Six Dr. Seuss Books Are Being Pulled From Publication For Racist Depictions
Last month, The Muppets got theirs for being racist, and a disclaimer was added to episodes on Disney+ with questionable racial and cultural depictions. Well, now it’s Dr. Seuss’ time. “I am Sam. Sam I am racist.” Just kidding, but maybe not, as a whole six Dr. Seuss books will no longer be published due to racist imagery. And was the imagery racist? It sure was. And as a result, The Grinch will have to go on Red Table Talk to explain himself.
Theodor Seuss Geisel, was not actually a doctor, but he’s one of the best-known authors in the world and has sold over 650 million copies of books like The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham and of course, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Well, those books are all fine, but six others will never be published again, via CNN:
“And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street”
“If I Ran the Zoo”
“McElligot’s Pool”
“On Beyond Zebra!”
“Scrambled Eggs Super!”
“The Cat’s Quizzer”
Dr. Seuss Enterprises explained that they decided to discontinue those books because of racist depictions of characters. For example, several of those books feature racist Asian cariactures.
“These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong. Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ catalog represents and supports all communities and families.”
The announcement to cancel the publications came today, March 2, which also happens to be Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Great timing guys, let’s remind people Dr. Seuss was a huge racist on his birthday. How racist was he? Let’s talk about it:
But Dr. Seuss had a long history of publishing racist and anti-Semitic work, spanning back to the 1920s when he was a student at Dartmouth College. There, Dr. Seuss once drew Black boxers as gorillas and perpetuated Jewish stereotypes by portraying Jewish characters as financially stingy, according to a study published in the journal “Research on Diversity in Youth Literature.”
That study, published in 2019, examined 50 books by Dr. Seuss and found 43 out of the 45 characters of color have “characteristics aligning with the definition of Orientalism,” or the stereotypical, offensive portrayal of Asia. The two “African” characters, the study says, both have anti-Black characteristics.
Two specific examples, according to the study, are found in the books The Cat’s Quizzer: Are YOU Smarter Than the Cat in the Hat? and If I Ran the Zoo.
“In The Cat’s Quizzer, the Japanese character is referred to as “a Japanese,” has a bright yellow face, and is standing on what appears to be Mt. Fuji,” the authors wrote.
Regarding If I Ran the Zoo, the study points out another example of Orientalism and White supremacy.
“The three (and only three) Asian characters who are not wearing conical hats are carrying a White male on their heads in If I Ran the Zoo. The White male is not only on top of, and being carried by, these Asian characters, but he is also holding a gun, illustrating dominance. The text beneath the Asian characters describes them as “helpers who all wear their eyes at a slant” from “countries no one can spell,”” the study authors wrote.
Now before the Gen Zers hit up Twitter and TikTok to start the #DrSeussIsOverChallenge, please note that Dr. Seuss died of cancer in 1991 so you can’t cancel him as a person since he’s dead. Sorry, you’ll have to direct your angry emojis elsewhere, people. Might I suggest Matthew Morrison whose sexy Grinch haunts my nightmares to this day?
Pic: Random House