The works of famed children’s author Dr. Seuss have recently been panned by some critics as racially insensitive, but that might come as news to former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama.
Recently resurfaced photos of the then-first lady hosting Seuss-themed events at the White House reveal her apparent support of the author and his massive contributions to childhood reading.
“All the stuff you need to know”
Among the images are those showing Michelle Obama reading Dr. Seuss classics to children on Read Across America Day, which falls on Seuss’s birthday, March 2.
During a 2015 celebration at the White House, she was surrounded by popular characters from his books and declared: “We love Dr. Seuss in this house.”
Why wasn’t Dr. Seuss racist when Michelle Obama invited him to the White House? pic.twitter.com/riaDSkzfbB
— Errol Webber (@ErrolWebber) March 2, 2021
Her husband was also an outspoken proponent of Seuss’s writing, praising his “whimsical wordplay and curious characters” while proclaiming that “pretty much all the stuff you need to know” can be found in the pages of the beloved author’s books.
“We’re all the same, so why would we treat somebody different just because they don’t have a star on their belly?” he asked during one event.
“All communities and families”
Like countless parents over the course of several decades, the Obamas clearly saw the benefits of exposing young children to Seuss’s canon. A lot can change over the course of just a few years, however, and President Joe Biden quietly purged any references to Seuss from his Read Across America Day proclamation earlier this week.
Furthermore, the company that publishes the children’s books has pulled six titles after working with “experts” and declaring a commitment “to action” against the supposedly offensive content included therein.
“These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” Dr. Seuss Enterprises explained. “Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprises’s catalog represents and supports all communities and families.”
The six titles set to be pulled from publication include Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, If I Ran the Zoo, McElligot’s Pool, On Beyond Zebra!, Scrambled Eggs Super!, and The Cat’s Quizzer.
In light of the new backlash against Seuss, fans have sent many of his books to the top of the Amazon bestseller list. Photos displaying the Obamas clear approval of Seuss’s contribution to children’s literature only add to the widespread belief that efforts to effectively cancel him are simply ridiculous.
The post Resurfaced photos reveal Michelle Obama celebrating Dr. Seuss during White House event first appeared on Conservative Institute.
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