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George Washington slave cake book's author had concerns with Scholastic George Washington slave cake book's author had concerns with Scholastic
(7 months later)
The author of a children’s book that was pulled last month because of its depiction of slaves says she objected to the illustrations and expressed early concerns with Scholastic.The author of a children’s book that was pulled last month because of its depiction of slaves says she objected to the illustrations and expressed early concerns with Scholastic.
Related: Scholastic pulls George Washington book over slave cake controversy
In her first interview since Scholastic withdrew A Birthday Cake for George Washington less than two weeks after it was published, Ramin Ganeshram also said she and illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton had little communication and essentially worked separately.In her first interview since Scholastic withdrew A Birthday Cake for George Washington less than two weeks after it was published, Ramin Ganeshram also said she and illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton had little communication and essentially worked separately.
“The public does not know that the authors [of picture stories] are not in full control of their books,” she said. “The public feels if you write the book, the book is yours and you make the decisions.“The public does not know that the authors [of picture stories] are not in full control of their books,” she said. “The public feels if you write the book, the book is yours and you make the decisions.
“But in children’s publishing at least, that is entirely untrue. Authors and illustrators often do not speak, or interact. I never had a conversation with Vanessa, just a few tweets.”“But in children’s publishing at least, that is entirely untrue. Authors and illustrators often do not speak, or interact. I never had a conversation with Vanessa, just a few tweets.”
The Washington book was published on 5 January and set off a wave of criticism from reviewers, and on social media and Amazon, where 270 out of 371 reader reviews were one star as of Thursday morning. Scholastic initially defended A Birthday Cake, which centers on Washington’s head chef, the slave Hercules. But on 17 January it halted publication, explaining in a statement that the book “may give a false impression of the reality of the lives of slaves”.The Washington book was published on 5 January and set off a wave of criticism from reviewers, and on social media and Amazon, where 270 out of 371 reader reviews were one star as of Thursday morning. Scholastic initially defended A Birthday Cake, which centers on Washington’s head chef, the slave Hercules. But on 17 January it halted publication, explaining in a statement that the book “may give a false impression of the reality of the lives of slaves”.
Ganeshram says she was informed of the decision by her editor, Andrea Davis Pinkney.Ganeshram says she was informed of the decision by her editor, Andrea Davis Pinkney.
“And I said to her, ‘As you know, I have always had issues with these illustrations,’” Ganeshram said.“And I said to her, ‘As you know, I have always had issues with these illustrations,’” Ganeshram said.
Scholastic spokeswoman Kyle Good said the publisher would have no comment. Brantley-Newton, an award-winning illustrator and author, has not responded to phone and email requests for comment.Scholastic spokeswoman Kyle Good said the publisher would have no comment. Brantley-Newton, an award-winning illustrator and author, has not responded to phone and email requests for comment.
While some authors and illustrators collaborate from the start, it’s also common for publishers to choose the creative team and have them work separately, especially when they don’t know each other. Ganeshram said she and Brantley-Newton have never met.While some authors and illustrators collaborate from the start, it’s also common for publishers to choose the creative team and have them work separately, especially when they don’t know each other. Ganeshram said she and Brantley-Newton have never met.
The author had spent four years researching the life of Hercules for a larger project, but agreed to use some material for a picture story after speaking with Pinkney, who edited Ganeshram’s novel Stir it Up, published in 2011. Ganeshram had hoped A Birthday Cake would be the first in a series of works on Hercules.The author had spent four years researching the life of Hercules for a larger project, but agreed to use some material for a picture story after speaking with Pinkney, who edited Ganeshram’s novel Stir it Up, published in 2011. Ganeshram had hoped A Birthday Cake would be the first in a series of works on Hercules.
“For me, Hercules is everything,” she said, “so every opportunity to present him to the world was something to be seriously considered.”“For me, Hercules is everything,” she said, “so every opportunity to present him to the world was something to be seriously considered.”
