My banned books week art quilt is not on the list from last years banned or challenged books but I am positive it will be. I had just finished reading Go Set a Watchman when I heard about the challenge coming up and since the book left me thinking with stirred up emotions I wanted to pay tribute to it.
The language used in this book can be offensive but you must realize Harper Lee wrote this in 1957. People used such words all the time and racism was commonplace in 1957, especially in the south. Harper Lee through the voice of a grown up " scout" from the much beloved To Kill a Mockingbird is pointing out the evils of such goings on. I enjoy reading books that give me a feel of a different place and time and at that place and time in our history the "n word" and others like were used in everyday conversations so I can accept the use of such terms in a book such as this. I did not however feel comfortable putting the "n word" in my quilt.
This quote stuck with me when I read it - she was listening to her aunt go on about the poor, poor n_____s.
How they couldn't help themselves because they have smaller brain pans or some such nonsense.
This is Jean Louise's response
"You are fascinated with yourself. You will say anything that occurs to you, but what I can’t understand are the things that do occur to you. I should like to take your head apart, put a fact in it, and watch it go its way through the runnels of your brain until it comes out of your mouth."
And this is my response
It is beyond me how some have admiration, fairness, respect, love justice and honor in their brains
And then turn around and spew out such vile and hateful language.
I recommend reading Go Set a Watchman. But do to go into it comparing it to To Kill a Mockingbird. It isn't as involved or as good but will leave you with an insight on what the south was like in 1957 and will leave you feeling compassion towards your fellow man (and woman) and maybe a little sorry for the bigots of the past and sorry to say present. I listened to it with the audiobook version and the reader is Reese Witherspoon who does an excellent job.
If you were to make a quilt about a book, banned or otherwise (and I certainly hope you join us in the banned book challenge) what book would it be?
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Wow! So wonderful. Growing up in the south in the '50s was an interesting thing. One day I cam home from school and told my mother that the kids were chanting the segregation chant. I remember she was so furious.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you that not all Southerners are racists. That is the sad part that has been overlooked.
That said, there were and still are, those like Frank's mother who used the word till the day she died.
Your piece is wonderful. Deep and insightful. I need to take some time this weekend to honor a banned book!
who used the word
I lived in North Carolina from 2004-2014 and heard shocking words from lots of people, from little old ladies to children. I found a level of bigotry and racism that was amazingly commonplace. Just don't understand how it could still be like that today, but it is.
ReplyDeleteI did read the book and was trying not to compare it to Mockingbird. The racism was shocking, but not unexpected for that time and place. I think your quilt is a wonderful interpretation. I love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful. I've not read the book but your blog post and quilt bring it to life for me anyway. Thank you for participating!
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