Laura Ingalls Wilder's Name Removed from Children's Literature Award Due to Wilder's Alleged Racism

Leah Hickman : Jun 27, 2018
Christian Headlines

In response to the ALSC's decision, defenders of Wilder's work argued that the apparently racist remarks are no reason to remove Wilder's name from the award. As the Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association explains, the "perspectives of racism" in her books were "representative of her time and place."

[ChristianHeadlines.com] In 1954, Laura Ingalls Wilder became the first author to receive the award bearing her own name: the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) first established this award as a way to recognize notable works by U.S. children's book authors. (Image of cover of "Little House on the Prairie" first edition, by Laura Ingalls Wilder/Wikipedia)

But last week, after several months of deliberation, the ALSC decided to remove Wilder's name from the award. From now on, the award will be the "Children's Literature Legacy Award." The ALSC's reasons for this change boiled down to certain phrases and scenes in Wilder's "Little House" books that could be seen as demeaning towards Native Americans and African Americans. (Photo: The real Carrie, Mary and Laura Ingalls of 'Little House' books/via Wikimedia Commons)

For decades, critics of Wilder's books have complained about...

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