But Ganeshram said that she emailed Pinkney last spring, objecting to the “over-joviality” of some the illustrations and adding that a recent picture book, Emily Jenkins’ A Fine Dessert, had been rightly criticized for similar reasons.But Ganeshram said that she emailed Pinkney last spring, objecting to the “over-joviality” of some the illustrations and adding that a recent picture book, Emily Jenkins’ A Fine Dessert, had been rightly criticized for similar reasons.
“And I said, ‘When can I start speaking to Vanessa? I would like to send some research material.’ And the editor told me, ‘Authors and illustrators don’t interact,’” Ganeshram said.“And I said, ‘When can I start speaking to Vanessa? I would like to send some research material.’ And the editor told me, ‘Authors and illustrators don’t interact,’” Ganeshram said.
Related: The real censorship in children's books: smiling slaves is just the half of it
An award-winning journalist and author born to a Trinidadian father and Iranian mother, the 47-year-old Ganeshram noted that the book was considered offensive despite the diversity of those who worked on it.An award-winning journalist and author born to a Trinidadian father and Iranian mother, the 47-year-old Ganeshram noted that the book was considered offensive despite the diversity of those who worked on it.
Brantley-Newton has described herself as coming from a “blended background – African-American, Asian, European, and Jewish” and has illustrated the children’s series Ruby and the Booker Boys, among other books.Brantley-Newton has described herself as coming from a “blended background – African-American, Asian, European, and Jewish” and has illustrated the children’s series Ruby and the Booker Boys, among other books.
Pinkney is a highly respected editor and award-winning author who in 1998 founded the Hyperion imprint Jump at the Sun, which publishes African American children’s books.Pinkney is a highly respected editor and award-winning author who in 1998 founded the Hyperion imprint Jump at the Sun, which publishes African American children’s books.
“A big aspect of the diversity movement is predicated on the idea of getting people who represent the background of those depicted in the story,” Ganeshram said. “We assume that the material will automatically be treated more delicately and more sensitively and we can see that it’s simply not true.”“A big aspect of the diversity movement is predicated on the idea of getting people who represent the background of those depicted in the story,” Ganeshram said. “We assume that the material will automatically be treated more delicately and more sensitively and we can see that it’s simply not true.”
Some critics also faulted Ganeshram’s narrative, saying Washington’s determination to keep his slaves and Hercules’ eventual escape were confined to an author’s note. Ganeshram said the book only covers one day in Hercules’ life and that the author’s note was intended to “spark further discussion”.Some critics also faulted Ganeshram’s narrative, saying Washington’s determination to keep his slaves and Hercules’ eventual escape were confined to an author’s note. Ganeshram said the book only covers one day in Hercules’ life and that the author’s note was intended to “spark further discussion”.
Ganeshram also said that she had not intended to write a story about slavery, but about a “great chef who made magic out of nothing” and against great odds, and about the love of his daughter. Asked if it was possible to include slaves in a narrative without having slavery becoming the point of the narrative, she said she wasn’t sure how to respond but that “we must be brave enough to continue to try”.Ganeshram also said that she had not intended to write a story about slavery, but about a “great chef who made magic out of nothing” and against great odds, and about the love of his daughter. Asked if it was possible to include slaves in a narrative without having slavery becoming the point of the narrative, she said she wasn’t sure how to respond but that “we must be brave enough to continue to try”.
“These people were individual human beings, with their own sensibility, with their own pride, with their own foibles. And to reduce them to only slaves is incredibly diminishing,” she said.“These people were individual human beings, with their own sensibility, with their own pride, with their own foibles. And to reduce them to only slaves is incredibly diminishing,” she said.
“And the first thing we have to be brave enough to do is to reform the way we do these book, to reform the system, so we can explore this from every possible angle.”“And the first thing we have to be brave enough to do is to reform the way we do these book, to reform the system, so we can explore this from every possible angle.”