Of Mice and Men facing woke backlash as student demands book banned from schools over racism
A student has called for Of Mice and Men to be removed from the GCSE English literature course
BBC
A student has called for Of Mice and Men to be removed from the GCSE English literature course over some of its racist context.
The novel - by John Steinbeck - was written in 1937 and portrays life in the 1930s, but student Angel Mhande has raised concerns about its racial slurs, including the N-word.
Angel Mhande from Belfast said she doesn't think the book is "appropriate" for schools today and is calling on the the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) to replace it.
"I just don't find Of Mice and Men appropriate for schools and how that impacts young black people, and young white people," she told the BBC.
Angel Mhande from Belfast said she doesn't think the book is "appropriate" for schools today
PA
The novel is one of seven options that schools in Northern Ireland and Wales can pick from for pupils taking GCSE English literature.
Even though it is optional - and not on the syllabus in England - it is also chosen by many schools.
The book is based on main protagonists George Milton and Lennie Small, who are two migrant ranch workers looking for work in 1930s California.
Another character named Crooks also features in the book and is facing discrimination because he is black.
According to the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, Of Mice and Men was one of the 100 most challenged books during the years 2010-19.
Mhande said: "It's a very violent book to begin with but it's mostly just to do with racism and how that affects me and some other black students in my class.
"It's just really uncomfortable sitting in a classroom where we have to listen to racist slurs and comments.
"I understand the history behind it and stuff but you can learn that in history about slavery."
The CCEA said: "The language given by Steinbeck to characters in the book reflects the discriminatory language and attitudes of this period, which we recognise as offensive today."
"This and other messages/themes from Of Mice and Men reminds the reader of the struggle for racial equality and the importance of equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusion in today's society."
"The impact that it's had is that it just makes you feel weak, really. It doesn't sit right," Mhande added.
Mhande's mother Apolonia Mbondiya agrees with her daughter that it is time for CCEA to replace Of Mice and Men.
Mhande's mother Apolonia Mbondiya agrees with her daughter that it is time for CCEA to replace Of Mice and Men
PA
Mbondiya said: "We have history, which is dealing with slavery, which is dealing with the suffragettes fighting for the rights of women.
"We have quite a lot on racism and discrimination and everything that happens in the world but we are moving on to other ways of dealing with past history and not repeating the same thing over and over.
"I'm not sure what Of Mice and Men is actually teaching kids."
Professor of American literature at Queen's University Belfast, Philip McGowan argues that teachers needed more detailed guidance on how to teach Of Mice and Men.
"We can't just eradicate books from the past and their contexts," he said.
"But if we are going to teach them in the 21st century we need to be alive to and aware of those contexts.
"It's a really important text to get students to engage with but, yes, teachers should have some guidance about some of the terminology, some of the words used and how outdated they are."
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