Kristen Bell's new children's book stirs up a controversy
'The World Needs More Purple People' has "a wonderful message about embracing the things that bring us together as humans", reads the book's blurb.
Kristen Bell has written her first children's book 'The World Needs More Purple People' about a purple person, who looks for similarities before differences.
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment)
But with George Floyd's death fuelling the anti-racism protests in many countries lately, some people have pointed out that Bell's new book promotes looking for similarities rather than accepting each other's differences, which in a way doesn't promote diversity in the society. Reacting to the book, here's what some people tweeted:
Now why, in a world full of actual people of actual colors, would Kristen Bell need to make up purple people to teach children about living in a multicultural society? And why does she think she has the range to do that anyway? Most White people don’t know anyone but Whites.
— Thicc Harington (@MusingsHistory)
I hate to be that guy, but the book doesn't actually create a new race of purple people. But there is def a conversation about how the message is pretty tone-deaf, and whether it is better to look for similarities in people or understand the differences between them
— Slimebo (@Slimeman124)
But Bell doesn't agree with her critics. Sharing her perspective and the idea behind writing 'The World Needs More Purple People', Bell took to Twitter on June 15 and responded to some tweets. "I think people are just confused abt what the book is. It's being looked at like a book intended to teach kids abt race, which it's not at all,&I am also not qualified to teach on. It's a book abt kids finding things in common, being inclusive, being kind, & being uniquely themselves.Xo," the actress wrote in one of her tweets. Here's what Kristen Bell tweeted:
I think people are just confused abt what the book is. Its being looked at like book intended to teach kids abt race, which its not at all,&I am also not qualified to teach on. Its a book abt kids finding things in common, being inclusive, being kind,&being uniquely themselves.Xo
— Kristen Bell (@KristenBell)
And in fact we say numerous times in the book it has nothing to do with what you look like, because purple people come in every color. It's about standing up for what you believe is right. Sorry for the confusion. Sending love. Xo
— Kristen Bell (@KristenBell)
The similarities vs differences comment was in direct response to kids being overwhelmed with seeing the red side and the blue side and thinking they must take on enemy's. This is not a book teaching about race,
— Kristen Bell (@KristenBell)
My samness comment is NOT colorblindness. Our books ending is about standing up for what you believe in and being "uniquely you". I think through the lense of today my sameness was interpreted as colorblindness, which I do not believe in or condone.
— Kristen Bell (@KristenBell)
So sorry if my words were confusing! The message of our book is about kids looking for things they have in common(a response to when we wrote it, 2 yrs ago, kids seeing so much political divisiveness).
— Kristen Bell (@KristenBell)
Meanwhile, Jeremy Lin read 'The World Needs More Purple People' by Kristen Bell and Benjamin Hart for #SAVEWITHSTORIES recently. You can watch the video below and decide for yourself!
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