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To: H-NET/OIEAHC Electronic Association in Early American Studies <H-OIEAHC@H-NET.MSU.EDU> In a related issue, I teach a Law and Literature course at New York Law School, and I teach Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD every year. I have had diverse class enrollments. I read from the book from time to time, and I must confront the word "nigger" in the book, and similar language. I confront it directly, without apology, but with care to address the use of language -- that, after all, is one of the course's central themes. A lecturer or class discussion leader can step into role and speak in role, always making sure that his or her students know that that's what is going on, and ensuring both that the students understand the choice of language by someone in a given time and place, and the power of that language to injure feelings and to cause various other kinds of damage. In no way, I respectfully submit, would that kind of carefully considered and executed role-play as a teaching device allow the sensibilities of the past (or a part of it, anyway) to ride roughshod over the sensibilities of the present. ===== Richard B. Bernstein * Adjunct Professor of Law, New York Law School, 57 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013-2960 * Book Review Editor for Constitutional Books, H-LAW <http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~law/> * Senior Research Fellow and Director of Historical Research, Council on Citizenship Education, Russell Sage College <rbernstein@nyls.edu>, <richard_b_bernstein@yahoo.com>
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