Six Dr. Seuss books removed with mixed reaction: 'I do not like erasing art, I do not think it's wise or smart'
On the day of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, Dr. Seuss Enterprises released a statement that the company will stop the sale and publication of six books that "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’s catalog represents and supports all communities and families," the statement reads.
"We are committed to action. To that end, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, working with a panel of experts, including educators, reviewed our catalog of titles and made the decision last year to cease publication and licensing of the following titles."
The six books 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."
There is an extensive history of Dr. Seuss publishing racist and anti-Semitic cartoons, including in Dartmouth’s humour magazine, Jack-O-Lantern, in the 1920s.
A study by Katie Ishizuka and Ramón Stephens, published in 2019, titled "The Cat is Out of the Bag: Orientalism, Anti-Blackness, and White Supremacy in Dr. Seuss's Children's Books," assessed 50 Dr. Seuss books and looked at how character are depicted, and themes within his work. They found that he published works "dehumanizing and degrading Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and people from other marginalized groups (including Jewish people and Muslims)."
It also found the of the 45 characters of colour, 43 are have "characteristics aligning with the definition of Orientalism" and "most iconic books feature animal or non-human characters that transmit Orientalist, anti-Black, and White supremacist messaging through allegories and symbolism."
SIX DR. SEUSS BOOKS CEASING PUBLICATION: After six of Dr. Seuss’ titles discontinue publication over racist imagery seen in the children’s books, the co-hosts react and question if it’s a part of cancel culture. https://t.co/ZQn7XaEAOk pic.twitter.com/rIv4ECh8qC
— The View (@TheView) March 2, 2021
The topic featured on The View Tuesday morning, with the panel discussing whether the books should be pulled.
"I do not like erasing art, I do not think it's wise or smart, that is my position, "Joy Behar said on the show.
"I think that these books are teaching tools... If I were teaching a class now I would bring them right into the class so that people can see what he was thinking. Do you think it's racist? Is it racist? Is it anti-Semitic? Let's discuss it. If you eliminate these books, if you take things away, there is no way to discuss what's in the book."
"I always believe that you should include in the book, here's what this is," Whoopi Goldberg said.
"I say, you know, put it in the front, this book was written at a time when people thought this was OK. We no longer think that's OK and that's why we're letting you know... I feel like people don't have to be so crazed that they think they have to eliminate everything. What you have to do is acknowledge it's there."
Following the announcement, people took to social media to react to the news, many supporting the decision by Dr. Seuss Enterprises.
No one is "canceling" Dr. Seuss.
Dr. Seuss Enterprises made the decision to stop publishing six books, like the one below. It's obviously racist.
Yes, Dr. Seuss evolved. Anyone can.
Show me someone upset about this and I'll show you someone unwilling to evolve. pic.twitter.com/u6Gh8Irm1P— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) March 2, 2021
Zero books burned.
Dr. Seuss was very evolved in many ways.
Like all of us, he had a ways to go.
His foundation decided to pull these books; bc, like Seuss, they care about people and want to be better.
Here's what Ben's defending. https://t.co/33PizZdgFm pic.twitter.com/mj8WjFXDse— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) March 2, 2021
It’s not “cancel culture” it’s called creating an inclusive & decent society.
Also, if you care more about Mr. Potato Head & Dr. Seuss books than human rights & fighting for fair wages for all Americans, your decades-old toy chest of political ideology needs a major upgrade.— Sari Beth Rosenberg (@saribethrose) March 2, 2021
Have you seen the Seuss news? Announced today. Baby steps of change. #nomoreseussday pic.twitter.com/RrBn3YyhMt
— Ms. W (@MsWteaches) March 2, 2021
He himself apologized for some of the racial undertones of his work while he was alive, and his own family believes that he would agree with the criticism he has subsequently received. https://t.co/V8Q6lUAVwZ
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) March 2, 2021