On february 28, 1981 the morning newspaper carried a story about the burning of my novel, bless me, ultima. the book was banned from high school classes in bloomfield, new mexico, and a school board member was quoted as saying: “we took the books out and personally saw that they were burned.”

—“take the tortillas out of your poetry,”
rudolfo anaya

what is the overall effect of this anecdote?

it allows anaya to show that the town had very little of interest going on in 1981.

it anaya establish the difference between schools in the past and schools today.

it lets anaya show that his book was seen as a threat, but it was also powerful.

it shows the reasons the school board made their decision.