A leftist educational group in Virginia called Learning for Justice has convinced the school system in that state to cancel Dr. Seuss’s books for children because they have “racial undertones.”
The national educators’ organization is advising schools that the beloved children’s stories suffer from “anti-blackness, and white supremacy.”
For over two decades, March 2 has been celebrated as “Read Across America Day” in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday. The day was ironically created in 1998 by the National Education Association. The theme this year is “Create and Celebrate Diversity.”
Seuss is an American writer and is arguably among the most popular children’s authors to ever have authored books. His fantastical stories have helped millions of children learn to read while having fun doing it. Dr. Seuss has become a cultural icon in America but now his stories have fallen out of political favor and are being canceled.
(Video Credit: Fox News)
An affluent Virginia school district, Loudoun County Public Schools, has taken the demand to cancel Dr. Seuss to heart and has now ordered its schools to avoid “connecting ‘Read Across America Day’ with Dr. Seuss.” They will no longer recognize the gifted author on his own birthday.
The school district announced that Suess’s children’s books contain “racial undertones” which they consider not suitable for “culturally responsive” learning, the Daily Wire reported.
“Realizing that many schools continue to celebrate ‘Read Across America Day’ in partial recognition of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, it is important for us to be cognizant of research that may challenge our practice in this regard,” the announcement reportedly stated. “As we become more culturally responsive and racially conscious, all building leaders should know that in recent years there has been research revealing radical undertones in the books written and the illustrations drawn by Dr. Seuss.”
Formerly known as “Teaching Tolerance,” Learning for Justice has been a strong proponent of teaching racial and social justice to children as young as five years-old. They are the educational arm of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
The organization wrote a magazine piece entitled: “It’s Time to Talk About Dr. Seuss.” In the article, they quote a study issued by St. Catherine University which claims that Dr. Seuss’s books are chock-full of “orientalism, anti-blackness, and white supremacy.”
After reviewing more than 50 of Seuss’s books, they came to the conclusion that there just wasn’t enough diversity in them. Many of the stories were written in the 1950s.
“Of the 2,240 (identified) human characters, there are 45 of color representing two percent of the total number of human characters,” the study states. Concerning the 45 characters of color, 43 “exhibited behaviors and appearances that align with harmful and stereotypical Orientalist tropes.”
“It’s also important to note that each of the non-white characters is male and that they are all ‘presented in subservient, exotified, or dehumanized roles,’ especially in relation to white characters,” Learning for Justice alleged.
The radical leftist group is asserting that anyone who is guilty of defending Dr. Seuss’s “problematic work” is a racial “apologist.” Those judged as guilty are also allegedly stating that “bigotry doesn’t matter.” Learning for Justice is telling teachers that they need to discuss Seuss’s “racist” intentions with their older students and inform their young charges that racism shows up in the least expected of places.
“You can address these arguments directly, discussing the degree to which cultural norms excuse biased language or actions, how harmful stereotypical representation can be and whether — and how — a person can make up for hurtful mistakes,” the group counseled.
The reaction to the cancellation of Dr. Seuss on Twitter was not kind:
Oh the places the woke will take us
— Jeremy Gardner (@Jeremy_TGIF) February 26, 2021
Yes let’s cancel an author who taught us Christmas is more than just presents and that not liking someone because of the number of stars on their belly (appearance) is wrong. Truly it has come to pass. So many “educators” have their heads up their ass.
— Jason Mefferd (@JasonMefferd) February 26, 2021
Cat in the Hat racist?????
You people are seriously delusional.
The fact that any resources are wasted on a organization like this is part of the problem….— greg baker (@kgregbaker) February 27, 2021
The rest of the civilized world is literally laughing at at you. pic.twitter.com/ldbOW8wasT
— johnqpublic (@johnqpu67844782) February 26, 2021
What next…Thomas the Tank Engine or Mr. Rogers?
— #PrayforJamesCoates🙏🏼#FreeJamesCoates🙏🏼✝️ (@eternallife1984) February 27, 2021
So “ The Cat In The Hat” is rascist. I’m black and that’s BS. Sometimes you have tell the woke minority hell no and see you in court. With all the BS going in the world and Dr. FN Suess is problem🤣🤣🤣
— Michael A Murdock (@MichaelAMurdoc1) February 26, 2021
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