Banned Books Week Quote: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed.

History: The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck

• Burned by the East St. Louis, IL Public Library (1939) and barred from the Buffalo, NY Public Library (1939) on the grounds that "vulgar words" were used. Banned in Kansas City,  MO (1939).
• Banned in Kern County CA, the scene of Steinbeck's novel (1939).
• Banned in  Ireland (1953).
• On Feb. 21, 1973, eleven Turkish book publishers went on trial before an  Istanbul martial law tribunal on charges of publishing, possessing and selling books in  violation of an order of the Istanbul martial law command. They faced possible sentences of  between one month's and six months' imprisonment "for spreading propaganda unfavorable to  the state" and the confiscation of their books. Eight booksellers were also on trial with  the publishers on the same charge involving The Grapes of Wrath.
• Banned in Kanawha, IA High  School classes (1980).
• Challenged in Vernon Verona Sherill, NY School District (1980). 
• Challenged as required reading for Richford, VT (1981) High School English students due to  the book's language and portrayal of a former minister who recounts how he took advantage  of a young woman.
• Banned in Morris, Manitoba, Canada (1982).
• Removed from two Anniston,  Ala. high school libraries (1982), but later reinstated on a restrictive basis.
• Challenged  at the Cummings High School in Burlington, NC (1986) as an optional reading assignment  because the "book is full of filth. My son is being raised in a Christian home and this book takes the Lord's name in vain and has all kinds of profanity in it." Although the  parent spoke to the press, a formal complaint with the school demanding the book's removal  was not filed.
• Challenged at the Moore County school system in Carthage, NC (1986) because  the book contains the phase "God damn."
• Challenged in the Greenville, SC schools (1991)  because the book uses the name of God and Jesus in a "vain and profane manner along with  inappropriate sexual references."
• Challenged in the Union City, TN High School  classes (1993).