Six Dr Seuss books pulled from shelves because of ‘racist’ and ‘harmful’ images
Six of the author’s popular children’s books will stop
production due to imagery that has been called 'racist' and 'harmful'.
Dr Seuss has been a staple in the childhoods of many around the globe and while his books continue to bring light into the lives of young ones, some parents have complained that some books display ‘racist’ and ‘harmful’ images and have since been pulled from production.
The author's estate has confirmed that books, ‘The Cat's
Quizzer’, ‘If I Ran the Zoo’, ‘And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street’, ‘On
Beyond Zebra! And Scrambled Eggs Super’, and ‘McElligot's Pool’, will be pulled
from shelves as soon as possible and not allowed to be published going forward.
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In a statement, Dr Seuss Enterprises says: "Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr Seuss Enterprises' catalogue represents and supports all communities and families."
The organisation adds that "Dr Seuss Enterprises listened and took feedback from our audiences including teachers, academics and specialists in the field as part of our review process. We then worked with a panel of experts, including educators, to review our catalogue of titles."
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The author’s estate adds that it concluded that the books “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.” In ‘If I Ran the Zoo’, for example, the book showed 'men from Africa' wearing grass skirts and carrying animals.
The books first came under fire in 2017 when Melania Trump donated 10 Dr Seuss books to a school library in Cambridge, Massachusetts for National Read a Book Day. The school librarian rejected the offer from the then First Lady of the United States, claiming that the content contained within the pages were “steeped in racist propaganda, caricatures, and harmful stereotypes.”
Carol admits that she thinks it's a great move on the estate's part to remove the books from shelves.
"As a mom to two children, inclusivity is a big part of what I look for in books for kids," she says. "I think it's important that books that were considered to be great for storytelling once, be reviewed constantly to make sure that they aren't offensive to others in any way."
What are your thoughts on the ‘racist’ and ‘hurtful’ comments in the six books? Let Carol know by leaving a comment in the section below.
Image courtesy: Instagram