To choose a good book, look in an inquisitors prohibited list.  ~John Aikin (d.1822)

The Story

The Fremont School board won't fund copies of Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison for the Fremont High School Senior AP classes. Kids want to read the book. Teachers want to teach the book. Most Parents will approve their kids study of the book. The book can be taught if the school board doesn't pay for it. Funds collected will pay for enough books for AP English students at Fremont High School. 

I am a local freelance writer. In February 2011, I heard a student and teacher speak about the experience of trying to bring Dorothy Allison's Bastard Out of Carolina into the Senior Advanced Placement English classes and the censoring response of the Fremont school board. I am also a 31 year veteran of military service and have served in three war zones. I have personally seen the consequences of people denied access to art and writing that challenges and demands critical thinking, that brings to light issues in a society that those guilty of oppression and abuse seek to deny. I've been deployed thousands of miles away from my family, in part, to protect and defend fledging democracies seeking the rights we fail to protect here at home. I'm a parent, the daughter of public school teachers and an American. I felt compelled to act because allowing a little censorship locally erodes the basic tenets of our free society.

"The recent violations of the First Amendment in Fremont Unified has sent a devastating message to our young people, teaching them that a small, loud handful of ignorant, prejudiced people can influence our elected officials to deny critically acclaimed, universally recognized works of literature to our students based on blind and specious arguments." A Fremont Educator

The Impact

Bastard gives a voice to issues that kids encounter - poverty, sex, incest, pregnancy, sexual orientation - actions and consequences. This is a tough book, that deals with tough issues and in doing so, enables kids to have frank discussions in the educational environment that can help them make good choices when faced with similar issues because they will have had opportunity to discuss many sides of these challenging topics. Bastard Out of Carolina deals with significant social issues that mirror a segment of our society and what some experience. Issues in this book are issues that our young people and young adults will encounter. Denying access to this book is censorship. It teaches kids that art that challenges or causes uncomfortable issues brought into the light of day can be removed from access. Censorship of any kind undermines democratic values. Fremont students would be deprived of access to a powerful, relevant work by a living local author whose life experiences are inspirational and instructive to our youth.

Bastard Out of Carolina, (1992) was a finalist for the 1992 National Book Award. The novel won the Ferro Grumley prize, an ALA Award for Lesbian and Gay Writing, became a best seller, and an award-winning movie. It has been translated into more than a dozen languages. 

If the campaign fails and books can't be funded, then the bullies win. The American Value of Freedom of Expression is voided and our students, one year from college and individual irresponsibility for critical thinking as young adults, are given a lesson that censorship is more important than education. That fundamental American civil rights can be thrown away if a few people argue long and loud enough. Defend democracy and freedom of expression! Stand against the willful ignorance and unspoken homophobia that clouds our district's vision. Make these books available to the students of a city whose leaders have shirked their responsibility to stand up against bullies. Thank you.

What We Need & What You Get

Funds will be used to purchase the Plume edition of Bastard Out of Carolina, ISBN-10: 0452287057, ISBN-13: 978-0452287051. Books will be delivered in time for the Fall 2011 academic year. Funds collected less than the goal will still go towards purchase of books.  Approximately 20% is budgeted for costs (taxes, processing fees, etc.) associated with the campaign, all other funds purchase books. Funds beyond the goal will go towards additional purchase of Bastard Out of Carolina copies for other district Senior AP classes. There are approximately 80 senior AP students at Fremont HS and a little under 400 in the whole district. This campaign goal funds the 80 but funds beyond the goal will go towards books for the whole district.

Thank you perks range from good karma and an online listing with gratitude, 'I sent Bastard to School' stickers, mugs, or t-shirts or photos of Bastard at school. For the big investors in free speech, your choice of photo card or framed print from Vicki Hudson's online gallery. For anyone that gives a grand, all the other perks plus a special mystery thank you gift. 

Other Ways You Can Help

Please put a link and a few words about this campaign on your own web site, up on your Facebook site, tweet about the campaign on your twitter feed. Share with your friends. Make a purchase on the caf press site. Blog about it on your blog. Most of all, please contribute even if only a few dollars. If 333 people all contribute $3 then the campaign will be a buck short of a grand. That will nearly get the job done. Skip the Grande, fund the Bastard.