You may have heard the term “Cancel Culture,” used on the political Left and on the political Right in situations of grievance, where one side asserts that change is an effort to control discourse and values. You might have heard the term used in relation to Dr. Seuss titles and Potato Head toys. You might have heard it about Confederate statues and the Governor of New York. Depending on the situation, I find myself very reactive, more than ready to participate in “grievance-thinking,” where I get into a fight and backlash mode. And so I have recently made a commitment to pause and listen, to build some stages into my reactions so as to include reflection and learning before response. I’ll use Dr. Seuss as an example, and I encourage you to try this when you hear news that particularly triggers or offends you.
- OMG, for heaven’s sake. They are cancelling Dr. Seuss! What can possibly be wrong with Dr. Seuss books? I love Green Eggs and Ham! I love Cat in the Hat. I love The Sneeches. I read them to my children with love. Such good messages.
- Wait, what are they saying? Let me get the facts straight. Ok, “They” is not the government or school boards. “They” is the Dr. Seuss Trust and publisher. “They” are reflecting on six little-read titles: “On Beyond Zebra.” “Scrambled Eggs Super.” I never even heard of them.
- Do some research. OK, what is really going on? These six titles contain images of People of Color, Asian-descent and Black people, which cast them in a belittling light both in the words and in the images. I see the reporting. It goes beyond the sound bites. Yes, these books may reflect a period of time, but they harm people, even some people I know and care about. In the words of Maya Angelou, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
- What do I really think? Is this a problem for me? No, I want to affirm the worthy and dignity of all people. As participants within the interdependent web, what hurts another affects me, too. I want to reduce harm and destructive judgment, and so I support the end to publishing these titles.
I am mindful here, and I encourage you to be also, of my systemic privilege as I make this commitment. As a cis-hetero, neurotypical, currently able-bodied, white, highly educated woman, I am at the intersection of a lot of cultural power, and my ability to pause and reflect is conditioned by this privilege. Not everyone has that cultural power, and some of us are more subject to harm than I am. May I remember, may we all remember, to pause and reflect and also to acknowledge the power differences among us, as you remember as well that you are loved, you are worthy, you are welcome, and you are needed. May you feel it so, and may it be so.
Blessings, Rev. Rita