Essay Questions

How does Nel develop bigotry as the primary theme in his book?

According to Nel, the concept of bigotry is vital in children's books because it prepares them for the realities of life. The main character in the book 'Was the Cat in the hat Black' is a happy-go-lucky man. His carefree personality helps him to get along well with children of all races. Perhaps, the author is tactical in informing children that human beings are all equal regardless of race and ethnicity. The reader agrees with the author that children are innocent because hatred is introduced to them by the adults. Therefore, racial discrimination can be a thing of the past if parents stop teaching their children to think that they are superior and better than others.

How ironic is the book ‘Was the Cat in the Hat Black?’ by Philip Nel?

The book 'Was the Cat in the Hat Black' is entirely satirical because it claims to promote diversity, but the author only concentrates on the white characters. The reader wonders how this book prevents stereotyping when the fairy-tale characters are not from diverse backgrounds. Consequently, the author is sarcastic in the entire narration despite his intentions to avoid racism.

Do you think that Phil Nel is overprotective of his book?

Nel argues that his book has been poorly received due to the influence of Seuss literature. According to Nel, his primary intention is to counter Seuss's literature, which promotes racism. The black American characters in Seuss literature are stereotyped. Therefore, Nel expounds that Seuss's literature is not fit for children; in fact, Nel urges readers to consider his book as the ultimate solution to helping children view the world as it is.