Classics that avoid racism.

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  • 2flowerboys
    Participant

    I LOVE Anne of Green Gables! And I am reading the series right now! However if you are concerned about not being tolerant, I have to say that in all of these books “The Methodists” are being bashed by 2 characters, mostly by one a lot! The main book characters are Protestant. It is meant to be funny, it is to some point. But the character/characters do quite a lot of bashing of “those Methodists”!

    I think you might find intolerance, poking fun at, racism, and other kinds of like behavior in a good bit of books. It is unfortunate to some degree. However, it can be a great teaching tool also!

    We are currently reading the Little House series. We are loving it. So far, the only thing I see is them referring to Native Americans as savages. But this is how they were described in that era. Some did act savage, and some were helpful and polite. Although, it was a shame that they were forced out of their land. And I use this as a tool to teach about history.

    ServingwithJoy
    Participant

    I have to admit that I am surprised to see the Little House series on this list, so I am going to read ahead as we get into those in the next month or two.

    I did want to point out that the post-er mentioned the Little House TV program as having racism – and that program was pretty LOOSLY based on the books. In the later years of the program, there were a lot of social issues they dealt with in a very ‘1970’s’ kind of way that didn’t really correspond to the actual material in the books.

    But, as I said, sometimes these things are subtle and those of us who aren’t directly effected by racism miss it in our reading…so I will be looking for that to come up as I read them.

    Laura.bora
    Participant

    In little House, there is also a scene where Pa participates in black face in the town pageant.  I can’t remember which book it is in, possibly Little Town on the Prairie.  Smile

     

    stuckersr
    Participant

    Serving with Joy, thank you for the heartfelt response.  I appreciate that. I am not a writer by nature, so my written thoughts often read very stiff, but you expressed them beautifully.  If the racist was a villian, I may not feel so strongly about avoiding them.  But the racism in them is accepted by the protaganist or by the (so-called) honorable adults.   I also appreciate you admitting that you, too were uncomfortable enough to stop reading these to your kids.  We have, I think, so accepted these classics as endearing that it’s difficult to see other sides of it.

    The books have no value for my children if they are a weapon to their young sensibilities.

    I was thinking earlier of another response, one that mentioned the Holocaust.  I’m assuming that little Jewish children read about the Holocaust, but there is a difference: they read it from the Jewish perspective.   The people on the wrong side of the Holocaust and even the ideas that led to the Holocaust are noted as a blatant evil. The little Jewish child can feel justified.  In the classic books, we are reading it from the racists perspective.  The racism is often ignored.  The people are still treated as being respectable. There is rarely any disagreement, or consequence for the racism.  My son is going to see enough of that during his lifetime, in real life.  He doesn’t need to see it in beloved books. 

    Lishie,  I think others have responded with a few examples of the racism in the Laura Wilder books, so I would only be redundant.

    2flowerboys – What you said to describe the Natives could be used to describe any nationality: Some act savagely, some do not. That does not justify the evil that is racism. 

    I am not going to teach my child that ‘they were product of their time’ is a valid excuse for any type of hatred. We all choose our own behavior, and they KNEW better. Racists/bigots in any form, at ANY period in time, let their propensity towards hatred blind them. They chose to ignore what they KNEW was the right thing to do.  My son needs to know the difference.  Personal responsibility and consideration for others are not post-civil rights era ideas. 

    Laura.Bora, the scene you describe is one of the major ones for me.  

     

    Thanks again, y’all.

    missceegee
    Participant

    It’s up to every family to decide what works best in their family and homeschool. No debate about that. But, as we’ve enjoyed every book that is on your racist literature list, I am not sure I have anything to suggest for you. I will simply say that I think it’s sad that you would even suggest that those who embrace these classics somehow accept or even endorse racism. That’s quite a stretch. I see the ugly side of many books, but I see it as a teachable moment. Racism is wrong, but so is murder, greed, and more forms of wickedness than I can count. Sin is sin in the eyes of the Almighty. Elevating racism to a higher level of sin just doesn’t sit well. 

