Banned books

The school board of Randolph County, NC were presented with a parent's complaint about one of the books on the high school reading list. Students were to choose 2 of the 3 titles to read and then complete an assignment. One of the 3 books was The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.
Just in time for Banned Books Week, the board heard from the parent, from the school-level committee that recommended keeping the book, and from the district-level committee that recommended keeping the book. Board members allegedly had read the book. And they voted to not only take if off the reading list, but off the shelves entirely.
Based on their comments, it sounds to me as if they were uncomfortable with the topics and issues the book raises. Ellison wrote it in the 1950s, and the book won the 1953 National Book Award for Fiction. It discusses and illustrates very serious issues of race and class. The kind of thing that makes some people itchy these days. And, it's historical, which some folks will say means we don't need to be concerned with such things, because they are in the past.
Fortunately for all concerned, the school board saw the error of their decision and it has been reversed, probably after a truckload of phone messages and emails from more literate types.
Now, I am not insensitive to parental concerns about the things we read and see in school. Catcher in the Rye still mystifies me; I had to read it in high school. It's especially mystifying to me after recent revelations about the author. But, really, can't we talk this over before you make a demand that will affect other people's children? You don't want your child reading it, fine. She didn't actually have to read it. She could have read the other book on the list. But I don't see where you get the right to make this choice for other families. Plus, this kind of thing tends to make national headlines and embarrass your community. Remember the Harry Potter flap?