I am so sorry! That's a horrible word, and I hope I didn't seem like I was minimizing your experiences in any way

The thing is that most kids won't be able to comprehend what this word means, or even what racism is because they're still so young. Yes, kids who've experienced racism certainly can, like you, but most kids statistically would not. I don't think I even understood what racism was properly until 2020 with George Floyd's death, and I had absolutely no clue what it was until maybe 8th grade (I'm in high school). You can and should teach acceptance in many ways, but I don't think a book featuring the n-word numerous times and sexual assault is the way to do it. I believe kids themselves are innocent naturally, and racism is taught not something you're born with. So I don't see the point in scaring some of them - idk about you, but if I read that book in 5th/6th grade I'd go home crying as I'm a huge pansy and loser lol - when there's tons of books on racism that can present it in a child-friendly level. I'm not saying never to read TKaM, it's a brilliantly written book and I loved it so much, but elementary and middle school is a little too early in my opinion.

I can't quote the book directly as it's been a while since I've read it, but the general parts with the court trial and how the guy was wrongfully accused of sexual assault/rape. I wouldn't have understood it at all at that age, and part of the importance of a classic book in general is analysing its messaging and themes. It's not that my parents even hid the concept of sexual assault from me either, I was well aware of consent and all throughout my childhood, but the language was just so foreign to me even in 9th grade. I can't imagine lessons going over well with complex language/grammar, hard themes and then adding the rough content that the book tackles. Middle schoolers are still kids, not even teens, so I think it's a book better suited for high schoolers.