Following the recent decision to cease the publication of some of the works of Dr. Seuss, the author's stepdaughter condemned the move, stating all that was required were disclaimers.
According to TMZ, one of Seuss' stepdaughters, Leagrey Dimond, disagrees with the decision by Dr. Seuss Enterprises to no longer publish six of the author's stories after it determined that the books in question contained imagery deemed to be racist and insensitive. Dimond, while not condoning the outdated images, stated that ceasing publication was a step too far. Instead, she proposed a route similar to other books that faced the same issue, advocating for a disclaimer to be placed at the beginning.
While Dimond acknowledges the insensitive content of some of Seuss' early publications, she believes his legacy should not be determined by those images alone. She emphasized that looking through his entire works demonstrates an evolution and growth that supported his character as a good man. It was in this regard that she was particularly critical of the enterprise, as she pointed out that it lacks anyone truly familiar with the man behind the books.
His stepdaughter even stated that Seuss had regrets for work he had previously produced. This included his World War II propaganda, which contained insensitive materials with anti-Japanese sentiments in his signature art style.
Dimond first entered the author's care at nine years old, and has since insisted that he never demonstrated any acts of bigotry or hate that the books have since been accused of. The act of posthumous censorship was deemed disrespectful by Dimond, especially considering the announcement fell on the author's birthday.
The removal was not made abruptly, as, according to Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the company made the decision last year. There had already been various complaints raised by the likes of teachers regarding the content of certain books. For example, If I Ran the Zoo was challenged at the Vancouver Public Library in 2014 for racist Asian stereotypes. However, the book was retained. Even so, it was decided that the company would no longer publish 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.
Since the announcement, "Dr. Seuss is canceled" has been trending online. However, the author's other works will remain, as it is only the six above-mentioned texts that have been impacted.
Source: TMZ
