Nelle Harper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird, is to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Nov. 5th. (Well, so there is something I can agree with Bush on. Who knew!)
I read To Kill A Mockingbird as a child, and it had a profound effect on me. I’m sure I’m not alone in that result!
Some of my earliest memories are of my 1st and 2nd grade school teachers urging me away from associating with my black classmates (who were my neighbors and friends) and towards my white classmates. I know that the indignation I felt at the time helped solidify in me what would become a lifelong fight against such idiotic injustices as racism.
Another stand-out school memory is arguing with my junior high English teacher over the appropriateness of my use of the pronoun “she” in conjunction with the noun “plumber”.
As you might imagine, reading Mockingbird in high school validated both my penchant for social justice and my insistence on being whoever I wished to be. It was a powerful and beautiful support that I will never forget. Thank you Ms. Lee for your work of beauty and love. I won’t assume to know what you hoped for readers to get out of it, but for me it was love and respect as I’d never seen them expressed.
I hope others will share their experiences with Lee’s writings in the comments.
p.s. here is a bit of interesting reading on local reactions to the efforts of some to remove the word “nigger” from dramatizations of the novel.
cross-posted at Pam’s House Blend.
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And here I thought this post was going to be about “To Kill A Mockingbird!”
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Instead, it’s a tribute to you, Laurel, and all the wonderful things you stand for like racial justice and equality.
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I know I can speak for everyone else here and unequivocally state that you are the most wonderful person in the history of everything.
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If I may be so bold, I’d like to invite all the members of BMG to add their thoughts on how great and wonderful you are.
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Who would like to go first?
I was telling my story to explain why Harper Lee’s book had such profound affect on me as a kid. It was my way of sending a heartfelt appreciation out to her. Even if she’ll never read it.
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If you’re not familiar with this form of community conversation, don’t let it bother you. But consider jumping in and giving it a try yourself.
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Have you read To Kill a Mockingbird? What does it mean to you?
I think Laurel is a wonderful BMG contributor and has contributed much more to the dialogue here than Mr. Weebles ever has or ever will.
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I enjoyed Laurel’s post.
thank you for your kind words.
I’d comment on it but it’s been like 15 years since I read it.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is rightly considered an American classic. Lee writes wonderfully. It is really a good book. I think what moves this book to classic status is its morality and ability to draw sympathy out of readers. I have read this book for many times. If you have not yet read it , you may want to look at it:
http://www.dealstudi…
…didn’t read the book
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There have been rumors that the book was actually written in large part by Truman Capote and some others. It really doesn’t matter since Lee was a close associate of Capote’s), but the style (as far as I can discern it from the movie) seems to be not that dissimilar to that of Capote.
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When I was in college, I actually read more than a few works by Capote (odd for an engineering student, I’ll admit).
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As an aside, I’m glad that she is still alive. So many of the great Southern writers are not. A bygone era that should not have gone by.
I’ve heard that. I don’t think it’s true. Capote never had any trouble laying claim to his own writings, which were numerous. Also, I’ve read shorter pieces Lee has written, and she clearly was capable of the prose in the book.
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Given the nature of this diary, it might be nice for you to provide evidence if you are going to repeat such rumors. Unlike you, I think it does matter who wrote the book. People should be recognized for their efforts and insights, especially when they are women in a male-dominated society.