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Dr. Seuss, racist and misogynist (at least according to the author.) I've read and loved several of his books, as have many kids of all kinds. I think it's b

Dr. Seuss, racist and misogynist (at least according to the author.) I've read and loved several of his books, as have many kids of all kinds. I think it's best to just judge him on his excellent children's books and not flame his memory with today's outrage police.

mustacheemperor 8y ago
Can the community both appreciate the excellent children’s books and consider them alongside, for example, the reality of what he did to his wife, which happened regardless of who’s writing about it? I think there’s value to that analysis beyond “outrage politics,” but you’ve gone ahead and written off any exploration of the nuances of Seuss’ personal character. So far, nobody in this thread is suggesting we forget the books and demonize Seuss, but you’ve completely shut down any discussion about his character as if that outcome would be one of two options.
etrautmann 8y ago
Since when is an accurate recount of history "flaming?" Dr. Seuss created a number of racist cartoons, which is part of the nuances of his history which this book see as its purpose to unpack. Yes, it would be easier to love his childrens books without knowing his full body of work, but to ignore those is whitewashing a piece of reality.
inflatableDodo 8y ago
Whitewash the past or stand in outrage, are these the only two options? Some works can have a redemptive quality, no?
imglorp 8y ago
To our credit, Western culture has shifted in only 50 years from high public acceptance of racism and misogyny to almost none. In that time, we went from Rosa Parks to minority and female politicians, astronauts, SCOTUS judges, etc. We all grew up with Dr Seuss in the former group. I remember hearing the N word plenty of times growing up from my peer group's parents and it's almost gone now. At the time socially conscious people were more concerned with nukes (Green Eggs) and logging (Lorax). So don't whitewash the history and don't bury the babies with the bathwater, that was him but it wasn't perceived as good or bad at the time. Now we've shifted from racial tribalism to ideological. This time seems dangerous too.
- c0vfefe 8y ago
  > nukes (Green Eggs) Think you mean the Butter Battle.
  - imglorp 8y ago
    Ah, both maybe. I can't find a reference, but I'd heard somewhere Sam-I-Am was a thin metaphor for Uncle Sam, trying to convince the public to accept green (ie nuclear glowing) eggs and ham as normal and acceptable in exchange for the benefits of nuclear bombs and power.
    - c0vfefe 8y ago
      Perhaps, but the existence of apocryphal Seuss stories seems likely as well.

mustacheemperor 8y ago

Can the community both appreciate the excellent children’s books and consider them alongside, for example, the reality of what he did to his wife, which happened regardless of who’s writing about it? I think there’s value to that analysis beyond “outrage politics,” but you’ve gone ahead and written off any exploration of the nuances of Seuss’ personal character. So far, nobody in this thread is suggesting we forget the books and demonize Seuss, but you’ve completely shut down any discussion about his character as if that outcome would be one of two options.

etrautmann 8y ago

Since when is an accurate recount of history "flaming?" Dr. Seuss created a number of racist cartoons, which is part of the nuances of his history which this book see as its purpose to unpack. Yes, it would be easier to love his childrens books without knowing his full body of work, but to ignore those is whitewashing a piece of reality.

inflatableDodo 8y ago

Whitewash the past or stand in outrage, are these the only two options? Some works can have a redemptive quality, no?

imglorp 8y ago

To our credit, Western culture has shifted in only 50 years from high public acceptance of racism and misogyny to almost none. In that time, we went from Rosa Parks to minority and female politicians, astronauts, SCOTUS judges, etc. We all grew up with Dr Seuss in the former group. I remember hearing the N word plenty of times growing up from my peer group's parents and it's almost gone now. At the time socially conscious people were more concerned with nukes (Green Eggs) and logging (Lorax). So don't whitewash the history and don't bury the babies with the bathwater, that was him but it wasn't perceived as good or bad at the time. Now we've shifted from racial tribalism to ideological. This time seems dangerous too.

c0vfefe 8y ago
> nukes (Green Eggs) Think you mean the Butter Battle.
- imglorp 8y ago
  Ah, both maybe. I can't find a reference, but I'd heard somewhere Sam-I-Am was a thin metaphor for Uncle Sam, trying to convince the public to accept green (ie nuclear glowing) eggs and ham as normal and acceptable in exchange for the benefits of nuclear bombs and power.
  - c0vfefe 8y ago
    Perhaps, but the existence of apocryphal Seuss stories seems likely as well.