In the latest string of cancellations, famous children’s author Dr. Seuss has had six books that will no longer be published. This decision by Dr. Seuss Enterprises comes after a long string of other ‘cancellations’ by the woke left. 

The six books that are no longer being published 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.”

The books feature multiple forms of racist imagery that Dr. Seuss Enterprises desires children not to be exposed to. “These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” said Dr. Seuss Enterprises. The decision, according to Dr. Seuss Enterprises was made last year after many months of discussion. Immediately following the decision Dr. Seuss’s books skyrocketed to the top seller charts for books. Most of the books are now sold out or being sold at ridiculous prices. Furthermore, the decision sparked lots of discussion about why the books are harmful and why kids ought to be protected from that imagery. In one of the books, “If I Ran the Zoo” characters named ‘Africans’ are depicted wearing no clothes except for grass skirts and drawn with ape-like features. Images like these are harmful to children in multiple ways. When a young child is beginning to learn to read stereotypes such as these can have lasting effects and create racial bias. Another image from “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” depicts a “chinaman who eats with sticks,” and slits drawn for his eyes. It is images like these that are harmful. 

The ending of publication of these books comes on the coattails of multiple cancellations in the U.S. Products like Aunt Jemima syrup and the Redskins football team are some of the more notable ones. The imagery and wording are undoubtedly racist but caution must be exercised when making these drastic decisions. The woke left has successfully begun to remove all imagery of black and minority people on products and in books, leaving only white characters left. This seems problematic. Products like Quaker oats which depict a white man on the label have been unscathed throughout these cancellations.

So now only white people are used as imagery for products and are the only ones deemed acceptable for society. Though racist imagery is undoubtedly harmful, there must be a balance. Representing people of all races and ethnic backgrounds should be paramount in our nation as we struggle with racism in our world. Having only white people depicted on brands and other things seems to be doing the opposite of that. The imagery of people of color is crucial to creating a society where everyone feels accepted. 

Lance McCready, an associate professor, and director at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto may have the answer. In an interview with CBC Kids News McCready said that “We shouldn’t cancel Dr. Seuss or stop reading his books but rather have an open discussion about them and use them as a learning tool.” This attitude teaches children and adults alike that these images are in fact harmful but avoids the slippery slope of canceling things and ‘book burning’. Having open discussions about imagery like this is beneficial for all. Freedom of speech is paramount to overcoming racism. Attempts to completely erase racist imagery and stereotypes cause more problems than it solves. Instead of discussion and open debate, people will never be exposed to these images and be able to tell right from wrong. It is crucial that people see these images for what they are and the time they came from and use them as a learning tool to teach the next generation how others ought to be treated and respected. 

However, our nation is struggling to grasp this idea. A white man with a powder wig is a stereotype for Quakers and white people in general, yet it is still on the label. However, a native American in a headdress on the label of Land O’ Lakes is racist. Reverse the roles and the outcomes are sure to be different. The now lack of minority representation in pop culture harms minority communities. All people have a right to be represented in pop culture in non-stereotypical ways.