Banned Books 01: Race and racism in the USA

The novel is written in the form of letters, primarily from Celie to God and later to her sister Nettie. It depicts Celie's journey from a life of oppression and abuse to one of independence and self-realization. The story explores themes of feminism, gender equality, sexuality, and the struggles faced by African American women in the rural South during the 1930s and 1940s. Celie's life is influenced by various characters, including her lover Shug Avery, her sister Nettie, and her husband Albert, as she discovers her own strength and finds joy despite the hardships she faces.

The Hate U Give, written by Angie Thomas, is a young adult novel that follows the story of Starr Carter, a 16-year-old African-American girl who navigates between her impoverished inner-city neighborhood and her predominantly white private school. The novel centers around Starr's experience after witnessing the fatal shooting of her childhood friend, Khalil, by a white police officer. This event propels Starr into a national news story and leads to her involvement in social activism, highlighting themes of systemic racism, police brutality, black identity, and the struggles of code-switching. The book has been praised for its timely and powerful portrayal of the Black Lives Matter movement and the challenges faced by black Americans, although it has also faced controversy and been one of the most challenged books in recent years.

The novel follows the lives of two Indian Muslims, Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha, who survive a plane hijacking and subsequent explosion. As they fall from the plane, they are transformed into angelic and satanic figures. The story delves into various themes, including the founding of Islam through the character Mahound, the story of a visionary girl named Ayesha, and the struggles of identity and faith. The book is known for its complex, multilayered plot and its use of dreams within dreams, which generated significant controversy due to its satirical and imaginative treatment of Islamic themes.