English Honors Theses

Date of Creation

5-2023

Document Type

Departmental Honors Thesis

Department

English

First Advisor

Sarah Luria

Abstract

This thesis argues that Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird both merit a place in te United States’ secondary education systems by using use them in the classroom to encourage students to recognize and challenge their biases, perspectives, and choices. One of the many complex questions this thesis addresses is the efficacy of teaching students about racism using such novels. Teaching these novels through Critical Race Theory could help create a new generation of students who are more likely to address and challenge their biases and privilege. At the same time, this approach requires active teacher and student engagement, well-approached discussions, and difficult conversations on a variety of topics.

Comments

Second Reader: Nadine Knight

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