Group 8

One day at the library, you decide to go check out a book and decide on Gone to Texas: The Outlaw Josey Wales. The book was written by Forrest Carter in 1973 and later made into a movie starring Clint Eastwood. The book is a fascinating tale of an outlaw rebel and at the end there is an afterword about the author by Lawrence Clayton, a history professor at Hardin-Simmons University. He describes how the author, Forrest Carter, was orphaned as a child and grew up with his Cherokee grandparents in the Appalachian Mountains back in the 1930’s and subsequently wrote an autobiography about it, called The Education of Little Tree. Because you enjoyed the novel so much you decide to learn more about the author and check out his autobiography.

The book is written through the eyes of young Little Tree- the name his Indian grandparents call him. Each chapter is a short story that, even though Little Tree is too young to realize, has deeper meaning and tells a valuable life lesson. These lessons range in topics from spirituality, family, American history, the relationship between people and animals, between people and government, and also preach a lesson of harmony between different racial and ethnic groups. The book is packed full of priceless wisdom that is applicable to your own life. It is written so wonderfully that you can’t help but laugh out loud at times, but cry in others. It is hands down the best book you have ever read you plan on using it for future moral reference.

Shortly after finishing the book, your mom brings it to your attention that your 8th grade brother has to do an end of the year book report and presentation for reading class. You recommend The Education of Little Tree. Your little brother admires you so much that you are sure he will read anything you recommend.

A few weeks later you get on your computer to order a copy of the book. Unfortunately, you uncover some unpleasant news; the whole story was a hoax. The author was not an orphan, he was not raised in Tennessee, and he did not have any Cherokee Indian heritage. In fact, this is one of the biggest controversies in recent literature history.

The author was actually Asa (Ace) Carter. Besides lying about his childhood and creating a false identity, he was previously an active white supremacist and member of the KKK. His KKK group was actually responsible for a number of hate crimes against black Americans, even if he wasn’t personally involved. He was also the secret author of the famous 1963 speech by Alabama governor George Wallace with the line “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” After his unsuccessful run for governor of Alabama, he moved away, reinvented himself, and started writing fiction. He died in 1979 shortly after writing The Education of Little Tree.

Questions for Analysis

  1. What are the ethical issues this case presents?
  2. As for the author, what could have been his ethical options for writing the book? Was he justified in hiding his identity?
  3. Can the author, or any person, change their moral stance and not be judged on past wrongs?
  4. You know the story would be more enjoyable for your brother if he thought the book was true. What ethical perspectives does this involve?
  5. If you choose to let your brother read the book, would your decision change if you knew his teacher was black?
  6. Some scholars have claimed, although there is much disagreement, that on a closer examination the book is consistent with Carter’s racist views. He subtly stereotypes various ethnic groups, shows hypocrisy of Christian religion, and keeps a fairly anti-government theme throughout the book. These aspects are insignificant to the unsuspecting reader, but may suggest he was still as racist when he wrote this book as when he was writing speeches. How would this change your ethical stance about the author and his book?
  7. Oprah removed this book from her must read list after she was told about the author. What ethical stance was she taking?
  8. As for the book itself, does it really matter what the author was or should the book be judged on its own merits?