Roald Dahl condemned for ‘undeniable racism’ by his museum
Roald Dahl has been condemned by his museum for what the charity called the “undeniable racism” of the children’s author.
The Roald Dahl Museum issued a statement saying its staff had received training to prevent antisemitism and will work to combat racism by “being more welcoming, inclusive, diverse and equitable”.
The Dahl family and The Roald Dahl Story Company apologised for his comments in December 2020.
The Cardiff-born author wrote Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, The Witches and Fantastic Mr Fox, which have all been made into films, and his stories continue to be read by children around the world.
On its website, the Roald Dahl Museum wrote: “The Roald Dahl Museum condemns all racism directed at any group or individual.
“Roald Dahl’s racism is undeniable and indelible but what we hope can also endure is the potential of Dahl’s creative legacy to do some good.”
The charity said it has been working with several Jewish organisation including the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council, the Community Security Trust, and the Antisemitism Policy Trust to develop resources for schools.
This will include free educational materials for primary pupils that will encourage them to look at the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) through Dahl’s characters.
Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl “welcomed” the museum’s statements as well as it placing the statement on a wall of the building in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire.
Ms van der Zyl said: “The new statements – in their entrance gallery and on their website – are an important starting point with regard to providing the full story about a man whose works are enjoyed by millions.
“I look forward to working with the museum more closely to explore further ways to raise awareness on this issue and educate about anti-Jewish hate.”
Anti-racism education
A spokesperson for Antisemitism Policy Trust said: “We welcome this action from the museum and are pleased that it intends to pursue anti-racism education.
“We trained staff and trustees, working closely with the museum leadership, and have enjoyed positive and constructive conversations.”
In February, Puffin UK announced that it would keep Dahl’s work as intended in print with the current versions following criticism of recent editing of his work to remove potentially offensive language.
The publisher said the Roald Dahl Classic Collection will sit alongside the newly released Puffin Roald Dahl books, which have been rewritten to cater for the sensitivities of modern audiences, for young readers and readers will be free to choose which version of Dahl’s stories they prefer.
Three years ago, the Roald Dahl Story Company said it “deeply apologises” for the “lasting and understandable hurt” caused by his “antisemitic statements”.
The statement added: “Those prejudiced remarks are incomprehensible to us and stand in marked contrast to the man we knew and to the values at the heart of Roald Dahl’s stories, which have positively impacted young people for generations.
“We hope that, just as he did at his best, at his absolute worst, Roald Dahl can help remind us of the lasting impact of words.”
New Statesman
One example of Dahl’s comments include an interview with The New Statesman in 1983: “There is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity, maybe it’s a kind of lack of generosity towards non-Jews.
“I mean, there’s always a reason why anti-anything crops up anywhere.”
He added: “Even a stinker like Hitler didn’t just pick on them for no reason.”
A prequel film to Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, featuring a CGI Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa and Timothee Chalamet as the eccentric chocolate factory owner Willy Wonka is upcoming and will be directed by Paul King.
Wonka is set for release in December.
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I’m relieved to hear folk can choose which version of Dahl to read. Why? Because I think it’s so important to be able to see prejudice which was accepted in the past. Because then we can learn from the past and compare it to now. One of the real values of Shakespeare is that we can clearly see timeless examples of malevolence. In the future, if people are experiencing evil treatment from others, they can read past works of literature and realise that they are not imagining it, people really can be that evil!
I’ve always though the renaming of the Oval Basin next to the Millennium Center at the Bay Roald Dahl Plass a decision based on ignorance and denigration of local or national culture. A need to claim Dahl as one of us despite him having shown no indication that he felt Welsh in the slightest way. The craving of those responsible for the renaming to get England to notice us. Resulting in encouraging us to think that what England thinks of us is what validates us or not. Dahl’s known significant antisemitism was clearly not a problem for those doing the… Read more »
Am I racist in stating that Dahl has, and had, no relevance to the cultural identity of the Cymry ?. Just another “import” who entertained some children and adults. T Llew and other Welsh writers would have been just as famous had they been backed by the resources of large publishers.