Go Tell It on the Mountain

by James Baldwin

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Student Question

Why is James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain banned?

Quick answer:

James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain is often banned due to its explicit discussions of sexuality, including homosexuality, and its depiction of masturbation, which are considered inappropriate for some school curriculums. Additionally, the book has faced challenges for its portrayal of rape, violence, and treatment of women, as well as for containing sexual content and profanity. These themes have led to its removal from some educational settings.

Expert Answers

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In addition to Greg's answer, and to be a bit more blunt and specific, Baldwin's book is frequently still banned because of its frank discussion of homosexuality, a taboo in many high school curriculums.  For example, 14 year old John masturbates in a bathroom while thinking of other boys.  Though he is ashamed of his emerging sexual orientation, (he says he "watched in himself a transformation of which he could never speak") his shame is not enough to quell his desires.  Even his Sunday school teacher is not immune from his fantasy life. 

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There are any number of reasons why a book might be banned, and this might vary from region to region. This book has been banned or challenged for at least two distinct but related reasons.

In New York, it was challenged because of rape, violence, and how women were treated. In Virginia, it was challenged because of sex and profanity.

See the website below for a few more details:

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