Six Dr. Seuss books are being retired after decades of criticism of racist images in illustrated children’s stories.
“These books point people in hurtful and wrong ways,” Dr. Seuss Enterprises told The Associated Press in a statement coinciding with the late author and illustrator’s birthday.
Contrary to the statements of some commentators on the political right, Dr. Seuss’s books aren’t being “canceled.” Rather, the estate made the executive decision to stop printing certain books.
Six Dr. Seuss books — including “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” and “If I Ran the Zoo” — will stop being published because of racist and insensitive imagery, the business that preserves and protects the author's legacy said. https://t.co/FB2boW7ao0
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 2, 2021
As much as Dr. Seuss is revered by millions of people around the world for the positive values of many of his works, including environmental protection and tolerance, so in recent years has there been criticism of the way Blacks, Asians, and others are drawn in some of his works.
Six Dr. Seuss books – including And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street and If I Ran The Zoo – will no longer be published due to racist and insensitive imagery, the company said Tuesday. They also said that their decision is preserving the author’s legacy.
“These books show people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” the organization said in a statement Tuesday morning, adding that the decision was made last year with a group of experts including teachers. “Dr. Seuss Enterprises listened and took feedback from our audiences including teachers, academics, and professionals as part of our review process.
We then worked with a group of experts, including educators, to review our catalog of titles,” it says.
Dr. Seuss had a long history of publishing racist and anti-Semitic work. Now, six of his books will no longer be published because they "portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong," the business that preserves the author's legacy says. https://t.co/XSGve2ur0d
— CNN (@CNN) March 2, 2021
The news comes on National Read Across America Day, when schools in the US celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2nd by reading to commemorate the popular children’s author who passed away in 1991.
Books by Dr. Seuss – born March 2, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts, as Theodore Seuss Geisel – are sold in more than 100 countries.
While his children’s classics are still revered around the world, renewed criticism has arisen around his depictions of minorities.
