Six Dr. Seuss Books Nixed for Being Racist and Insensitive

Was Dr. Seuss racist? Six Dr. Seuss books, including “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” and “If I Ran the Zoo”, will stop being published because of racist and insensitive imagery, according to none other than “Dr. Seuss Enterprises", the group that preserves and protects the author’s legacy

“These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” Dr. Seuss Enterprises told The Associated Press in a statement released today, on the anniversary of the late author and illustrator’s birthday.

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Dr. Seuss - who was born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 2, 1904 , died in 1991. His books have been translated into dozens of languages  and are sold in more than 100 countries.

As adored as Dr. Seuss is by millions around the world for the positive values, there has been increasing criticism in recent years over the way Blacks, Asians and others are drawn in some of his most beloved children’s books.

The National Education Association, which founded Read Across America Day in 1998 to coincide with Geisel’s birthday, has for several years deemphasized Seuss and encouraged a more diverse reading list for children.

Some School districts have also moved away from Dr. Seuss, including Loudoun County, Virginia, which released a statement saying “research in recent years has revealed strong racial undertones in many books written/illustrated by Dr. Seuss”

The Associated Press notes that “The Cat in the Hat,” one of Seuss’ most popular books, has received criticism, too, but will continue to be published for now.

What do you think?  Are certain Dr. Seuss books racist?