Was the Cat in the Hat Black?: The Hidden Racism of Children’s Literature, and the Need for Diverse Books

Abstract

Philip Nel’s book argues that children’s literature contains hidden racism, primarily because of structural racism that is “embedded in culture, and in institutions” (1) and has caused people of colour to be under-represented. This system is shown to be harmful to people of colour, as well as to White people, and needs to be dismantled by changing how literature for young people is produced, read, and taught.