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Originally Posted by hildea
Magician isn't an ethnic group. (Do I really have to point that out?)
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I don't recall saying or intimating that magicians are an ethnic group. They are, however, a group/subset of performers.
Does Dr, Seuss' portrayal of magicians here tell children that being a magician is weird or exotic and that it is a less noble profession than being a mayor in a top hat or a musician in a band?
I sincerely doubt that most children would walk away with that interpretation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hildea
Compare the portrayal of Chinese people with the portrayal of white people on that page. Can you still say with a straight face that they are similar?
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Apart from the colour of his skin and the clothes that he is wearing, the Chinese man seems to be portrayed much the same as the other characters on the page. He has the exact same pose as the magician. His nose, ears, eyes and smile are virtually identical to the bearded man.
He is running down the street while apparently eating with chopsticks. That is odd. But no less odd than running down the street while pulling rabbits from a hat.
As for hairstyle and clothing, take a look at some of the pictures on San Francisco's Museum's webpage on the history of its Chinatown:
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist9/cook.html
Up until 1911, the queue hairstyle for men was quite common. That was not so far removed in time from the date at which the Seuss book in question was published.
Is there anything wrong with people wearing traditional hairstyles and traditional costumes?
If they're being mocked, then I would certainly have an issue with that. I don't see that in the picture in question, particularly because of the similar treatment of the bearded man and the magician.
Again, I think you're reading too much into the picture. More than most children would. And, again, reading such books together with one's children can provide teachable moments if needed.