Jan 19, 2016 a firestorm erupted when scholastic released a childrens book early this month, a birthday cake for george washington, by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton, featuring smiling slaves baking a cake for george washington. Readers of bestsellers about slaves including the underground railroad by colson whitehead and twelve years a slave are the natural readership for this novel. January 17, 2016 scholastic is announcing today that we are stopping the distribution of the book entitled a birthday cake for george washington, by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton, and will accept all returns. Ramin ganeshram rameen ganeshram is a chef and cookbook author who shares her love of food stories. Jan 19, 2016 this image provided by scholastic shows the cover of the book a birthday cake for george washington by by ramin ganeshram.
According to the atlanta black star, a birthday cake for george washington by ramin ganeshram and vanessa brantlynewton is the story of hercules, the presidents head chef, as he attempts to bake washington a cake for his. Scholastic pulls birthday cake for george washington book. Ramin ganeshram cookbooks, recipes and biography eat your books. Her work has appeared in the new york times, newsday, saveur, gourmet, bon appetit, forbes traveler, and national geographic traveler. Scholastic pulls childrens book portraying enslaved africans. George washington slave cake books author had concerns with. Scholastic pulls childrens book accused of sentimentalizing. Ramin ganeshram says she expressed concerns to scholastic but. Dear scholastic, revisionist history telling is the reason so many white people are ignorant about our history. A trinidadianamerican girls dream is challenged by her family thirteenyearold anjalis life is rich with the smell of curry from her parents roti shop and an absolute passion for food. The childrens book authored by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton drew criticism for its pictures of smiling slaves the real hercules escaped to freedom on washingtons. The book tells the story of hercules and delia baking a birthday cake for washington.
Criticised scholastic book on washington slave pulled. Picture book about george washingtons slaves is withdrawn. A birthday cake for george washington by ramin ganeshram. I felt it was a minstrel show because it depicted hercules and the household full of happy, smiling. Scholastic pulls controversial book a birthday cake for. Feb 11, 2016 this book cover image released by scholastic shows, a birthday cake for george washington, by ramin ganeshram with illustrations by vanessa brantleynewtown. Ramin ganeshram cookbooks, recipes and biography eat. A birthday cake for george washington is a childrens book published by scholastic and first released on january 5, 2016.
Therefore, we parents, educators and friends who understand that a book like this has no place in our school libraries or on shelves or in our homes, stand together with this petition demanding you cease publication of a birthday cake for george washington and happy birthday mr. Ramin breaks down the different plantbased ground meats, focusing on the flavors, textures and overall nutritional value of her favorites, while also advising on. Response on a birthday cake for george washington on our minds. A firestorm erupted when scholastic released a childrens book early this month, a birthday cake for george washington, by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton, featuring. For eight years she worked as a feature writerstringer for the new york times and another eight years for newsday. New statement about the picture book a birthday cake for. New statement about the picture book a birthday cake for george. Jan 18, 2016 scholastic said it is stopping the distribution of the book a birthday cake for george washington, because it lacks sufficient historical context regarding slavery. The writer and journalist ramin ganeshram, who wrote a birthday cake for george washington, subsequently recalled by scholastic.
Ramin holds a masters degree in journalism from columbia university and has been an adjunct journalism professor at new york university. After a torrent of criticism, scholastic has decided to stop distributing a birthday cake for. In crafting the narrative for this book, culinary historian and washington scholar, ramin ganeshram, took great care in contextualizing hercules and delia as enslaved people, while at the same. Jan 18, 2016 scholastic pulls childrens book criticized for depiction of happy slaves the cover of the book a birthday cake for george washington by by ramin ganeshram. By deborah menkart a firestorm erupted when scholastic released a childrens book early this month, a birthday cake for george washington, by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton, featuring smiling enslaved people baking a cake for george washington. On january 5, scholastic released a birthday cake for george washington, written by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton. Ganeshrams storyline is too simplistic for the subject of slavery and the. Although a lot of time and research may have gone into the creation of this book, the end result is a poor collaboration between author ramin ganeshram and illustrator vanessa brantleynewton. Scholastic yanks controversial picture book school library. She has been awarded seven society of professional journalist awards and an. Just remember that whenever scholastic hypocritically pontificate against the banning of books during the next banned book week. At scholastic, we value the opinions and feedback from our community, and we appreciate your comments and respect your views on this complex. It describes hercules, washingtons enslaved chef, and.
Scholastic pulls a birthday cake for george washington. Ganeshram confronts delias and papas bondage on one page, when delia tells readers proudly that papa is the slave president and mrs. Scholastic stops distribution of book criticized for its. Under pressure, scholastic recalls racist childrens book. Ganeshram s storyline is too simplistic for the subject of slavery and the story relies heavily on visual cues from the illustrations. Scholastic pulls george washington book over slave cake controversy. Fact is, the slave depicted as being so happy actually tried to flee washingtons bondage. Jan 18, 2016 scholastic is pulling a new picture book about george washington and his slaves amid objections it sentimentalizes a brutal part of american history. In 2018, ganeshram published the generals cook, skyhorse, ny the novel she had been working on previous to the publication of birthday cake. The cover of the book a birthday cake for george washington by ramin ganeshram associated press. Mar 15, 2019 ganeshram says she lost it when she first saw the proofs of her birthday cake book. But anjali must keep her wish a secret from her family, who thinks anjalis passions are beneath her.
