Pupil walks out in 'racist' book row

Brian Lashley

March 03, 2009

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A scene from the Hollywood movie adaptation of the book

A scene from the Hollywood movie adaptation of the book 1/2 Play Slideshow

A BLACK pupil walked out of school in protest after the 'racially offensive' novel he is studying for a GCSE was read aloud in class.

Tinashe Makunike said he felt uncomfortable at the use of racist language in the classic To Kill A Mockingbird.

The novel is taught in schools across the country. Critics regard it as an anti-racist novel which exposes prejudice in Depression-era America.

But 16-year-old Tinashe, a prefect and the only black student in his class at Holy Family College in Heywood, near Rochdale, says reading the book in class made him feel 'inferior and undermined' as he had experienced racist taunts at the school.

He walked out after a drama company acted out scenes from the text using the word 'n*****'.

Alternative

He had already complained about studying it and his requests to read an alternative text were refused.

Published in 1960, the novel recounts the fictional trial of a black worker in an American small town who is wrongly accused of attacking a white woman.

Author Harper Lee won the Pulitzer Prize for the novel, which was turned into an Oscar-winning film, starring Geregory Peck as the liberal lawyer Atticus Finch.

Teachers argue that the book is highly critical of racism and the point of studying it is to challenge racism. But Tinashe, from Heywood, said: "My mum explained to the teachers that I wasn't happy about it, but I still had to sit through a drama where people were using those words.

"People speak like that in real life but we can study that in history or politics, there is no need to make up fictional stories about it.

Impact

"Books like this do nothing to alleviate or reduce racism but have contributed negatively to the school community with me getting the worst impact of its negativity.

"This type of book only creates and incites insights hate, violence and racism among races due to terms used in them, which are grossly degrading.

"Times have changed. Racist fiction should be buried in the past."

Tinashe said that after he complained, a pupil reading the book out in class was told to apologise to him after a character in the novel used racist language.

The teenager, who is studying eight GCSEs and some advanced exams, recently started attending lessons following a 10-day walkout.

His class have finished To Kill A Mocking Bird, but he will still have to study it for his GCSE exam.

Disobeyed

Tinashe has been at the school for four years and until this incident had a good record. Last Friday he was excluded following unconnected allegations that he disobeyed his teacher. He refutes the accusation.

Tinashe's family are backing him. Mum Thelma said: "He asked the English teacher to say that the terms used were not right. The teacher asked if he would like to use another word such as black.

"It was not necessary to put him in that position. I said to the headteacher that it wouldn't make any difference because in literature you have to quote the words as they are and therefore if you change it, it is pointless.

"Such books should be banned. This has affected his grades because he was getting A stars and his grades have now gone down to C and D because of pressure."

Sensitively

Headteacher Susan Casey said her staff had approached the subject sensitively and any incidents of racism in the school had been dealt with severely.

She said: "While the student was not able to have a choice of which two books he studied because this decision was teacher-led, we did inform the student ahead of him reading To Kill A Mocking Bird of its prejudicial nature and that it did contain a racially offensive word.

"Both texts allow teachers to address issues of prejudice so our students can gain a better understanding of its historical context. If the student felt uncomfortable at any time he had the option to approach me or his English teacher so we could discuss it.

"We are extremely concerned about the student's education as he has not attended lessons since scenes from To Kill A Mocking Bird were staged in school by an outside theatre company.

"We have a duty to provide education to our young people, but we do have a clear attendance policy and we are concerned by the student's absence as he is at a pivotal point in his GCSE education."

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isafact (03/03/2009 at 07:27)

Grow up Thelma and maybe he will too, the world is not made of milk and honey, ask any black american, that book is in every class room in the u.s and thay are glad of it.there was a time when it would not have been.Its an in your face story it drags predgudice out into the open kicking and screaming for all to see and you want them to get rid of it, whats rong with you.MAYBE YOU SHOULD READ IT COS I,LL BET YOU HAVENT HAVE YOU.

Audenshaw Bob (03/03/2009 at 07:31)

I was annoyed at school many a time. We were being taught about the Crusades and were told about the violence that took place and how bad it was. As a Christian should I have seen this as a slight on me and walked out because I was 'offended'.