    I hope you find what your’re looking for in books. 

    Blessings,

    Christie

     

    suzukimom
    Participant

    Well, I’m not sure I have any suggestions either….

     

    I did have a thought about the Jewish Holocaust that I thought I’d share.  Yes, it was evil and horrible….

    But – how would you deal with the readings/etc from a perspective of a German child?   I’m just curious – as my step-kids have a German mother – and yes, there is prejudice against Germans at this point.  All of my step-kids (and my grandchild) have had swastikas drawn on their school desks, called nazis, and otherwise bullied and picked on.  And then anything on the Jewish Holocaust would show their recent ancestors as evil, etc.

    QueenMama
    Member

    Interesting question, and one that has been on my mind a lot too.  I couldn’t even read LHOTP to my daughter after doing a pre-read of it, there was just too much.  We did do Little House in the Big Woods, and we’ll eventually move ahead to Plum Creek, but we’ll skip LHOTP itself for a few years.  I’d rather have her develop a positive and respectful attitude toward Native Americans first, and then be able to examine the attitudes (mostly displayed by Ma) with a more critical eye later, with the ability to note that they don’t square up with her experience. 

    I was surprised, a couple of weeks ago, when reading The Secret Garden aloud, to get to the derogatory parts about “natives” (referring to Indians).  I didn’t remember that at all from childhood, but they were pretty blatant.  A Little Princess wasn’t quite so bad, but still rather … patronizing.  

    I don’t have any real answers, just agreeing that I’m finding it a difficult balance between trying to enjoy classical literature while not giving my young child (age 5) the wrong ideas when she is at such an impressionable age. 

    roseallyne
    Participant

    This has really given me something to think on. Some of these books have been favorite reads of mine since I was small. I can see many more “teaching moments” in our future, as my brother is trying to adopt a child from Africa. I would be really interested  in knowing what books end up on your list. Wink

    stuckersr
    Participant

    Missceegee I didn’t suggest that those who embrace these classics somehow accept or even endorse racism.  I did not give my opinion on why people embraced these books.  That is your faulty reasoning.

     Hating your brother is sin. Racism is hatred. 
    1 John 3:15

    Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 

    Your comment seemed divisive in a way that was not necessary, and there were no good books listed with it.  

    While I appreciate the option any person has of commenting, I would rather keep the dialogue open and respectful…I’m looking for good books here, not trying to start fiery debate.  If you must be antagonistic, you can private message me.  This topic in this forum may not be the place. 

     

    Suzuki mom, As an adult,  I have the ability to discern things better than my 10 year old would.  And he is my focus here.  

    Roseallyne, thanks.  If i may say…teaching moments are difficult with this one.  I do teach my son that humans, including him and I, are evil.  That’s all I could come up with. 

    QueenMama thanks.  I’m there with you.  When you figure it out, let me know.  Until then, I refuse to, as I said earlier, poke my kids with a needle to teach them a lesson.  NONE of the classic books are not necessary, I do know that.

    stuckersr
    Participant

    Sorry, that last line should be NONE are necessary.  Long day. 

    suzukimom
    Participant

    I’m sorry – I was asking a legitimate question… I don’t understand your response to me.

    TailorMade
    Participant

    Here are my back and forth thoughts.

    A good book to read!

    Breaking the Veil of Silence, by Jobst Bittner 

    The author of this book, through careful research and hand’s on observation shares that being silent during the Holocaust was the same as being a party to the evils that happened. Just as dangerous has been silence ever since. Now, several decades later, survivors and their descendants on both sides of the situation are still reeling in turmoil. This pastor is trying to help them through the forgiveness/reconciliation process. But, it requires admitting causes, participation, and so much more. 

    If you do not know history, you have no choice other than to live through it (or, not!) while it repeats itself!

    To try to create a bubble that pretends prejudice behavior doesn’t exist is very dangerous. To think that everyone has decided that the villains in the Holocaust WERE villains is a dangerous assumption. There is no justification for it, but to not read about the events and the language involved leaves not only Jewish children, but all children in danger of this happening again…to any group of people!   

