Ciardi Controversy

15 March 1961

Vol. 67, No. 17

Jo Ann Singley

Written after the Alabama Association of Education rescinded the speaking invitation of poet John Ciardi, based on a magazine article he wrote about the Jim Crow South.

It argues that the cancellation of this speaking engagement was unnecessary (Ciardi would likely have spoken about literary topics) and moreover only proved Ciardi's point from the article: that people in the South cannot have a rational discussion about race.