The biggest thing that you can level at someone thesedays is that you have 'offended' them. Pity this lad when he goes out into the big wide world.

Wy not get to the end of the book and see that it is actually condemning racism not supporting it. The book uses those words so that you can see what idiots the people were who used them. Think about it.

NS (03/03/2009 at 07:32)

Tanishe should be congratulated. He has discovered an aspect to this classic that has thus far eluded thousands of academics and millions of ordinary readers who have enjoyed it.

GL, Stockport (03/03/2009 at 07:52)

This poor boy and his parents are seriously misguided. "To kill a mockingbird" is an anti-racist classic, it did more for "the cause" than decades of "affirmative-action" laws; they should be happy that it was selected for reading in a predominantly-white class. And statements like "such books should be banned" (always WRONG) show a really closed mind, which is never a good thing. Besides, I don't see the point of complaining about the N word in such a classic book when every black rapper out there (including homegrown Dizzee Rascal) routinely use it.

This said, there might be more about this than meets the eye. Maybe the teacher selected the book in order to fight existing racist tendencies from part of the class. Maybe he had been taunted before. But if this is the case, he should complain about his classmates rather than the teacher.

PW, Manchester (03/03/2009 at 07:58)

Oh well, the excellent book, and its anti-racism theme will have to be re-written, as will the real world.

Dr Devon, St Peter's Square (03/03/2009 at 07:59)

This is a complex, dense literary text which needs plenty of social-cultural explanations about the historical background to slavery and ongoing prejudice in the southern states of America. Such anintroduction needs to take place before the text, film or other dramatisation is introduced and in the case of students of African descent, it needs one to one mentoring and tuition to ensure that the background is understood. Tinashe's response is natural; it is similar to the feelings we have when we are moved by a story, film, poem but for a variety of feelings he is stuck in the emotion and would benefit from cognitive behavioural therapy to enable him to move out of the emotion and on with his studies. This is a situation where teachers may feel defensive and parents affronted, so it needs great sensitivity and possible neutral support. I hope that a resolution is found in the next few weeks.

Savage Mandarin, Manchester (03/03/2009 at 08:07)

The boy needs to grow up.

Removal, Swinton (03/03/2009 at 08:17)

"Books like this do nothing to alleviate or reduce racism"

I think that line tells us all we need to know about Tinashe. Maybe if he bothered to read it through to the end.......

sheikh, prattle and droll (03/03/2009 at 08:17)

Let's hope, should he fulfil his ambition of becoming a doctor, he shows better judgement than displayed in the story above. Talk about missing the point...

McrJac, Sale (03/03/2009 at 08:25)

Jounalism at it's best here. A non-story involving a publicity seeking teenager - and you give him the front page!

JohnB, Manchester (03/03/2009 at 08:33)

I can see why he could be upset, but protesting at school is the wrong way to go about it, which has ended up in him being excluded. Since the syllabus is set out by the government he needs to target it to them.

Marquis de Sade, isle of man (03/03/2009 at 08:33)

This pupil is going to find life difficult with this chip on his/her shoulder. We don't need to tip toe around people of other races when it is obvious we have no racist intention. Perhaps this person should be pleased that they are a member of a largely unbiased society and that we recognize and explore the injustices that have taken place throughout the world.

Al Capone of Atherton, Atherton (03/03/2009 at 08:43)

This book reflects the history of the times. Words like that were used frequently. How else are pupils supposed to know what happened in that era? To water them down would be a denial. It is not the black man in the story who comes out without any credit. I am concerned that the young man has drawn even more attention to himself by his take on the whole situation.

Princess_Pam, Crumpsall (03/03/2009 at 08:43)

This is ridiculous. Great Literature shouldn't have to be politically correct just because it may offend. Literature is there to challenge prejudice and provoke intelligent thought and debate. Sometimes the anti-racist card is used for the slightest reasons as an excuse for censorship.

20 years ago I was an officer of what was then the real Labour Party and we went before a large hall full of angry muslims demanding we support them in their calls for Satanic Verses to be banned. We refused on the grounds that literature has a right to offend and should not be censored. Remember, Lady Chatterly's lover was banned for a time, and Hitler tried to burn books as his way of censorship. And was Lolita banned or did they just try to ban it?

