Dr. Seuss: Newest casulty in culture war, or is something else behind the unpublishing?
The start of March featured the next big shot across the bow in America's long-running culture war when it was announced six books by Dr. Seuss would no longer be published for "racist imagery."
The six titles are:
-And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street
-If I Ran the Zoo
-McElligot's Pool
-On Beyond Zebra!
-Scrambled Eggs Super!
-The Cat's Quizzer
“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 released in a statement. “These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong."
As expected, online backlash was quick, labeling Dr. Seuss Enterprises a victim of cancel culture and the continued trampling of the First Amendment.
The logic behind that being once you ban books, it is a slippery slope to what is decent, and further reinforced a world view that "Big Brother is coming."
It is a sentiment I can agree with. Government should not ban any books. All ideas should be heard and put into the public forum and held to the highest scrutiny. Good ideas will survive, while antiquated or innane ones will be rejected by society.
That is why there is no problem with what has happened to these six works of Theodor Seuss Geisel.
There is no government overreach or pressure. This was a move by a private business to cease sales of a struggling product. It is no different when a restaurant removes a menu item, or when stores quit selling Zunes.
Optimistically, this is a move by a company to realign its public image to mirror one of inclusiveness and cultural sensitivity, while attempting to foster that mentality in children through literature.
I believe there is a more concrete method behind this move though: Money.
While this provided link is a few years old, it is interesting to see which Seuss properties are the money-makers.
It should come as no surprise the six books that will no longer be published aren't on the list. To be honest, outside of the first two I listed, I have no knowledge of the other three. Doesn't mean those books may not be important to a person, but on the whole, these books aren't the most popular titles.
It is clear, Seuss made a business decision: These books cost more to keep in circulation than what revenue they bring in.
So, Seuss made the smart decision and pulled them off the market. The reasoning of racial sensitivity, while likely genuine, gives cover.
Do you actually expect a business to openly admit a product isn't selling well? If they had pulled a more popular title, you could take that sentiment without doubt.
It appears Seuss played this perfectly, with sales reportedly through the roof as people try to get the last of the six books currently on the market, while others I imagine are picking up books since it is timely (similar to the renewed interest in Stephen King adaptations).
Also, don't be shocked if in a year or two if these books that have been pulled are re-released with updated artwork. They have updated/special edition artwork in other books, namely releasing "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" in a black, white and red art style.
If that happens, expect sales of those titles to be up, either by people who want to see the changes, and others who will buy and then protest said books (because simply not buying them if you don't like them is no way to protest).
There is no first amendment violation here. That amendment protects people and businesses from government infringement, and no where has the government said "You have to stop publishing these six titles."
This is simply a business making a decision to try and improve sales while pulling product that doesn't sell that well. You could argue this is a company seeing the writing on the wall that future consumers want a more representative, culturally sensitive product, while those who are mad about the change are "aging out," if you will, of the market.
This move doesn't mean you have to hate these six titles. I imagine like most Seuss works, they play a key role in helping children learn to read and can have a positive influence and digestable life lessons.
Fitting Seuss Enterprise is teaching a life lesson in this case: Never doubt that a business is in the business of making money.
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