Posted on 11/10/2011 8:05:57 PM PST by WesternCulture
A German theologian has sparked controversy by calling Sweden's beloved Pippi Longstocking children's books racist and demanding additions to prompt parents to skip over or explain certain passages.
Dr. Eske Wollrad from the the Federal Association of Evangelical Women in Germany first made her comments as a speaker at a state conference on anti-discrimination in Leipzig last weekend, stirring debate in the German media.
It is not that the figure of Pippi Longstocking is racist, but that all three in the trilogy of books have colonial racist stereotypes, Wollrad told The Local on Tuesday.
The publishers had already changed the original phrase used for her father as king of a South Seas island from Negro King to South Seas King, noted Wollrad, who is advisor for equality and social responsibility at the Protestant women's group.
But other passages in the much-loved books were also problematic, she said.
The black children throw themselves into the sand in front of the white children in the book, she said. When reading the book to my nephew, who is black, I simply left that passage out.
She said there were many such sensitive areas in the books, which were written by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren in the 1940s.
I would certainly not condemn the book completely on the contrary, there are many very positive aspects to the book, as well as being very funny, it is instructive for children as it not only has a strong female character, she is against adultism, grown-ups being in charge, and she is fiercely opposed to violence against animals there is a very strong critique of authority in the book.
But Wollrad would like to see additions made in the books to guide readers at such points where the original text was racist. The question to ask yourself is whether you could read a certain passage out loud to a black child without stopping or stumbling, she said. Only then can you say whether it is okay or not.
Footnotes for such passages could be a helpful aide to those reading the books either to prompt discussions or to help readers put racist terms into context.
Wollrad said literature for young children was woefully lacking in any characters that are not white meaning that many white children do not encounter children of other heritage until they start kindergarten and worse, that non-white children do not find any characters similar to them in pre-school books.
It simply isnt helpful if we want to help our children find their place in a multicultural society, she said.
A third of children under the age of five in Germany are from a migration background, she said. Publishers seem to think it is only white, middle-class women buying these books. We as consumers have to show that this is not good enough.
Pippi Longstocking: - Most German Feminist theologians are morons.
ELAINE: Who was Pippi Longstocking?
KATY: Pippi Longstocking? (thoughtful) Hmm, I don’t don’t know.
ELAINE: Did she have anything to do with Hitler?
KATY: Hitler? (thinks) Maybe.
Where’s the “Oh, Geeze, not this shit again.” pic when you need it?
“ELAINE: Did she have anything to do with Hitler?”
Sounds like Seinfeld..
A show for homosexual Jews living in NYC.
You have got to be kidding me. I read that book when I was younger and practically memorized it.
I am Pippi Longstocking
If you say it fast its funny
Pippi Pippi Longstocking
How I love my funny name.
Not remembering anything offensive or racist.
It truly is a mad, mad, mad, mad world.
And to those morons that actually agree witht he author of this article......
“Wheres the Oh, Geeze, not this shit again. pic when you need it?”
- You really have a low esteem of the nature of European cultural and intellectual debate of today, don’t you?
In fact, we invented Mona Lisa, the automobile, the locomotive and hard Techno music.
“she is against adultism, grown-ups being in charge”
Uh, there’s something wrong with grown-ups being in charge now?
“and she is fiercely opposed to violence against animals”
Shaddup and eat your schweinshaxe, you kook.
They’d find something wrong with the ingredients listed on a box of Cheerios.
Sounds as if Pippi is probably now demonstrating with OWS.
Oh, another popular series in Kenya was the Three Golliwogs. I believe that is another book that was 'harmful' to our young minds as well. Oh, and Br'er Rabbit and the Tar Baby used to make us laugh.
Anyways, as I mentioned I am always surprised when some people feel they need to 'protect' others from 'harmful' influences. Just because Pippi's father was 'king of the negroes' didn't make us feel bad or weak or anything. It was just a simple (but good) story.
Thanks for posting this thread W.Culture. Brought a lot of good memories back. Always wanted to name my house Villa Villekula. :) Thanks.
A third of children under the age of five in Germany are from a migration background,
Germany is screwed.

Clearly that monkey is racist!
That means that in only a generation, no one will be able to get a bailout from Germany any more. The place is doomed.
Why don’t they forget the references to the Pippi story and just come out and just say what mean to say and that is that the rotten people of European extraction are the only true racists.
It’s the second time today I’ve seen that word.
http://www.hopeworks.org/mentoring/adultism-what-is-it-and-how-do-we-avoid-it/
- In an episode of “Dallas” (featuring a cattle auction or whatever it is called) there is this guy speaking English really fast.
But in general, Americans speak slower than Europeans.
I like true Americans (otherwise I wouldn't be posting here), but Brits display a way more impressive vocabulary range.
Sweden is a country where many speak decent English and also good German, French and often some Spanish and Italian on top of it as well.
Si, Io sono proprio un maestro della lingua italiana. Veramente!
In Sweden, the average IQ is way over 110. In most nations on this planet it is probably 76 or something like that.
“Thanks for posting this thread W.Culture.”
- I read your post with interest, fellow freeper.
Sincere thanks for your response.
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