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In Our House, Dr. Seuss Was Contraband: My mother went to enormous lengths to protect her family from negative stereotypes of Black people.
The Atlantic ^ | 3/6/2021 | Michael Harriot

Posted on 03/15/2021 2:14:46 PM PDT by dead

My mother had a ban on pork, and I thought she was mad that I broke it. One afternoon four decades ago, when I was about 8, I walked into my family’s house after playing outside and saw my mother sitting in the yellow recliner with a book in her lap. She had found the copy of Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham.

I knew that I was in trouble, because normally no one sat in the canary-colored La-Z-Boy, a throne reserved for my grandmother. Another member of the family occupying it automatically meant that something very serious had happened­. Seeing the book she was holding, I briefly assumed that its subject was the problem; consuming unclean swine meats was a sin in our church.

But the real issue, I soon learned, was that Dr. Seuss was on our family’s list of banned authors—for precisely the reason that the famous children’s book author is in the news this week: Some of his works portrayed nonwhite people in a racist way. My mother went to what I now realize were enormous lengths to shield us from negative images of Black people, a seemingly impossible task for someone raising children in 1970s and ’80s South Carolina. The intensity of her displeasure over a Dr. Seuss book being in her home—and not even one of the objectionable titles—speaks to how much labor her plan required.

The book that got me in trouble wasn’t even mine. My youngest sister, Robin, had received it as a gift. But knowing that it was forbidden, my sisters placed it in my care because they were younger...

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blacksupremacist; blacksupremacy; cancelculture; censorship; drseuss; mediawingofthednc; michaelharriot; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; theatlantic; whiteness
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To: dead
My mother went to enormous lengths to protect her family from negative stereotypes of Black people.

Was she so committed to avoiding stereotypes of black people that she got married before she started a family?

81 posted on 03/15/2021 4:57:26 PM PDT by pepsi_junkie (Often wrong, but never in doubt!)
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To: dead

I agree.

Racist family.


82 posted on 03/15/2021 5:02:34 PM PDT by sauropod (#ImpeachMcConnell. #Rvesist. #NotMyPresident. Exvtamr)
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To: All
Your mom is racist and so are you. The whole world knows you are too.

Your mother should be ashamed of herself and so should you.
83 posted on 03/15/2021 5:09:45 PM PDT by ssfromla
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To: dead
Yer full'a shit, Mikey.

Your Muslim faith banned Dr. Seuss .... not no mama enforced stereotype

84 posted on 03/15/2021 5:21:32 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true, I have no proof, but they're true !)
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To: dead

“was part of an experiment”

People who have kids to conduct experiments are child abusers.


85 posted on 03/15/2021 5:25:26 PM PDT by alternatives? (If our borders are not secure, why fund an army?)
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To: dead

I cal BS on his rant.


86 posted on 03/15/2021 5:28:16 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: fhayek

Dr. Seuss is not the issue. The issue is the Revolution.


87 posted on 03/15/2021 5:30:45 PM PDT by HandyDandy
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To: rigelkentaurus

Wakanda forever!...

My favorite part of the Avengers is when Vision needs exploratory neurosurgery to remove the Infinity Stone. The only place they can go...Africa.


88 posted on 03/15/2021 5:45:32 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: dead

Sorry to tell you, Mr Herriot, but your mother sounds like an ignorant resentful jerk. There is nothing redeeming about this woman. But she’s your mother, so go ahead and lionize her in your mind. I don’t think you will find many others feeling the same way.


89 posted on 03/15/2021 6:06:29 PM PDT by chuckee
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To: dead

Smells like bullsheiss to me.

Although it would explain why this liberal is nuts.


90 posted on 03/15/2021 6:08:52 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: dead

I hope the kids are all well now.


91 posted on 03/15/2021 6:22:15 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: dpa5923

I’m throwing the bullshit flag on this one. This is so deep: 15 yard penalty and loss of down.

_______

Under further review, Intentional Targeting, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, EJECTION.


92 posted on 03/15/2021 6:28:05 PM PDT by drSteve78 (Je suis deplorable. WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE)
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To: dead

Yeah. Right. This is really believable...


93 posted on 03/15/2021 6:28:16 PM PDT by jughandle (Big words anger me, keep talking. )
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To: dead

If I’m not mistaken, there was once an episode of “Sanford and Son” when Lamont suddenly got the idea that pork had to be avoided. Sanford thought he was nuts.


94 posted on 03/15/2021 6:50:37 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: Seaplaner

I’d like to think that, but I’m not so sure.

There are a lot of leftist idiots out there.


95 posted on 03/15/2021 6:52:57 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (The Republican Party is dead. Long live the Founders Party.)
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To: dead

Tough, growing up with a mother who is severely mentally ill.


96 posted on 03/15/2021 7:11:08 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard (resist the narrative)
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To: dead

So I guess “Little Black Sambo” was also not on the reading list?

What a loon.


97 posted on 03/15/2021 7:18:16 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (I have a burning hatred of anyone who would vote for a demented, pedophile, crook and a commie whore)
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To: dead

His mom was a horrible mother suffering a crippling mental illness.

He has my pity.


98 posted on 03/15/2021 7:37:47 PM PDT by Bogey78O (So far so good.)
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To: Jolla

Wow. Did they ever get her?


99 posted on 03/15/2021 7:42:19 PM PDT by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too." - Robert Conquest )
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To: dead

bump


100 posted on 03/15/2021 9:39:49 PM PDT by Albion Wilde ("One steps out with actresses, one doesn't marry them."—Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh)
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