Dr. Seuss described himself as "subsersive as hell" and it's true that the kids' books often had adult themes put into simplistic, bite-size pieces. The racism charge has nothing to do with the kids' books at all. Usually the message is clear to discerning adults ("Butter Battle Book", against nuclear war; "Yertle the Turtle", against Hitler); sometimes it's a bit questionable ("Lorax", against environmental degradation); and sometimes it's so good it gets repurposed ("Horton Hears a Who", against racism but then reappropriated contrary to Audrey's wishes as being against abortion).
It's definitely revisionist to hold his collegiate-level indiscretions as an excuse to ignore all his later work. They were immature and wrong, like many things rejected by cancel culture. When cancellers have no outsiders left they turn on themselves. The better approach is to recognize that we're all flawed and recognize where we've been and what we've done since then. There is only One who is good.
Dr. Seuss described himself as "subsersive as hell" and it's true that the kids' books often had adult themes put into simplistic, bite-size pieces. The racism charge has nothing to do with the kids' books at all. Usually the message is clear to discerning adults ("Butter Battle Book", against nuclear war; "Yertle the Turtle", against Hitler); sometimes it's a bit questionable ("Lorax", against environmental degradation); and sometimes it's so good it gets repurposed ("Horton Hears a Who", against racism but then reappropriated contrary to Audrey's wishes as being against abortion).
It's definitely revisionist to hold his collegiate-level indiscretions as an excuse to ignore all his later work. They were immature and wrong, like many things rejected by cancel culture. When cancellers have no outsiders left they turn on themselves. The better approach is to recognize that we're all flawed and recognize where we've been and what we've done since then. There is only One who is good.