An Ontario school board has taken the extraordinary step of banning all books written by white authors that contain the “N-word” even if they have themes that counter racism.
An administrative procedures directive to educators by the Lambton Kent District School Board instructed teachers to never teach material written by white authors that contains the N-word.
In particular, the school board singled out Noble Prize winner and author John Steinbeck’s book Of Mice and Men. The novella, which is set during the Great Depression follows the travails of two migrant workers. It has been the frequent target of censors who take issue with the offensive and racist language used by characters often towards the black stable hand character named Crooks.
“Written materials containing racial slurs or epithets should never be used in class if they are written by authors who do not belong to the group about whom the material is written (ie. John Steinbeck is a white author and the use of his novel, Of Mice and Men, is no longer acceptable as he uses the n-word throughout his writing),” wrote school board officials.
“There are times when teachers will use materials, that is connected to appropriately aged curriculum, by authors from racial backgrounds that contain racial slurs and epithets specific to that author’s racial group. As said before, great care must be taken in preparing students to encounter such texts.”
The school board emphasized that “teachers should never allow that word to be used aloud in class nor allow anyone to re-write that word out for anyone to see.”
“For clarity, the use of books that include the N-word will only be permitted if the author of the book is Black,” the directive reads.
Teachers are also required to read an in-depth trigger warning explaining that the book was written by a minority should it contain offensive language.
Attempts to ban the book have also been in the U.K. as recently as last year. The American Library Association currently lists the novella as the 28th most frequently banned and challenged book.
However, scholars specializing in Steinbeck’s work have disputed interpretations of the book as racism.
According to San Jose Nicholas Taylor English and comparative literature director Nicholas Taylor, the book delves into the exploitation of racism, sexism and disabilities during a troubling period in American history from a realistic perspective.
“There’s a long history of Steinbeck’s books being banned or being debated. A lot of controversy,” Taylor told the Niagara Gazette in 2021.
Steinbeck was no stranger to controversy, but his philosophy was he wanted to people to understand one another, and he felt the way to do that best was to present them as they are.”
Earlier this year, the Surrey school district also banned the novella following an “equity scan.”