    Every form of prejudice exists, period.  Anti-Semitism is just as rampant today, if not more so, than it was then. If the topic is avoided and hidden, the repercussions could fatal when the imaginary controls are no longer in place. Racism is rampant whether it is talked about openly, honestly, or hidden from view. 

    I’m a grand daughter of a man with a hateful attitude. I’m quite certain had my parents not broken that curse and line of thinking, I’d have been adversely affected by his speech, behavior, and lies. My parents chose to tell it like it was and I could see for myself what was wrong with his picture of reality. If they’d kept silent, by assumption, I’d have been influenced by him because no one would’ve been standing there to hold up the Word of God to shed the Light of Truth on the situation.

    These same parents of mine helped me navigate through the books I was required to read in public school as a child. One of those books was To Kill a Mockingbird. It horrified me at the time. However, it was an opportunity for me to confront various evils without them actually physically happening to me. I don’t think it should be read as early as many do. I can’t say it should never be read. 

    I’m often criticized by the fact that our family reads and discusses the horrors of the Holocaust from a very young age. Many say that children aren’t equipped to deal with it. The children who lived, or died during the time had to deal with it. Their descendants have to deal with it. Most of them teach their children from very early on about the fact that prejudice exists. Why it exists. And, hopefully, how to not be prejudiced toward others. 

    Those who have living relatives, or ancestors trapped in slavery of any form must address it. Racism is itself a slavery of the mind. Many prejudiced people have never actually been exposed to love of any kind and would never realize their beliefs are wrong. So to not help our children see it for what it is would be to prevent them from being able to encourage others to break free from these disastrous beliefs. 

    I didn’t share titles earlier. I wasn’t remembering your son’s age/grade 6. However, the longer I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn’t think of a single title that wouldn’t have some sort of conflict between good and evil, racism, or not. So, it’s a really hard call.

    Anything science related may have evolutionary over/undertones. That’s another topic best dealt with at home before leaving the nest. 

    All this to say, we wait to teach much depth concerning the Greek, Roman, Norse, etc. gods/goddesses and fantasy literature until later than many on this list. So, believe me, I do empathize with your struggle. I guess we all want to shield our children from our biggest concerns. While I still want to wait to have my children approach these topics, they will approach them at home. 

    I’m hopeful that you read this as me being concerned that your son isn’t ever hurt by other’s prejudice and that I hope you’ll equip him to handle this sort of situation when it comes up with the courage and grace required to influence others to change their minds and discover a happier more peaceful life. You can do this with books, or not, but it cannot be avoided. 

    Blessings,

    Becca<><

    stuckersr
    Participant

    Suzimom I didn’t understand why you were apologizing, so I went back and read your post and my response.  I am sorry!  Don’t be sorry.  I am tired, it’s late and I mis-read your post.  

    To respond to what you actually said (and not what me in my fatigued state thought you said) – 

    I’m not sure about that one.  I guess it would depend on the age of the child.  My son watched The Boy With the Striped Pajamas with me, and that is from a German child’s perspective. The German child in this movie seemed typical of most children his age of any nationality, unaware of the circumstances that surrounded him.  

    I allowed my son to watch it because near the end, the evil that was done was shown as just that, evil. And frankly, he’s 10.  It wasn’t about tanks or ninjas, so he was in and out of the room and missed most of it, making it easy for me to forgo long discussions or explanations.

    So I guess it would ALSO depend on what the source was.  My son is still young enough that I don’t want to him to read of the unrelenting pain of anyone.  

    Again, I am sorry.  I have been up way too long today.

    bethanna
    Participant

    I have not read much regarding the Holocost, or either WW, but aren’t there books that tell about German people helping Jewish people? In which not all Germans are protrayed as bad? I have a very dear aunt from Germany.

    stuckersr
    Participant

    Bethanna that’s a great point.  ‘The Pianist’ comes to mind.  The soldier that saved the pianist was German.  I think with my own kids I would stick with that perspective.  I don’t know if there are any similar books that are appropriate for younger children.

Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 47 total)
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