Scholastic has removed from publication one of the books in the Captain Underpants series of children’s comic books for containing an alleged “harmful racial stereotype,” according to USA Today.
The series’ author, Dav Pilkey, issued a public apology over the book in question, and pledging to “do better.” The 2010 entry, The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, focuses on two time-traveling cavemen who, at one point in the story, train in martial arts at “Master Wong’s School of Kung Fu.” Far-left critics allege that the inclusion of an Asian name is racist.
Pilkey’s statement said that he included this character and plot device in order to “showcase diversity, equality, and non-violent conflict resolution,” as well as “principles found in Chinese philosophy.” But after left-wing backlash in recent weeks, he said that he now believed the book “contains harmful racial stereotypes and passively racist imagery.”
“I hope that you, my readers, will forgive me, and learn from my mistake that even unintentional and passive stereotypes and racism is harmful to everyone,” Pilkey’s statement continued. “I apologize and I pledge to do better.”
Scholastic also released a statement condemning the book, claiming without evidence that “this book perpetuates passive racism. We are deeply sorry for this serious mistake.”
The cancellation of the book comes on the heels of an effort to erase other beloved works of children’s literature due to illustrations and depictions that the far-left considers to be “racist.” Most prominently, left-wing backlash led to the pulling from circulation of six books by the iconic children’s author Dr. Seuss, with the company behind them, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, describing the books as “hurtful and wrong.”