The question
why might parents,
teachers, and/or schools
try to ban
or purposefully exclude
the text from
their bookshelves has
many points to
start from for
many people and
many books. You might
just need a
few pieces of evidence
or
just some readers
opinions of why
they should ban
the book. In the book “The Contender”
By Robert Lipsyte
it tells the
story of Alfred
who lives in
a crowded apartment
with his aunt
and three cousins in
Harlem in the
1960s. in the
story Alfred is a
high school dropout,
working a dead
end job and
is always getting
pushed around by
his friends. Alfred
wants to be
somebody, so he
decides to take
up boxing and
starts training at Donatelli’s gym.
I believe “The
Contender” shouldn’t be
banned but should
have an age requirement of
14+ to be
read. For example,
really strong and
immature language was
used in the
story, on page
4 the story
states “Jews squeeze
the eagle till
it screams.” Said Hollis “The eagle
screams ‘faster, Alfred,
sweep that floor,
you skinny n*****.”
Also, the story
shows racism which
is stated on
page 5 the
story states “You
just a slave,”
sneered Major. “You
was born a slave. You
gonna die a
slave.” Also, the
book shows the
use of alcohol
as stated on
page 117 the
story states major
came around with
the wine bottle,
and Arlene drank
from it. Alfred
pushed it away,
twice, when Major
pressed it against
his chest. Then
he came back
with half an orange soaked
in vodka. And
lastly the story shows drug
referencing in the book
as shown on
page 198, “I
need money” “For a fix? That
won’t
do you no
good.” “I’m gonna
quit, Alfred, but
I need one
more, just one
more.” All in
all, this book should be
read with caution.
Teenagers should have
control over what
they should read
and if they
want to read
this book let
them read it. This
book
shows the strong
effect of drugs
and alcohol on
people. And that
is just some
of the aspects
that will grip
readers
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