Representations of Africa and Arabia in British Children's Literature, 1840-1910

• In Event: Cultural Reflections: Reparative Narratives and Representations in Community Museums, Literature, and Performance

Abstract

The author reports on a critical literary analysis of 19th century British children's literature centering Africa and Arabia to identify conceptualizations of race, racism, religion, and difference at that time. A survey of the material in the Opie collection of British children’s literature in the Oxford University library suggests that children’s literature was used to both reinforce antiblack and anti-Arab racism as well as disrupt larger societal tropes. Sub Saharan Africans were commonly associated with imagery and references to savagery, and North Africans and Arabs were typically described by their religion or piracy/banditry. This study helps illuminate the historical influence of children’s literature to shape socio-political discourse through picture books, geographical readers, and travelers’ narratives.

Author

• Amaarah N. DeCuir, American University