The Dr. Seuss backlash has reached an all-time high. Some high-profile conservatives have deemed “cancel culture” as the cause of six Dr. Seuss books facing retirement from publication. Others, however, have applauded the company for taking steps to fight against racism and positively contribute to a more inclusive society. With every controversy comes rumors. Here are five things you should know about the Dr. Seuss backlash.
1. The six books retired do not include the world-famous Green Eggs And Ham story
Dr. Seuss Enterprises decided to retire the following books:
– If I Ran The Zoo
– McElligot’s Pool
– On Beyond Zebra!
– Scrambled Eggs Super!
– The Cat’s Quizzer
– And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street
Green Eggs and Ham is not one of the books listed.
2. Dr. Seuss Enterprises deemed it best to discontinue sales
According to the company’s statement,
“We are committed to action. To that end, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, working with a panel of experts, including educators, reviewed our catalog of titles and made the decision last year to cease publication and licensing.”
The statement also acknowledged that the discontinued books “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.”
3. Dr. Seuss books have dominated best-seller lists since the decision
Dr. Seuss’s books have dominated Amazon’s “Top 5” list since attention has been turned towards the subject. Some buyers have patronized Dr. Seuss in an effort to celebrate the company for making strides towards diversity. Other buyers have purchased books in protest of what they believe to be “cancel culture.” In both instances, Dr. Seuss Enterprise has benefited from its decision.
4. Most libraries will still have the books
Several libraries across the nation have stated intentions to keep the six discontinued books in circulation. Individuals interested in reading the stories can search their local library’s catalog for the books.
5. No books were physically burned
There were rumors of books physically burned, which spread throughout the conservative branch of politics. Dr. Seuss Enterprises did not physically burn the six discontinued books. The publishing company stopped printing the stories and will, thus, no longer offer them for sale to retailers.
Learn more about Dr. Seuss books here!
Photo: Dr. Seuss Enterprises/Instagram
