RACISM, REPRESENTATION, AND RESISTANCE
in Children’s Literature 1800 – 2015
This online exhibition is based on the exhibition of the same name that was presented at the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries, August 13, 2015 – October 5, 2018. Unless otherwise noted, all items are from the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, Special & Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries.
Curated by Suzan Alteri, Stephanie Birch, and Dr. Hélène Huet | Designed by Katiana Bagué based on the 2018 online exhibit of the same name designed by Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler
INTRODUCTION
Some illustrations in this exhibit depict jarring racial stereotypes and caricatures of African Americans and other communities of color.
They prove a long legacy of racism in the United States, Great Britain, and other Western European countries. From the 1800s – 1960s, children’s authors and illustrators created racist stories and images by exaggerating language, behavior, and physical attributes. These books negatively shaped children’s perspectives about People of Color and established standards for racial stereotypes.
Racism, Representation, and Resistance illustrates the power of children’s literature to shape young minds. The exhibit explores the long history of racism in children’s literature by examining the dehumanization and colonization of People of Color, primarily Africans and African Americans, through images of minstrelism and colonialism.
It also explores how self-representational children’s books by African American authors resisted and subverted racist ideologies. These new books countered racism with fictional and nonfictional accounts of the Black experience. We encourage you to study the books in this exhibit to understand how literature contributes to our ideas about race and racism.
RACIST PORTRAYALS
Until the 1960s, many children’s books promoted white superiority through racist representations. Authors used dialect to signify a lack of intelligence, illustrations to show people of color as unclean and animal-like, and exaggerated personality traits to suggest laziness and immorality.
The following illustrations have been blurred as they depict jarring racial stereotypes and caricatures of Black people. To view the illustrations, hover your cursor over the image.
Mary Phipps,
Liza and the Kinkies
c. 1929. Sears
39h220
Inez Hogan (American, 1895-1973),
Nicodemus and the Gang
c. 1939 E. P. Dutton & Co.
23h22425
E. W. Kemble (American 1861-1933),
Coon Alphabet
1898 R. H. Russell
23h516
Anonymous,
Pickaninnies: Little Redskins
c. 1910 Stewart & Co.
39p1756
COLONIALISM
European empires used racist images to perpetuate the idea that white Europeans were superior and in control. Texts from the British, Belgian, and French Empires depicted people of color as ‘immoral savages’ in need of civilizing. Many of these children’s books also used faulty scientific studies to justify discrimination. These studies are now disproven.
Some of these illustrations have been blurred as they depict jarring racial stereotypes and caricatures of Black people. To view these illustrations, hover your cursor over the image.
Anonymous,
Pity the Negro, or, an Address to Children on the Subject of Slavery
1825 Francis Westley
15p142
Enid Blyton (English, 1897-1968),
Three Golliwogs
1969 Dean & Son
23h51962
Jean de Brunhoff (French, 1899-1937),
Le voyage de Babar
1932 Editions du Jardin des Modes, Groupe des Publications Condé Nast
39h14071
Gift of Dr. Robert L. Egolf
Featuring one of the most recognized children’s characters in the world, this popular series of books is problematic. After traveling and being educated by a white woman, Babar, the King, introduces a form of Western civilization to the other elephants. Some have argued that Babar’s civilizing influence on his subjects is a justification for colonialism.
Hergé (Belgian, 1907-1983),
Tintin au Congo
1946 Casterman
Published in 1931, Tintin au Congo has become controversial over the course of the 20th century for its racist portrait of Congolese peoples, who are depicted as infantile, stupid, and ape-like. The book was not published in English until the 1980s, due to its racist content. Despite the controversies, Tintin au Congo remains popular, selling over 10 million copies worldwide.
CHANGING PERPECTIVES
From the Harlem Renaissance (1920’s and 1930’s) to the present, Black authors created their own stories to dismantle racism in children’s books. After the Civil Rights era, children’s literature began to reflect a more inclusive attitude. Some African American authors have won the prestigious Caldecott and Newbery Medals for their work celebrating Black culture and history. While children’s literature remains dominated by white narratives, groups like We Need Diverse Books continue to push for change. Resources and tools such as the Diverse BookFinder also help make diverse books more accessible.
Hildegarde Hoyt Swift (American, 1890-1977) and Lynd Ward (1905-1985),
North Star Shining: A Pictorial History of the American Negro
1947 William Morrow & Co.
39h7002
Gift of Robert L. Egolf
Lorraine Beim (American, 1909-1951) and Jerrold Beim (American, 1910-1957),
Two is a Team
1945 Harcourt, Brace
23h23512
During the New Negro Movement (1919 – 1941), Black intellectual thought, independence, and self-expression soared. African American authors who were part of the Harlem Renaissance began publishing Black histories. Even renowned poet Langston Hughes wrote a series of biography anthologies for children. From inventors to revolutionaries, these books challenged racist representations by highlighting Black accomplishments and contributions.
Faith Ringgold (American, 1930-),
Tar Beach
1991 Crown Publishers
39h2703
During Jim Crow (1877 – 1960’s), the American social landscape shifted as millions of African Americans left the South in search for new opportunities. Many 20th century books, such as The Great Migration: An American Story and Tar Beach, were written by African American authors to capture new Black experiences and life in the city.
Jim Haskins (American, 1941-2005) and Benny Andrews (1930-2006),
Delivering Justice: W. W. Law and the Fight for Civil Rights
2005 Candlewick Press
39h13447
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