African American
Related: About this forumGeorge Washington slave book pulled after criticism
Source: BBC
18 January 2016 Entertainment & Arts
A children's picture book about George Washington and his slaves has been pulled by publishers Scholastic.
A Birthday Cake for George Washington tells the story of Washington's slave Hercules, a cook, and his daughter.
It had been criticised for its images of smiling slaves, and described as being "highly problematic".
Scholastic said in a statement that without more historical context, the book "may give a false impression of the reality of the lives of slaves".
The book, telling the story of Hercules and Delia making a cake together, had been released on 5 January.
It was met with a barrage of one-star reviews on Amazon, with readers describing it as "disgustingly inaccurate", and one writing: "I can't believe people are celebrating a children's story that depicts happy, joyful slaves."
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Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35342658
randys1
(16,286 posts)History is being bought
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)I'm shaking my head that it got as far as being published. What year, let alone century, let alone millennium, do they think it is??
Number23
(24,544 posts)I have no idea where this compulsion to pretend that slaves were happy as clams, just loving being ripped from their homes, torn from their families and forced to do back breaking work for people they despised came from.
But it is becoming more and more commonplace and I am genuinely afraid that there are forces at work to try to make this into some pseudo reality taught in schools and embraced around the world.
pnwmom
(108,978 posts)before Scholastic changed its collective mind and withdrew the book?
http://oomscholasticblog.com/post/proud-slice-history
Number23
(24,544 posts)It shows that even black folks are happy to perpetuate the lie of the happy slave if it will help them keep their job.
pnwmom
(108,978 posts)pnwmom
(108,978 posts)(before Scholastic changed its collective mind and withdrew the book)
http://oomscholasticblog.com/post/proud-slice-history
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)then it wouldn't be suitable for young children.
pnwmom
(108,978 posts)for the ages 0-6 picture book crowd.
in heavens name, were they thinking?!
What is wrong with people?