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Re: Look's Alvlin Ho response (or lack of an adequate one)
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From: Christine Taylor-Butler <kansascitymom_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 05 Feb 2014 14:27:43 -0600
I am now speechless, the author is now off my reading list and I'm particularly offended by her defense of why she as an author had the right to reinforce an ethnic stereotype based on how she would imagine children playing. It isn't her story to tell and an apology would have been more appropriate. Her response, in part, in the comment section:
"As for the stereotyped play and costumes . . . well, when kids play "cowboys and Indians" or "settlers and Indians" (being that this is colonial Massachusetts history), that's how i imagined they would play and dress, based on how it's been done in the past and as recently as the Disney Pocahontas craze in the mid-to-late 90s. Politically correct? No. But do kids play politically correctly? No. Should I perpetuate play that is not politically correct? No. But I would not be TRUTHFUL if I were to fabricate a scenario for them that conforms to our current, enlightened-adult sense of how kids should play if that’s not the behavior that we’ve already passed to them. And good writing is about being honest, regardless of how discomforting it might be, especially when echoed in our children's play…"
Umm. No. And although my urban experience is limited, I can't think of ANY contemporary child I've met in my neighborhood or schools who plays cowboys and Indians. That seems to be to be adult intrusion and a disconnect with the target audience. What will she do next? Lynch Black people in her effort to highlight another historical fact?
Wondering what RH was thinking when they allowed that to go through unchallenged during editorial?…………..C
On Feb 5, 2014, at 1:39 PM, Debbie Reese wrote:
> Christine--
>
> A heads-up to you and others who like Alvin Ho books. In one, Alvin is playing Indian.
>
> http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2011/06/alvin-ho-allergic-to-birthday-parties.html
>
> Debbie
>
> __________________________________________________________
> Debbie Reese, PhD
> Tribally enrolled: Nambe Pueblo
>
> Website: American Indians in Children's Literature
> _at_ http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
>
>
> Y
Date: Wed, 05 Feb 2014 14:27:43 -0600
I am now speechless, the author is now off my reading list and I'm particularly offended by her defense of why she as an author had the right to reinforce an ethnic stereotype based on how she would imagine children playing. It isn't her story to tell and an apology would have been more appropriate. Her response, in part, in the comment section:
"As for the stereotyped play and costumes . . . well, when kids play "cowboys and Indians" or "settlers and Indians" (being that this is colonial Massachusetts history), that's how i imagined they would play and dress, based on how it's been done in the past and as recently as the Disney Pocahontas craze in the mid-to-late 90s. Politically correct? No. But do kids play politically correctly? No. Should I perpetuate play that is not politically correct? No. But I would not be TRUTHFUL if I were to fabricate a scenario for them that conforms to our current, enlightened-adult sense of how kids should play if that’s not the behavior that we’ve already passed to them. And good writing is about being honest, regardless of how discomforting it might be, especially when echoed in our children's play…"
Umm. No. And although my urban experience is limited, I can't think of ANY contemporary child I've met in my neighborhood or schools who plays cowboys and Indians. That seems to be to be adult intrusion and a disconnect with the target audience. What will she do next? Lynch Black people in her effort to highlight another historical fact?
Wondering what RH was thinking when they allowed that to go through unchallenged during editorial?…………..C
On Feb 5, 2014, at 1:39 PM, Debbie Reese wrote:
> Christine--
>
> A heads-up to you and others who like Alvin Ho books. In one, Alvin is playing Indian.
>
> http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2011/06/alvin-ho-allergic-to-birthday-parties.html
>
> Debbie
>
> __________________________________________________________
> Debbie Reese, PhD
> Tribally enrolled: Nambe Pueblo
>
> Website: American Indians in Children's Literature
> _at_ http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
>
>
> Y
---
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Received on Wed 05 Feb 2014 02:28:27 PM CST
