Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Joan E. Bertin
Executive Director
NCAC PARTICIPATING
ORGANIZATIONS
Actors Equity Association
American Association of
School Administrators
American Association of
University Professors
American Association of
University Women
American Booksellers
for Free Expression
American Civil Liberties Union
American Ethical Union
American Federation of Teachers
American Jewish Committee
American Library Association
American Literary Translators
Association
American Orthopsychiatric Association
American Society of Journalists
& Authors
Americans United for Separation of
Church & State
Association of American Publishers
Authors Guild
Catholics for Choice
The book, written by Ramin Ganeshram and illustrated by Vanessa BrantleyNewton, tells the story of Washington's slave cook Hercules. Critics such as the
School Library Journal argued that the book presented an unrealistically sunny
portrait of slavery; the hashtag #slaverywithasmile spread a similar message. In
response, Scholastic executive editor Andrea Davis Pinkney defended the book
as the product of "carefully curated research." (We express no opinion as to the
merits of the book.)
Scholastic defended the book on January 15; two days later it succumbed to the
pressure and, in an act of self-censorship, pulled the book, stating that it "may
give a false impression of the reality of the lives of slaves and therefore should
be withdrawn.
While Scholastic was certainly within its rights to make this decision, just as the critics have a
right to express their views, the end resultremoval of the bookis troubling, as the readers
opportunity to read and evaluate the text is eliminated.
There are books that canand shouldgenerate controversy. Books and literary criticism are
vital to a thriving democracy. This latest episode follows similar criticism of A Fine Dessert,
another illustrated book for children in which slaves are the main characters. Critics argued
that it too presented an unrealistic portrait of slavery. But those who value free speech as an
essential human right and a necessary precondition for social change should be alarmed
whenever books are removed from circulation because they are controversial.
Such removals can be the product of many different political ideologies. In 2006 Vamos a
Cuba was challenged by critics who thought it presented an unrealistically positive portrayal
of life in Castro's Cuba. Several books were removed from Arizona classrooms in 2013
because some considered their message, designed to instill pride in Mexican American
students, too divisive. Books featuring lesbian, gay and transgender characters, such as I
Am Jazz and The Miseducation of Cameron Post, frequently generate controversy,
including calls for removal from schools and libraries.
While it is perfectly valid for critics to dispute a books historical accuracy and literary merit, the
appropriate response is not to withdraw the volume and deprive readers of a chance to evaluate
the book and the controversy for themselves. In the case of A Birthday Cake for George
Washington, a book is gone that generated important discussions about how our nation creates,
perceives, and perpetuates narratives about slavery and slave ownership.
Those who sought the removal of A Birthday Cake for George Washington and those who
acceded to that request should recognize that other books they might consider valuable could
be vulnerable to the same fatecensorship in the face of controversy. This outcome is likely to
have a chilling effect, leading authors and illustrators to hesitate in taking on racially sensitive or
politically controversial topics for fear of public outcry and reprisals. Pulling books out of
circulation simply because they cause controversy is the wrong decision.
National Coalition Against Censorship
PEN American Center
The First Amendment Committee, American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)