Don't ban literature, whether in play form or in novel form, challenge it if you don't like it but do not censor it.

jongreg, irlam (03/03/2009 at 08:46)

Here we go again...why make such a big deal out of a classic novel!!
Its political correctness gone mad again..
I cant believe that this is news...
Surely the content of the book has been vetted..it must have been to be on the ciriculam.
Dont say we are going to lose a classic novel because of one person.
It is still used in American history and they are the most forward thinking countries on the planet.
Dont let us be hoodwinked into another "supposed race-row"

Ron, Gorton (03/03/2009 at 09:03)

In short this is the message that this classic booked teaches:

''The message of To Kill a Mockingbird is that people often have prejudiced, incorrect opinions of people, which should be avoided by employing a method involving empathy and understanding. These discriminatory views are shown through several situations in the novel. One of these is the racism shown from the Anglo-Saxon people towards the African-Americans. This racism makes it difficult for the African-Americans to live in peace, as the Anglo-Saxons treat them without respect or consideration.''

So the message of the book is positive and shows racism and prejudice is wrong. Surely this people should have applauded this book and it's message?

If it was a white person who walked out in protest then you might say that is because he doesn't agree with the book's message and was racist. I think that the young chap in question here has got his wires crossed.

Maye it did use a word that he didn't like but that is the point isn't it. This word is used to show how dispicable these racists were.

If it was a book about prejudice against homosexuals or any other minority there would be derogatory words in their wouldn't there?

In the end the pupils would have learnt from this book but I am afraid this young chap has done himslef nor the wider community any favours. No doubt this book will be banned in schools and it's valuable message won't be taught. Is this what he wanted? I doubt it. Now they will start to read books on David Beckham instead.

Andy2, Manchester (03/03/2009 at 09:20)

does he not realise the book is very ANTI-racism? This lad should grow up and learn to consider things more carefully instead of making grand but silly gestures like this.

The Seeker, Eccles (03/03/2009 at 09:33)

Perhaps we should re-write history. Pretend losts of nasty things never happened, and cetain 'words' never existed. Only then, will the PC brigade be happy.

Charlotte Collins (03/03/2009 at 09:41)

I thought I'd heard it all, obviously I was wrong. Whats the bet that this book is now removed from the curriculum

B.Dylan, Manchester (03/03/2009 at 09:43)

I can't believe the teacher insisted the child should appologise for using the N***** word? That is classic blame shifting the child was only doing as he was told by the teacher. In this day and age teachers can't afford to upset students it could cost thier job and in some sad cases their lifes!

Peter Beagrie`s beagle (03/03/2009 at 09:44)

Life is all about the variety and diversity of literature, art, music, politics and religion.

To grow up as a mature and balanced person you need to take in lots of information about all kinds of things in the world.

This lad has totally missed the point of the book, he should read it fully, apply some intelligence to the work and UNDERSTAND the story, if he doesn`t, he doesn`t deserve to pass the exam.

He needs to grow up and quick!

Little Panda, manchester (03/03/2009 at 09:48)

I suggest the boy's mother reads the books first. As a disabled person I do not like words like cripple, spaz or handicapped which I have been called in the past, however a novel or film which uses these terms to highlight prejudice would be fine in my eyes.

1970, hell (03/03/2009 at 09:48)

WHY WAS THE PUPIL WHO READ THE BOOK OUT IN CLASS MADE TO APOLOGISE TO HIM? HES DONE NOTHING WRONG,IF I WAS THE PARENT OF THIS STUDENT I WOULD BE THE ONE KICKING UP A FUSS.

Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (03/03/2009 at 09:49)

Being offended is the new hypochondria !!

Everyone seems to want to be a "victim" these days..

I must say I have heard the "n" word used several times in the past year...
Twice in a black rap song and countless times by black youths referring to other black youths....

Fat Eskimo (03/03/2009 at 09:50)

A truly amazing book. There is nothing I can comment that can add to what has already been said but feel it's important to stand up for a great piece of work that everyone should read. I suppose the fact that it is still so provocative all these years later shows it's true strength and maybe as a result of this even more people will pick up a copy.

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