When presented with a list of book titles such as To Kill a Mockingbird, The Lord of the Flies and Of Mice and Men, educated individuals and book lovers often recall timeless American classics fondly. These novels are frequently taught in advanced literature courses in American schools, by very respectable teachers. However, move the topic to another group of people and you'll find these brilliant works of literature in a much different category: banned lists (Kelly). Censorship is defined as “the suppression of parts of publications, correspondence, or theatrical performances” (Wolfram Alpha). Needless to say, the practice of banning books easily fits this description. Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings is often banned for depicting rape, as well as for being "anti-white." Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is discriminated against because it contains too much profanity. Go Ask Alice, written anonymously, was shunned for depicting drug use, sexual situations and profanity. (Kelly) Besides being banned, these books all have something more in common; they are classic works that have timeless moralistic value. They each tell a message. Their messages could not be conveyed in their original and meaningful essence if the content of the books were to be changed or completely removed from society. As a result, children and adults alike would miss out on countless opportunities to expand their enlightenment. Unfortunately, for many parents, the offensiveness of the written content completely overshadows the educational content. They assume that it is safer to prevent these things from corrupting children's minds than to allow them to explore in depth... middle of paper... the promises of a wonderful future. The world cannot move forward without the power of knowledge and learning. Preventing access to this source of power and giving up this hard-won right is counterproductive and could eventually lead to the existence of an all-powerful and undemocratic government. While a parent may win the battle by taking an unsuitable book from a child, he or she loses the war by sacrificing the freedoms that have hitherto been congenital to each person since the day they were victoriously acquired. child SPEAK! nd .Kelly, Melissa. Censorship and book banning in America. sdKelly, Melissa. Top 10 banned books. sdKennedy, Elizabeth. Censorship of books and banning of children's books. sdWolfram Alpha. Wolfram|Alpha. sd. .