The Color Purple centers around a black woman named Celie in the 1930s in rural Georgia. It begins when Celie is a child. She had spent her childhood abused and raped by her father, forced to give up the children he impregnated her with, and then given away to marry a man she had never met. The story follows Celie's sad life of an unhappy marriage, seperation from her sister, a longing for her lost children and the ability to allow herself to be loved by others and by herself as well.
* For a more detailed summary - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Color_Purple
The Color Purple was first banned by a school in 1985 and continuously challenged and banned by schools, the most present date being 2008. The book has benn challenged and banned for a variety of reasons: sexual explicitness, racial relations, man's relationship with God, "rough" language, detailed descriptions of rape, and strong opinions on homosexuality.
* For more info on the banning of The Color Purple - http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics/reasonsbanned
Do you think that The Color Purple should be banned from schools? Do you think subjects such as rape should be avoided in school materials or that it should be discussed with students? What are the pros and cons of reading and discussing a book that contains these powerful issues?
* 5 points extra credit
Happy reading,
Ms. Lewis
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