Racism in classical books: do you keep on enjoying the books? ⚠️⚠️*Tw for strong language*

Question

Just remembered about this after seeing the last book post! 
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I was always a fan of Alan Poe and his themes. After reading most of his books, I started to look into similar authors and a friend recommended HP Lovecraft. After reading about him I was surprised I didn't know him yet, since he inspired so many famous games. 
And then I had the most ambivalent reading I've ever had in life. I started out with the story in Yuggoth, which didn't have much racist remarks but a few lines that made me rise an eyebrow. Yes, though the themes repeat themselves through each of his books, the stories are good. I understand why they're so famous. But... at what cost? 
But when I started to go deeper in his stories... y'all, the racism and xenophobia is HEAVY. Straight out white supremacy. When he describes the decay of a city, he makes sure to point out the color of the people he sees, to say they all look immigrants, and that their color makes them look like they're up to no good but demonic orgies and illegal activities. Most worshippers of Cthulhu, which is his most famous creation, are immigrants and "brown", as he says it. Those people always manage to corrupt one Scandinavian white man to worship the devil with them. He spares not one single race. 
There were times I had to stop the reading to process what was just said before coming back at it. 
An example of his poems (which is not included in the books I read, I found it in a research about him):

Note, his racism was pointed about by several friends of his at the time. 
Now the questions, I'm sorry it was so long: 
Do you keep reading and enjoying his stories even though you come across paragraphs like that? Do you feel weird admitting you enjoy his stories? 
Should he be considered a product of his time and be forgiven? 
Do you think his creations should have inspired so many things up to this day? Should it be censured?

Accepted Answer

I see it as a teaching moment. As my kids grow up and begin reading these books in the future for school I plan to have many discussions about it.

Answer

For one I don't think anything should be censored. We can learn important lessons from Hitler's writings - mostly what NOT to do and what to look out for. For another, you can be critical of a writer while still acknowledging their relevance in society. Shakespeare wasn't exactly not-racist (see The Tempest or Othello), but that doesn't stop Romeo and Juliet from being read in every sophomore English classroom. Lovecraft has influenced DOZENS of other writers - there wouldn't be a Stephen King or Neil Gaiman without Lovecraft.

Answer

If it is a period book (like huckleberry Finn)that is staying true to the tone of that time, then yes I read it with a grain of salt.  Those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it kinda thing.   But If the book is literally just nasty, like hitler wrote it then no, I don’t read it because it will just make me feel gross. I’m aware of it but don’t need to spend hours digging into that.

Answer

Censorship, no, we shouldn’t censor anything or wipe it out and pretend it never existed. It has a context, a place in literary history and should be appreciated for its contribution. Most current artists are deeply flawed and that why I prefer not to know much about the people making the work I enjoy. Knowing about people’s personal lives simply confuses and colors the art. Expecting people to be perfect before we can allow their contributions to be enjoyed is absurd. People are complicated, and most modern people can’t live up to the yardstick the public uses to judge them, so I don’t see how it’s appropriate to apply modern values and sensibilities to something made 60 or 100 years ago. Context matters, and these things need to be viewed within a context.

Answer

I keep enjoying art created by racist people and other problematic people. Experiences with art are personal. You can’t help enjoying or feeling connected to certain pieces of art. You just have to keep in mind that loving the art doesn’t mean you love the artist and everything about them. I think we often admire art pieces and we project that into the artist and think they are perfect and someone who needs to be put on some pedestal for it. 
I think people also just need to accept the way things are. White people, in my experience, have trouble admitting they benefit from racism. It’s uncomfortable to admit it because we know racism is wrong but it’s true. I think we try to distance ourselves from racism because it’s uncomfortable but I personally think we need to embrace the past. Embrace the racism in the present. And be willing to recognize what our parts are in racism.

Answer

Being a “product of a different time” is never an excuse, but censorship is not okay

Answer

I agree with the ones who are saying it’s a good thing to use as a way to teach yourself and others. Also context is important too. If the author is shining a negative light on hate and bigotry in the story then it obviously was put there to show some awareness. I also agree with the others that are pointing out the problem with censorship.

Answer

Book cannot be unmoral. It can only bad written.
So I follow Oscar Wild thoughts and as long as book is not dangerous (like Mein Kampf for example), it is ok - it shows the world even if it is not the world we would like to see.

Answer

For me no I would not enjoy it still. I would hate it and not be able to read it.  But I have a hard time with reading so I have to enjoy (love) what I’m reading or I give up.

Racism in classical books: do you keep on enjoying the books? ⚠️⚠️Tw for strong language

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