The Black History of Banned Books
Includes monthly prompt for October
This week (October 1–7) is the 41st anniversary of Banned Books Week, begun in 1982 with the aim of “celebrating the freedom to read” in response to a rising amount of challenges in schools and libraries — much as there has been again in recent years, particularly in certain states of America.
This month (October 1–31) is also Black History Month.
Tying these two events together here, is the novel pictured above: ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’, the first book I read (as a preteen) which began to open my eyes to the horror of slavery and racial prejudice in the history of the US, Britain and Europe.
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896) published more than 30 books, but it was her best-selling anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin that catapulted her to international celebrity and secured her place in history.
In 1851, Stowe offered the publisher of the abolitionist newspaper The National Era a piece that would “paint a word picture of slavery.” Stowe expected to write three or four installments, but Uncle Tom’s Cabin grew to more than 40.
— Uncle Tom’s Cabin — Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
I remember being particularly fascinated with the character of Topsy. Topsy is a young slave girl who is rescued (aka bought) by…
