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mopinko

(69,804 posts)
Mon Mar 1, 2021, 11:00 AM Mar 2021

a hot bed of civil rights debate- little free libraries.

so, i have a lfl on my farm. there are a couple of fb groups that i follow for stewards. 1 is the official page, and the other is 'progressive stewards'
i have no idea what caused the split in the 1st place, but i do know it was politics rearing it's ugly head.

of late racism has been a hot topic on the main board. the subtle racism in a lot of dr seuss's books was a hot button. it's gone about like you'd expect.
i dont usually post in either group. but this am i decided to throw in my 2 cents.

posted this on both-

i dont usually post in this group, nor the leftier page, tho i do read. but i want to support those trying to make racism visible to those who dont see it.
if your mission is providing books to children, and you dont see how racist a lot of children's lit is, then you rly ought to educate yourself.
it is understandable that people who have not lived it cannot see it as easily as those who have. it is often devilishly subtle, and based on stereotypes that are very, very old.
obviously folks who go to the trouble to keep a lfl want to make the world a better place. and especially for children.
if you find yourself clinging to old fashioned stories, old worldviews, and old characters that seem harmless to you, take this wonderful opportunity to see the world through new eyes. other eyes.

because, really, isnt that what we all want from books?



ftr, i still love dr zeuss. there are a couple books i wouldnt put in my library, but you cant beat 'the sneeches' for a lesson in the stupidity of racism. or 'yertle the turtle' for a lesson in how totalitarianism works.

but yeah, who knew?
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a hot bed of civil rights debate- little free libraries. (Original Post) mopinko Mar 2021 OP
Dr. Suess was a mixed-bag in the early years of his children's literature career. Aristus Mar 2021 #1
yeah. it's a nuanced discussion for some. mopinko Mar 2021 #3
That's interesting. I've never thought about Little Free Libraries being MineralMan Mar 2021 #2
I recently discovered such a free library in the park one block from me. PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2021 #4
they're a wonderful thing. mopinko Mar 2021 #5

Aristus

(66,082 posts)
1. Dr. Suess was a mixed-bag in the early years of his children's literature career.
Mon Mar 1, 2021, 11:05 AM
Mar 2021

He hailed from a progressive German-American family in Massachusetts. But he fell for a lot of the racism of the day, and produced some repellent anti-Asian cartoons during World War II.

I'm happy to say he renounced much of that racism as his career progressed, and produced, as you pointed out, a number of books with a liberal message. The Sneetches, (racism), The Lorax (environmental protection), Horton Hears A Who (Egalitarianism, even though anti-choicers try to make it an anti-abortion message), Yertle The Turtle (totalitarianism), and The Butter Battle Book (Nuclear escalation).

mopinko

(69,804 posts)
3. yeah. it's a nuanced discussion for some.
Mon Mar 1, 2021, 11:41 AM
Mar 2021

a knee jerk smack down for others.

just please dont make me read 'wacky wednesday' ever again. it was my older son's fave book, and i have ptsd from reading it a billion times.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
2. That's interesting. I've never thought about Little Free Libraries being
Mon Mar 1, 2021, 11:07 AM
Mar 2021

controversial at all. The concept is so very simple. People take books and leave books. Anyone can leave any book they wish in any Little Free Library box, and take away any book they find there. There are a few scattered around where I live. I have too many books already, so I don't take books from them. However, if there is a racial disparity in the books found in them, I suggest that people actively place books in them that are more in line with non-racist views. Go to one, taking books you like, and swap them in for books you don't like.

Simple activism that can be done by anyone at all.

I've thought several times about adding one to my front yard. Perhaps I'll do just that this Spring.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,746 posts)
4. I recently discovered such a free library in the park one block from me.
Mon Mar 1, 2021, 01:50 PM
Mar 2021

I need to give it more of my unneeded books.

mopinko

(69,804 posts)
5. they're a wonderful thing.
Mon Mar 1, 2021, 01:59 PM
Mar 2021

mine is currently derelict, in need of a new roof and a coat of paint.

but i love mine, even tho it's been wiped out a couple times.
i caught a lady one time strolling up w a granny cart full of books. i smiled at her and she gave me a pained smile back. then she stuffed some of the books into my already well stocked cabinet.
foiled.

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