Scholastic Needs to Apologize for Publishing a Children's Book Filled with Racist Imagery (soldiers, death)
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I am a Korean-American father of two young children, ages 5 and 7. Both are huge fans of Dav Pilkey, author of wildly popular series Captain Underpants and Dogman, and recently borrowed "Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen From the Future" by the author from their local library.
Upon close inspection, I realized the book relied upon multiple instances of racist imagery and stereotypical tropes, including a "Kung Fu master" wearing what's purported to be a traditional-style Tang coat, dashes for eyes for the Asian characters, stereotypical Chinese proverbs, and a storyline that has the Kung Fu master rescued by the non-Asian protagonists using their Kung Fu skills (despite the fact that they were taught said skills from the supposed master).
Would he prefer books that depict Asia being saved from the blood thirsty and savage Japanese military by non-Asian soldiers wearing the American flag?
How about just books that show Asian soldiers slaughtering civilians by the thousands. That would cover both Japan and China.
How about a children's book showing the Bataan death march and who bayonetted defenseless prisoners? A certain bridge in Thailand? That one is a 3 for. Japanese, Koreans and Thai working and starving white POW's to death.
I am a Korean-American father of two young children, ages 5 and 7. Both are huge fans of Dav Pilkey, author of wildly popular series Captain Underpants and Dogman, and recently borrowed "Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen From the Future" by the author from their local library.
Upon close inspection, I realized the book relied upon multiple instances of racist imagery and stereotypical tropes, including a "Kung Fu master" wearing what's purported to be a traditional-style Tang coat, dashes for eyes for the Asian characters, stereotypical Chinese proverbs, and a storyline that has the Kung Fu master rescued by the non-Asian protagonists using their Kung Fu skills (despite the fact that they were taught said skills from the supposed master).
The children/students getting so good at what they have been taught that they are able to rescue the one who taught them is a very typical storyline in children’s books, regardless of the characters’ races, genders, species, Earth organism status, or locations.
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The children/students getting so good at what they have been taught that they are able to rescue the one who taught them is a very typical storyline in children’s books, regardless of the characters’ races, genders, species, Earth organism status, or locations.
Yeah, you'd think...
Not to mention the irony of an Korean-American complaining about racism towards Chinese individuals when the author of the book is married to a Chinese-American. The author seemed to be completely oblivious to the accusations as well as millions of other people who read the book over the previous decade.
Besides to get out in front of the "but he cancelled it on his own" crowd, this goes to show how hypersensitive society has become. A book (that I never heard of but was apparently pretty popular) cancelled over 289 signatures and 10 comments on a change.org petition. I looked into the father as far as I felt like bothering with and as far as I can tell he isn't a DIE coordinator or involved with any of the social sciences. He might be but I just didn't feel like looking any further into him and what might have motivated him. It seems to be a clearcut example of someone with a really active imagination.
Last edited by BigJon3475; 03-30-2021 at 07:32 PM..
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