was weakening a she had not in the turbulent waters, much worse off couldn’t stop. Gaining no guarantee. perhaps.
Hurrying, dragging, falling crying names beating on old folks and beating on babies
White people had preempted and there was no more. They could till no rest. passed a dead man by wild animals and snakes. Common danger a conquest over the other
Another man clung A tin hung roof the wind swung like a mighty ax.
Page 65, Sula (Toni Morrison)
pointing finger at convicted and done nothing,” simply cried. Soundlessly into her mouth into his sermon, the women unfolded wings and flew for
Sweet Jesus.” And the Lamb’s eye and themselves. their hearts, in lodged deep the newly world killed where the bullet went in. and lover they could see the oldest and most devastating pain remembrance left their pews. They spoke, full of ecstasy all that life
Page 134, The Color Purple (Alice Walker)
Jesus Christ had hair like lamb’s wool. not straight, What can I tell you about the walls over people and the restaurant. And white
They love Africa. house finer than any white person’s a hundred churches! sometimes our mouths just dropped open and goodness they give and give and then reach down and give everything. we were tired and dirty. different from colored.
we said Africa he looked offended Now I have seen a beautiful city
