The Rabbit's Wedding

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In April, 1958, a kid's book was published that caused some trouble in the State of Alabama.  The book was 'The Rabbit's Wedding', by the noted illustrator and one of the best artists ever Garth Williams.  (Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web, The Rescuers).


The alert reader will notice the black rabbit is black and the white one white.  Well, the state of Alabama noticed this also.


The White Citizen's Council, led by State Senator E. O. Eddins, declared that the book encouraged miscegenation and wanted it removed from the shelves and burned.
Picking on a kid's book sure was reaching.


"This book and many others should be taken off the shelves and burned".

Senator Eddins of Demopolis, Alabama.  Demopolis translates as village-citystate.  Eddins was a racist who had fought in France with the Marines in the Great War, so he was no coward.  I'm sure he was beloved by his constituency.  If anyone thinks that I am singling out Alabama allow me to mention that I had an uncle, a deacon in the Baptist Church, who led a fight to have 'To Kill A Mockingbird' yanked from the Houston school libraries.  Eddins was going to try and ban that book as well but decided that he would only be making a martyr out of the author.  This means that he did not have the courage of his convictions and was, to put it bluntly, a bully.
I wouldn't use such strong language about Eddins but Garth Williams has been one of my favorite artists my entire life, how dare anyone try and ban such a delightful book?  I would acknowledge that Senator Eddins was a product of his environment, but he was clearly only willing to lead a fight that he thought he could win.  I have no doubt that Eddins and his White Citizens Council thought they were a bulwark against the forces out to destroy America, no doubt at all.


Emily Wheelock Reed ran the Alabama library system.  She was accused of promoting race mixing, a slander in the South of that day.  This is a one time topper for a wedding cake made by the R. J. Wright doll company.


  She fought to keep the book on the shelves, but finally settled on a compromise, putting it in the "request only" section.  A victory, sorta.  This episode has been made into a play.  I am still getting over such a feisty librarian with the name Wheelock Reed.  Delicious!

Garth Williams.


 Love in black and white.  Black and white are not colors.  Without the interplay of black and white you would be reading this with your fingertips.


How could a government be that stupid and hateful?


It can't happen here.


The search for love is all consuming and so many times fruitless.


The Two Shall Be As One


Best of luck, bunnies!


Rabbits have a short time here and the ending is usually swift and cruel, but these two had this time together, and genuine love is as rare as genuine bravery.
Here's to you, Ms. Reed!
 
Some causes were a bad idea from the very start.

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