Racism, Representation, and Resistance| 1

Racism, Representation, and Resistance in Children’s Literature 1800 - 2015 August 13, 2018 – October 5, 2018 Smathers Library Gallery, 2nd Floor George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida Curated by Suzan Alteri, Stephanie Birch, and Dr. Hélène Huet Designed by Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler and Elizabeth A. Bouton

Unless otherwise noted, all items featured are from the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, Special & Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries

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.

Mary Phipps Liza and the Kinkies c. 1929 Sears 39h220

Elvira Garner (American, 1886-1956) Ezekiel 1937 H. Holt and company 39h8961

Elvira Garner (American, 1886-1956) Handmade Ezekiel dolls c. 1930s

Racism, Representation, and Resistance| 2

E. W. Kemble (American, 1861-1933) Coon Alphabet 1898 R. H. Russell 23h516

Inez Hogan (American, 1895-1973) Nicodemus and the Gang c. 1939 E. P. Dutton & Co. 23h22425

Anonymous Rufus Rastus Brown 1901 J. I. Austen & Co. 39p1864 Gift of Dr. Robert L. Egolf

Francis P. Wightman (American, 1874-1916) Little Leather Breeches and Other Southern Rhymes 1899 J. F. Taylor 39h1385 Gift of Dr. Robert L. Egolf

Helen Bannerman (Scottish, 1862-1946) The New Animated Little Black Sambo c. 1933 Garden City Publication Co. 39h12441

Anonymous Pickaninnies: Little Redskins c. 1910 Stewart & Co. 39p1756

Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings: The Folklore of the Old Plantation This classic book used the stereotype of the old ‘plantation uncle’ – a former slave who is content with his subordinate status – as a form of white nostalgia. The book was a mainstay in popular culture from its initial publication to the early 20th century. In 1946, Walt Disney even produced a live animation film, Song of the South, based on the book. The film was last shown in US movie theaters in 1986.

Helen Marion Palmer (American, 1898-1967) Walt Disney’s Uncle Remus 1947 Golden Press 23h51077

Joel Chandler Harris (American, 1848-1908) Uncle Remus and His Legends of the Old Plantation 1881 David Bogue 23h9581

Joel Chandler Harris (American, 1848-1908) The Tar-Baby: And Other Rhymes of Uncle Remus 1904 D. Appleton and Company 23h28770

Racism, Representation, and Resistance| 3

10 Little N***ers This counting rhyme enforced stereotypes and violence against Black people, and was widely popular worldwide, with translations in French, German, Danish, and Dutch. This classic text was so popular that Agatha Christie used it as the title for her mystery now called And Then There Were None.

Anonymous Ten Little N***ers c. 1867 Dean and Son, Ltd. 39p1825

Anonymous Ten Little N***ers c. 1897 McLoughlin Bros. 39p57

Anonymous Ten Little N***er Boys c. 1930 Juvenile Productions, Ltd. 15p2181

Anonymous 10 Little N***er Boys 1890 E. Nister and E.P. Dutton

Changing Perspectives From the Harlem Renaissance (1920's and 30'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.

Narrating Black Histories 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.

Ina Corinne Brown (American, 1896-1984) A Course for Young People on the Negro in America, Based on the Story of the American Negro 1936 Council of Women for Home Missions and Missionary Education Movement 23p2049

Racism, Representation, and Resistance| 4

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

Mary D. Jenness (American, 1947-) Twelve Negro Americans 1936 Friendship Press 23h22404

Arnold Adoff (American, 1935-) and Benny Andrews (American, 1930-2006) I Am the Darker Brother: An Anthology of Modern Poems by Negro Americans 1968 Macmillan 39h8024

Langston Hughes (American, 1902-1967) Famous American Negroes 1954 Dodd, Mead 23h2285

Lorraine Beim (American, 1909-1951) and Jerrold Beim (American, 1910-1957) Two is a Team 1945 Harcourt, Brace 23h23512

Lucille Clifton (American, 1936-2010) and John Steptoe (American, 1950-1989) All Us Come Cross the Water 1973 Holt, Rinehart and Winston 39h12709

Jill Krementz (American, 1940-) Sweet Pea: A Black Girl Growing Up in the Rural South 1969 Harcourt, Brace & World 39h5129

Virginia Hamilton (American, 1936-2002) M. C. Higgins, the Great 1974 Macmillan 23h28671

Ann McGovern (American, 1930-2015) Black is Beautiful 1969 Four Winds Press 23h31620

Illustrating Black Experiences 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.

Racism, Representation, and Resistance| 5

Faith Ringgold (American, 1930-) Tar Beach 1991 Crown Publishers, Inc. 39h2703

Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917-2000) Great Migration: An American Story 1993 Museum of Modern Art, Phillips Collection; Harper Collins 39h14939 Gift of Dr. Robert L. Egolf

Kadir Nelson (American, 1974-) Heart and Soul: the Story of Africa and African Americans 2011 Balzer + Bray 39h15072

James Haskins (American, 1941-2005) and Benny Andrews (1930-2006) Delivering Justice: W. W. Law and the Fight for Civil Rights 2005 Candlewick Press 39h13447

Cedella Marley (Jamaican, 1967-) and Vanessa Brantley-Newton (American) Every Little Thing 2015 Chronicle Books Loan courtesy of Nevan Birch

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.

Grace Duffie Boylan (American, 1861-1935) and Ike Morgan (1871-1913) Kids of Many Colors 1901 Hurst and Company 23h24206

Edward Webb (American, 1819-1898) Hindoo Life 1866 Presbyterian Publication Committee 23h2537

Anonymous Pity the Negro, or, An Address to Children on the Subject of Slavery 1825 Francis Westley 15p142

Mary Pamela Ellis Milne-Home (British, 1860-1936) Mamma’s Black Nurse Stories: West Indian Folklore 1890 William Blackwood and Sons 23h13210

Racism, Representation, and Resistance| 6

Enid Blyton (English, 1897-1968) Three Golliwogs 1969 Dean & Son 23h51962

Le voyage de Babar 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.

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

Tintin au Congo 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.

Hergé (Belgian, 1907-1983) Tintin au Congo 1946 Casterman