A Tennessee school district has removed the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Roots” from classrooms and library shelves, citing concerns about a single paragraph.
According to Raw Story, Knox County Schools banned the 1976 novel “Roots: The Saga of an American Family,” written by Alex Haley. The novel tells the story of Kunta Kinte and his descendants after being brought to the United States from Africa during the transatlantic slave trade. District officials said the decision was based on content found in Chapter 84 of the book.
District Cites Age-Appropriate Materials Act
A district spokesperson stated that the removal was not due to the book’s historical themes. Instead, officials pointed to Tennessee’s 2022 Age-Appropriate Materials Act as the basis for the decision. Carly Harrington, speaking on behalf of the district, explained that Chapter 84 contains a passage described by the law as “sadomasochistic.”
She clarified that the committee’s decision was strictly focused on whether the material was age-appropriate. Harrington also told Knox News that the district does not independently track down the original source of complaints regarding challenged books.
Book Removed Alongside Other Titles
“Roots,” along with six other titles, was officially removed from classrooms and library shelves as of May 14. The decision has drawn attention because of the novel’s historical significance and its Pulitzer Prize recognition.
The district maintains that the action was limited to compliance with state law rather than a rejection of the novel’s historical context.
For now, the book remains unavailable within Knox County Schools as discussions continue around age-appropriate standards in public education.