A censorship slippery slope

Re “Shelve ‘GWTW,’ but don’t cancel Hattie McDaniel,” Opinion, June 12

I support Black Lives Matter and acknowledge the need to go from nonracist to antiracist. No doubt I have a lot of personal growth potential in that regard.

But with all due respect to critics of “Gone With the

Wind,” I believe that censorship is the wrong approach.

Films, plays, books and other works of historical significance should be readily available and studied, for all their brilliance and failings, not shut away and censored. Don’t we yet understand the slippery slope of censorship?

Should Margaret Mitchell’s book also be banned? Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn? Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice” because of its depiction of Jews? The film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” because of Mickey Rooney’s character? All of these works have serious racist elements.

Plants grow in the sunlight — so do we. Ward Bukofsky

Encino ::

As a Black American, I can tell you that “Gone With the Wind” is so very painful to watch. It’s just as bigoted as “The Birth of a Nation.” I will never allow my grandchildren to watch that blasphemous movie.

I still can’t understand how those in power in Hollywood could ever produce something so offensive to minorities. Paulette Mashaka

Carson ::

As someone who has seen “Gone With the Wind” not merely once, but at least 30 times, I take issue with some of the opinions expressed by Pamela K. Johnson in her piece on the film and actress Hattie McDaniel.

Although it is certainly true that the film’s depiction of slaves was most certainly offensive — most blatantly the portrayal of Prissy by the actress Butterfly McQueen, who later deeply regretted playing the role — I believe that Mammy as portrayed by McDaniel was the most fully developed character in the film.

It is to its credit that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences realized as much in 1939 and voted her best supporting actress. McDaniel’s Oscar, a historic achievement, was well-deserved. Kristine Kazie Keenan

Pasadena