Expert: Michael Troy - 11/20/2005

Question
Dear Mr. Troy,
For school, I am doing a research paper on censorship. Since you are an expert regarding freedom of speech, I wanted to ask you whether you could give me an example of a movie/book/magazine etc that has dealt with a controversial issue and that the public has wanted censored but instead this book or movie has managed to influence people in a positive way.  
Upasna Pandey

Answer
Hi Upasna,

Lots of things have been censored over the centuries.  The British at one time forbade printing of the Bible because they believed commoners should not be allowed to read it.  Only clergy, who could interpret it for them should be allowed to have it.   Many early scientific works were also censored.  Leonardo Da Vinci saw many of his early scientific works censored, even though they later proved to be true.

In the US, many works have been censored.  The book Uncle Tom's Cabin, and other abolitionist literature was censored by the South before the Civil War (the First Amendment did not apply to the State government censorship until the early 20th Century).  These works were critical to ending slavery.

Many more modern works are more debatible in how "positive" they were on society.  Some sexual literature like Playboy Magazine and several books on sex by Alfred Kinsey was published in the 1950s and evoked a very hostile reaction.  There are many today who still thinks such publications are bad, but many would argue that they helped the US to understand and appreciate human sexuality.

Also in the early 20th century, many people were particularly hostile to writings on socialism and communism.  There is still debate on whether many of these ideas are good or bad, but many of them, including government pensions (Social Security), socialized medicine (Medicaid and Medicare), and government involvement in many other facets of society are now considered quite main-stream.

Another example is some of the Vietnam liturature.  Many publications including the "Pentagon Papers" and other anti-Vietnam writings receivied a quite hostile reception at the time.  But today such writings are credited with helping to end the Vietnam war.

I hope this helps!
- Mike