Canadian School Board Considers Banning Tintin

Here is another interesting absurd battle over Tintin, Hergé, and ethnic stereotyping. This time from a Canadian school board. Now I know some of the Tintin adventures express some less than contemporary attitudes, but to ban a Tintin book in response is small-minded. This is not to suggest that Tintin in America does not have its share of  problems  - in addition to the plot –  but in my opinion TT in America is no less racist or guilty of perpetuating stereotypes than Kevin Costner’s Dances with Wolves.

Now, having said all that, I do think that because many of the Tintin stories have to be taken in historical and political context, there are some titles that young children should read with adult guidance. That does not mean banning a book, it just means that there should be discussion about the book, its meaning then and now, and what is good or bad about it. Whenever a customer buys Tintin books as gifts for children, I always make a point of letting them know whether certain titles should be read first by an adult. Some of these are: The Blue Lotus and Tintin in America.

Thoughts? Send a comment!

Here is the full article and a link to the source:

Tintin book targetted over native stereotypes

Posted By ANDREA HOUSTON , EXAMINER EDUCATION WRITER   

A ban on a children’s book that depicts aboriginal people in a “stereotypical and offensive” way is being sought by the public school board’s native education liaison, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board heard last night.

Originally published in 1931, “Tintin in America (The Adventures of Tintin)” is the third in a series of comic-strip style children’s books written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Herge, the pen name of the late Georges Remi.

Native education liaison Melody Crowe asked the board’s equity and diversity committee to support her move to get Chapters bookstore in Peterborough to ban the book, said committee chairwoman Verna Shackleton.

Shackleton said the book is distasteful in both text and illustrations.

“It’s got a lot of pretty offensive language in it,” she said.

The committee recommended to Crowe to contact the Chapters head office as well as the publishing company about what the committee considers the negative portrayal of aboriginal people in the book.

“I’ve never heard of anyone trying to ban any book in Peterborough, no,” said Chapters manager Tom Mercer when contacted by The Examiner last night.

“I know the book. But I can’t talk about it.”

Board chairwoman Diane Lloyd asked if the book is available in any area schools. Shackleton said she didn’t know.

Education director Sylvia Terpstra said she didn’t think the book would pass the board’s “learning resources criteria.”