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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are Roald Dahl Books Racist?

204 replies

DangerousBeanz · 23/12/2017 20:42

I've been reading a thread on a Facebook page where someone asked for recommendations for children's books. Someone suggested Roald Dahl as a good choice for characters who didn't conform to gender stereotypes, and another contributer said his books were racist.
Now I've never noticed any racism, but it kind of kicked off a bit and the recommended was told that if she couldn't see the problem she was part of the problem even though she only asked for examples of how and said she'd never noticed that aspect to the stories.
I didn't like to ask how and which books in case I got slagged off too.
So AIBU in thinking Roald Dahl children's books are fab and not racist or have I really missed something?

OP posts:
shakeyourcaboose · 23/12/2017 20:43

Have never noticed this element to Roald Dahl!

CaptainChristmas · 23/12/2017 20:44

Are they?! I really hope not, as I used to love them.

Seniorcitizen1 · 23/12/2017 20:45

Not racist

Amanduh · 23/12/2017 20:46

When/where/how?! No.

CycleHire · 23/12/2017 20:47

We’ve read a lot of Roald Dahl recently. I’m white British myself so I may overlook or not notice some things. The books aren’t very obviously ethnically diverse (in terms of names or descriptions of characters) but I assume they are of their time and place in that respect. So no I haven’t noticed racism beyond an absence of people of colour but I’d be prepared to learn if in fact they are.

PsychedelicSheep · 23/12/2017 20:47

He had a reputation for being a notorious anti-semite, I’m not sure if this was deserved or not.

RobinHumphries · 23/12/2017 20:47

People have an issue with the Oompa Loompas

EvilDoctorBallerinaRoastDuck · 23/12/2017 20:48

No, I've never noticed any racism. Xmas Confused

nevereverever83 · 23/12/2017 20:48

I've heard the argument that Oompa Loompas are racist and promote slavery but besides that, ?????????/

MotherCupboard · 23/12/2017 20:48

Yah the oompa loompas are racist.

grasspigeons · 23/12/2017 20:48

I guess its probably better if someone affected by racism answers as I wouldn't really know unless it was obvious.
Danny Champion of the world is my favourite book so I hope not

Bananalanacake · 23/12/2017 20:48

I once read something about this years ago. The oompa loompas being like slaves or something . Not sure what to believe though.

Cherrycokewinning · 23/12/2017 20:48

I can see the umpa lumpa one tbf!

Skrowten · 23/12/2017 20:49

My DS got 'Going Solo' from the library recently. It could either be considered a product of its time or racist

KindergartenKop · 23/12/2017 20:50

Have you read Going Solo? His attitude towards the people he meets abroad is quite patronising. But this was in the 30s and 40s and people did behave differently then. It's not so bad that I wouldn't let my child read the book, as long as they understood the context. There's a lot to learn from something like that.

SavoyCabbage · 23/12/2017 20:50

Didn’t he say something about Hitler didn’t target the Jews without good reason.

EvilDoctorBallerinaRoastDuck · 23/12/2017 20:50

If people have an issue with the Oompa Loompas, they might as well have an issue with the Jumblies. Xmas Hmm

shakeyourcaboose · 23/12/2017 20:51

I thought that the Oompa Loompas as slaves is addressed by Wonka in the book?

Freezingwinter · 23/12/2017 20:51

How on earth do oompah loompahs promote slavery???! Shock

Original poster
DangerousBeanz · 23/12/2017 20:54

I agree going solo is a product of it's time. Definitely.

But does that make him a racist author to be avoided?
I agree I'd like to what someone affected by racism thinks.

OP posts:
Rebeccaslicker · 23/12/2017 20:54

Because the Oompa Loompas were originally written as black. Dahl agreed to change the description.

I haven't noticed it in his kids' books - certainly not like with blyton - but there's some slightly off stuff in his adult stories. And apparently in real life he was quite outspoken about such things, particularly against Jewish people.

Alanna1 · 23/12/2017 20:54

www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160912-the-dark-side-of-roald-dahl

I think it is perfectly possible to admire the books and his literacy genius whilst knowing the above - I do.

ScipioAfricanus · 23/12/2017 20:54

The oompah loompahs and Wonka have a bit of a colonial/paternalistic dynamic going on but don’t remember anything racist (though I have white privilege).

Sashkin · 23/12/2017 20:54

I thought it was his adult books that were problematic rather than the kids’ books, though it’s so long since I’ve read them that I can’t remember any details.