THE STORY OF DOCTOR DOLITTLE - Likewise Book Reviews
"This is a great fairytale, the way they should be. Most likely, the only reason it has such a low rating is because people think it's racist, and they would be a little bit right. But I would posit that in reality, it's mostly just meant to be a rediculous fairytale. EVERYTHING is rediculous, and when you realize that, it sounds a whole lot less racist.<br/><br/>Since I am probably a good helping racist, you can't take my opinion, but there are a few things that I think are the primary reasons for being called racist, and my response to each:<br/>1) An Italian is portrayed negatively. I don't think people are mad about this, but I honestly hope they are so that they are being consistent. However, since the Italian isn't black, people probably aren't mad.<br/>2) The main "villain" is an African, and particularly, he is treated as being very stupid and falling for all of the doctor's tricks. -- This is irrelevant. Any villain in a fairytale would be written as comically stupid and falling for the protagonist's tricks. Read any other fairytale. Just because they happen to be in Africa, so the detainer happens to be African, people are mad.<br/>3) The prince presumably is rejected by the princess because he is black. -- This is the most valid one to get upset about, but as far as I know, the same people who are upset still believe women should be allowed to make their own choices of who to marry, so even if that was her reason (which we don't really know), it doesn't matter, she's allowed to reject him.<br/>4) The prince wants to be made white. -- As problematic as it is, this seems to be realistic since I have heard that African American children sometimes try to wash off their dark skin. We should be trying to make the world so that they wouldn't have that desire. BUT, a young person wanting to change their looks is normally not perceived as such a problem in books. Again, it's only because this is a black young person, and that is such a sore topic for us. Anne of Green Gables also hates her red hair and freckles, and we are okay with thinking it's funny that she repeatedly tries to dye her hair and wash off her freckles. Or when a protagonist seeks to be made taller or shorter, or even would rather be a boy/girl and tries to dress appropriately etc, no one has a problem. There is some discussion around these topics, but it's not a big deal. Only when it's trying to become white from being black is it a problem. Note: the Doctor does say he is sorry for the prince that he cannot be/stay white, and this is probably taken by many as an affirmation that being black is bad and being white is better. But the Doctor makes it very clear that he is sorry *because the prince could not get what he wants*, not because it is worse to be black.<br/><br/>So in conclusion, this book is a little bit racist, but in reality, it isn't very racist at all. Not as much as people make out. It's just people being stupid."