Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Books are a product of their time. When I was growing up in England in the 1960s, the word "nigger" was an everyday, descriptive, non-perjorative word (eg consider Agatha Christie's book "Ten Little Niggers" - she was making use of an everyday British expression, not being a racist).
We shouldn't censor books simple because language and cultural values change; simply accept the fact that they have changed.
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Then it was changed to ten little Indians which is now offensive to many. Next it could very well be Ten little Ethnic individuals which is hardly a catchy title. I don't think the Nancy Drew books were racist either but they have been changed.
I grew up in a small city with no blacks, and no aboriginals (Indians) and nigger was not considered a perjorative term anymore than Indian was, merely descriptive. But racial prejudice abounded. The population of the province was about 70% white with 30% aboriginal and, but not one of them lived in the capital city to the best of my knowledge. Probably a lot different in England way back when and perhaps even to this day?
Changing these words in books where they were innocently used is possibly a strictly commercial one in that the publisher feels they will sell better. Kind of like whitewashing your fence whether it needs it or not just in case.
Helen