Dolly Parton scheme giving children free books attacked as ‘white saviourism’
Dolly Parton has been accused of “white saviourism” for giving millions of free books to poor children.
The reading scheme, called Imagination Library, was launched by the country and western star in the US more than three decades ago. It now operates in the UK, Ireland, Canada and Australia, and has been lauded for helping to drive up literacy rates.
It gives disadvantaged pupils the same access to books as their middle-class peers by sending high-quality titles directly to the homes of under-fives.
But according to a recently published academic paper, the award-winning scheme is racist by reinforcing notions of “white privilege and heteronormativity” and not representing enough cultural diversity, disability, trans and bisexual gender identities and non-traditional family structures.
The academic paper, by speech and language pathologist Jennifer Stone, published by the University of North Carolina, asserts that Dolly Parton’s philanthropy is “potentially dangerous” and smacks of “white savourism”.
Through its focus on “reading to succeed” and “perfecting parenting”, Parton’s Imagination Library scheme is “oppressive”, says Stone. Such themes subjugate children and “privilege a White, middle-class, cis-gendered, heteronormative, able-bodied norm,” it adds.
Critics last night condemned the apparent attack on Parton’s scheme as “shameful” and “a form of “intellectual lunacy” which promotes the view that “normal families” should be despised.
Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said: “This is a blatant example of the corruption of thought that schools and universities in the Western world are promoting and which is weakening our societies.”
Frank Furedi, Emeritus Professor at Kent University, described the paper as “academic verbal diarrhoea” that was lashing out against “normal families and parenting” and the values that are essential for socialising children.
Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: “This attack on Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is shameful, unreasonable and despicable. A form of intellectual lunacy underpins this attack on Parton’s commendable enterprise.”
Launched by Parton in 1995, the first books were distributed to children living in Sevier County, in poor, rural Tennessee, where she grew up. The singer has invested millions into Imagination Library and has said: “If I’m remembered 100 years from now, I hope it will be not for looks but for books.”
The scheme was extended to the UK in 2008 and has benefited thousands of children in areas including London, Lincolnshire, Wakefield, Manchester, Rotherham and Bradford.
Parton’s inspiration for the programme was her father, Robert Lee Parton Sr., who never attended school or learned how to read. He played a major role in the organisation until he died in 2000.
Imagination Library has been awarded the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval and the Best Practices award from the US Library of Congress Literacy Awards.
