We all grew up on Dr. Seuss, through such characters as The Grinch, Cat in the Hat, and Horton Hears a Who. There's his famous books like Green Eggs and Ham and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
In Virginia, Dr. Seuss was dropped from the annual ‘Read Across America’ event because his books have “strong racial undertones,” according to the school system.
A 2019 report claimed some of the books “feature animal or non-human characters that transmit Orientalist, anti-Black, and White supremacist messaging through allegories and symbolism.”
For over two decades, Dr. Seuss’s birthday has been celebrated in schools as Read Across America Day, a day dedicated to the importance of reading and literacy. The day falls on Dr. Seuss’s birthday in honor of the impactful author, whose books have helped countless children learn to read across the globe.
The Loudon County, Virginia schools said they will look toward books they believe are more “inclusive and diverse and reflective of our student community,” a spokesman said.
Despite the ban from “Read Across America,” Dr. Seuss will still be available in libraries and classrooms in the district.