From another article...
“While the poem If contains no reference to race, students claim the poem is still offensive because much of Kipling’s other works are about colonialism.
During his lifetime, he was described as respectful of Indians, but Kipling was also known to have held common prejudices that were rife in late-Victorian Britain.
In modern times, his work has often been criticised for attempting to legitimise the British Empire presence in India, dehumanising people of colour.
His most controversial work is his 1899 poem The White Man’s Burden, which has been criticised in modern times for advocating colonialism and for portraying other races as inferior.
The poem is about the Philippine-American War, in which he invites the US to assume colonial control of the Philippine Islands from Imperial Spain.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6815426/rudyard-kipling-poem-if-racist-jungle-book/
Which goes to show how stupid modern readers are. White Man’s Burden is a sarcastic tome pointing out the foolishness of America in getting involved in colonialism. Does this really sound like encouragement?
Take up the White Man’s burden —
No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper —
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go make them with your living,
And mark them with your dead.
Take up the White Man’s burden —
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard —
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light: —
“Why brought he us from bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?”
The effort to try and hold previous generations to modern day view points is a sign of laziness or delusion