Childrens book on george washington pulled al jazeera. Scholastic pulls childrens book criticized for depiction of happy. Stir it up by ramin ganeshram paperback book scholastic. Scholastic pulls a birthday cake for george washington, a. Why the banning of a birthday cake for george washington. Ramin ganeshram born june 21, 1968 is an american journalist, chef and cookbook author who writes about american and caribbean foodways and culinary culture. The back cover portrayed george washington and his enslaved chef, hercules, arminarm, like best buddies. Jan 19, 2016 in the last week, scholastic responded to the comments, and the author, ramin ganeshram wrote a defense on the childrens book council blog, in which she said in our modern society, we abhor holding two competing truths in our minds. George washington slave cake books author had concerns. The back cover portrayed george washington and his enslaved chef, hercules, arminarm, like best. The book, written by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton, tells the story of washingtons slave cook hercules. The generals cook doesnt trivialize slavery at all, and in some ways is ramin s response to her critics.
While notes in a birthday cake for george washington from author ramin ganeshram and illustrator. Scholastic pulls chil drens book criticized for depiction of happy slaves the cover of the book a birthday cake for george washington by by ramin ganeshram. Amid controversy, scholastic pulls picture book about. Childrens publisher scholastic has ceased distribution of a book that. Thirteenyearold anjalis life is rich with the smell of traditional trinidadian and indian foods and curries from her parents roti shop and an absolute passion for food. Scholastic yanks controversial picture book school. Scholastic pulls childrens book criticized for depiction.
George washington childrens book ban a slippery slope of. Scholastic pulls birthday cake for george washington. Fiction thirteenyearold anjalis life is rich with the. While we have great respect for the integrity and scholarship of the author, illustrator, and editor, we believe that, without more historical background on. Ramin ganeshram is a veteran journalist who has written for many prestigious publications such as the new york times, newsday, national geographic traveler, and bon appetit, among others. With the plantbased meat cookbook, ramin ganeshram helps readers sift through all of the plantbased meat products, and learn how to cook delicious meals for any night of the week. Scholastic pulls childrens book starring george washingtons. Jan 18, 2016 scholastic had no choice but to pull a birthday cake for george washington after parents complained.
Ramin ganeshram says she expressed concerns to scholastic. On this page, writer ramin ganeshram cites a biographical fact that is omitted from the books central narrative namely, that washingtons. Childrens book recalled for superficial portrayal of slavery. Historical cooking is the authors specialty and this novel is steeped in the. Critics such as the school library journal argued that the book presented an unrealistically sunny portrait of slavery. The generals cook doesnt trivialize slavery at all, and. Scholastic is announcing today that we are stopping the distribution of the book entitled a birthday cake for george washington, by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton, and. Her work has appeared in the new york times, newsday, saveur, gourmet, bon appetit, forbes traveler, and national geographictraveler.
More than anything, anjali wants to be a chef who competes on a kids cooking reality tv show. Feb 18, 2016 this book cover image released by scholastic shows, a birthday cake for george washington by ramin ganeshram with illustrations by vanessa brantleynewtown. Scholastic pulls birthday cake for george washington book time. Scholastic may have pulled this book from physical distribution, but you can still buy it for kindle as of this writing, and its worth purchasing to support the cause. President by ramin ganeshram and vanessa brantlynewton. Scholastic pulls childrens book criticized for depiction of.
Feb 11, 2017 ramin ganeshram is a veteran journalist who holds a masters degree in journalism from columbia university. A fullpage authors note goes into detail about hercules life, informing readers that he escaped in 1797, leaving delia still enslaved. Scholastic pulls childrens book portraying enslaved. Scholastic pulls george washington book over slave cake. A firestorm erupted when scholastic released a childrens book early this month, a birthday cake for george washington, by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton, featuring smiling slaves baking a cake for george washington. Over the past few days, a birthday cake for george washington, the new picture book by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton, has generated an important discussion about the depiction of slavery in childrens books. Jan 19, 2016 the book, written by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton, was published on jan. Ramin ganeshram born june 21, 1968 is an american journalist, chef and cookbook author. New york scholastic is pulling a new picture book about george washington. At scholastic, we value the opinions and feedback from our community, and we appreciate your comments and. Written by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton, it is narrated by delia, the daughter of hercules, one of george washingtons slaves who worked for him as a cook.
Ramin ganeshram spoke out about her widely criticized childrens book that was pulled from shelves. Publisher pulls george washington kids book for upbeat. New statement about the picture book a birthday cake for george washington guest blogger january 17th, 2016 january 17, 2016 scholastic is announcing today that we are stopping the distribution of the book entitled a birthday cake for george washington, by ramin ganeshram and illustrated by vanessa brantleynewton, and will accept all returns. The author of a childrens book pulled last month because of its smiling depiction of slaves says she objected to the illustrations and had expressed concerns with the publisher, scholastic. When she skips a high school placement exam to try out for her own cooking tv show, will she get into big trouble or rede. Scholastic said it is stopping the distribution of the book a birthday cake for george washington, because it lacks sufficient historical context regarding slavery. The author, ramin ganeshram, wrote in an appended message in the book that hercules was eventually freed but his daughter, who narrates the book, remained enslaved her entire life. A birthday cake for george washington by by ramin ganeshram.
197 876 1112 17 1316 1301 975 1245 1172 593 521 1346 1368 709 227 397 1419 894 130 1094 1459 877 316 939 296 1401 998 407 324 1145 880 81 504 449 1222 474 762 271 13 129 1341 533 520 697 1056 250 583 860