George Washington's Birthday Cake

[jazzcat22]

A kid's book publisher was releasing a book titled "A Birthday Cake for George Washington." It's about George's slave/chef Hercules (a real-life person) and Hercules' daughter who were "proud" and "happy" to bake a cake for their master. People objected because it sentimentalized a brutal, inhumane part of American history and the book has been withdrawn:

APNewsBreak: Criticized book on Washington slave pulled

For the most part, I think it's good that it was pulled so children don't get the wrong idea that slavery wasn't as bad as it was. On the other hand, I don't know when or how much a child needs to be exposed to all the horrors of the world. And I don't see that a kid's book about the horrors of slavery would have much sales potential (which is what the book selling industry is all about).

What do y'all think?

[JerseyGirl415]

It's a very bizarre premise for a story IMO. It sounds like it was a book meant for pretty young kids, and I don't think they need to learn about slavery at that age. That will come later on in school.

I also agree that it's odd to make slaves seem so happy and nonchalant. While it's true many masters were actually not brutal in the treatment of their slaves and many slaves had an okay life (as good as it could be in the situation), I think it sends an odd message to the kids. Just a weird book overall. I think it's good it was pulled. It's not even about being offended, it's about reading the description and thinking... wtf. At least for me.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I'd have to see the book. Was it a book that made it fun to learn some history?

While I don't approve of slavery, I also do not approve of teaching progressive little kids that all slaves were chained, starved and beaten non-stop. I really disapprove of the recent movement to rewrite history and to blot out all mention of slavery and to remove anyone who was a slave owner from the history books and tear down their statues.