Claudia Hunter Johnson, author of the critically acclaimed memoir, "Stifled Laughter: One Woman's Story About Fighting Censorship," spoke at North Florida Community College recently about the dangers of censorship.
Johnson told NFCC students, faculty and staff that "censorship is a contagion that spreads without fear and the only antidote is courage." Johnson encouraged her audience to speak out to prevent book banning. "The answer to less speech is more," she said.
Johnson began her fight against book banning in Lake City, after learning that the local high school had proposed banning the Humanities literature text for containing Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tale, "The Miller's Tale" and Aristophanes epic classic, "Lysistrata," two of Johnson's favorite works. Johnson describes her battle with the school and court systems as long term, grueling, full of ups and downs and eventually ending in the favor of the Columbia County school system.
Johnson and her family relocated to Live Oak where she continued her fight on book banning with a greater success. After learning that Suwannee High School planned to ban John Steinbeck's classic novella "Of Mice and Men," Johnson rallied local residents and educators in protest. It was during a pivotal town meeting that Johnson's fight against banning the classic "Of Mice and Men" ended in her favor.
Johnson was a member of the founding faculty of the Florida State University Film School where she taught screenwriting for 13 years. She'll be returning to FSU this spring as "Distinguished Writer in Residence." She divides her time between Florida and Nova Scotia.
Local News
Pulitzer Prize nominated author, and former Live Oak resident, lectures on censorship
- Local News
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- Showers possible for Memorial Day
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5th grader belts a rendition of "I Will Always Love You"
A Suwannee County fifth grader mesmerized students, parents and faculty during the Suwannee Intermediate School Spring Talent Show Thursday evening.
Brittanie Powell performed “I Will Always Love You” which was immortalized by the late Whitney Houston. It was Brittanie’s first performance and she selected the song a few weeks ago after watching a contestant perform it on American Idol. -
Pournelle receives valedictorian title
The only SHS senior with a 4.0 GPA was left out previously due to district policy
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- Mayo woman loses unborn child in car crash
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Suwannee Democrat obituaries - May 25, 2012
Agnes Barr Taylor
Bobby Roberts
Clifton E. Riley Sr.
- SHS spring game tonight
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Suwannee County's vals and sals
Editor's note: In today's paper (May 25) salutatorian is above Mara Lance's photo. Lance is a Suwannee High School valedictorian.
SHS
Valedictorians
Laura-Kaitlyn Boatright
Mara Magee Lance
Salutatorian
Christopher Cole ThomasBHS
Valedictorian
Robert Hansen
GPA - 3.83
Salutatorian
D’Vonte Cherry
GPA - 3.76
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Democrat Morning Update for Friday, May 25
Good morning. This is what's happening in your county today.
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FCAT 2.0 math and reading results
Suwannee falls right in line with state averages
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