Dr. Seuss Enterprises has “canceled” six books by the beloved children’s author for what it says is the portrayal of people in ways that are hurtful and wrong. The organization made the announcement on what would have been the late children’s author’s 117th birthday.
The news will obviously come as a shock to most Americans. For generations Dr. Seuss has been synonymous there with learning how to read. He wrote more than 50 children’s books. Many of them were made into classic movies.
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President Joe Biden has even gone so far as to remove Dr. Seuss from Read Across America Day. This day always comes around the time of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March 2nd. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/03/01/a-proclamation-on-read-across-america-day-2021/
People will be relieved to hear that the ban does not include his most famous and beloved works like “The Cat in the Hat” or “Green Eggs and Ham.” The books in question are And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, If I Ran the Zoo, McElligot’s Pool, On Beyond Zebra!, Scrambled Eggs Super!, and The Cat’s Quizzer.
Dr. Seuss Enterprises declares that its mission is supporting all children and families with messages of hope, inspiration, inclusion, and friendship. The company explained its decision to end publication of these books in a statement which said, “Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprise’s catalog represents and supports all communities and families.
So what was so offensive that these books had to be pulled? Well they have racial stereotypes which today people agree are basically racist, but when they were written, as long ago as 80 years, they were considered benign.
“And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” was Dr, Seuss’ first book and was published in 1937. Obviously in that year no one would have seen a problem with the following: The book has one Asian character who is described a “Chinaman.” He is drawn with two slits for eyes, wears a pointed hat and carries chopsticks and a bowl of rice. In the book “If I Ran the Zoo,” which was published in 1950, there are two black characters said to be from “the African island of Yerka.” They go around without wearing shirts or shoes and they resemble monkeys.
