What’s in this article:
- Disney+ will discontinue a number of their classical movies from children’s viewing profiles due to their negative typecasts
- Six Dr. Suess books will no longer be published as they portray several racial stereotypes and hurtful caricatures
- No character is too big to be reading the signs of the times
We keep hearing more and more about brands that portray puzzling and offensive content – whether in their name, slogan, or image. This past year’s cultural conversations have changed a lot. Now, the world’s most famous children’s brands are removing books and movies that we have all grown up with. No brand should be above these measures of sensitivity.
By taking some hurtful Disney and Dr. Suess content off the shelves, it’s safe to say that children can grow up in a safer, more accepting community that’s not hindered by racial slurs and stereotypes.
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Disney+
Peter Pan, Dumbo, Swiss Family Robinson, The Aristocats, and more iconic family movies and musicals intended for children have been pulled from the kids’ section on Disney+ for racist stereotypes and negative depictions.
Children under seven are now banned from watching the films due to the depictions of marginalized communities: negative portrayals of Black people in Dumbo, Native Americans in Peter Pan, Asians in The Aristrocats and the use of yellowface and brownface pirates in Swiss Family Robinson.
Adult accounts can still access and view these films but with the following disclaimer that appears for about 10-12 seconds: “This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together.”
Dr. Suess
The American children’s book author who sold over 600 million copies of books, translated into more than 20 languages, famous for saying, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go,” will discontinue six books:
- McElligot’s Pool
- If I Ran the Zoo
- And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street
- On Beyond Zebra!
- Scrambled Eggs Super!
- The Cat’s Quizzer
A panel of educators and experts have decided to stop publishing these Dr. Suess books because they “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.”
“Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ catalog represents and supports all communities and families,” the company said.
When Customers’ Safety Prevails
It’s clear that both the films and books include racially driven narratives, and we support the two enterprises for taking accountability by choosing not to sell the books and show children the films.
This is a great example of two of the world’s most powerful children brands paving the way forward, hopefully also calling for non-white characters to be the chief character or protagonist more often in the future.