Caption: New York University Press, Credit: Trade card for Cottolene
Image by: Trade card for Cottolene 
New York University Press 

Racial Innocence

From: Guy Rathbun
Series: Turning Pages: Authors and Their Words
Length: 19:53

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Racial Innocence: Performing American Childhood from Slavery to Civil Rights by Robin Bernstein Read the full description.

Racial_innocence_cover_jpg_small Professor Robin Bernstein analyzes "scriptive things" in order to link historically-located practrices. Books, toys, theatrical props, domestic knickknacks and early movies (Uncle Tom's Cabin to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) provide the signposts for Bernstien as she explores how mores and values changed in the 19th and 20th century.
Today's child is seen as innocent, but in the period of Calvinist domination, children were considered sinful, godless, and depraved, however, popular culture, controlled by the media, began to portray white children as pure and vulnerable while, at the same time, excluding black children from these traits.

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Piece Description

Professor Robin Bernstein analyzes "scriptive things" in order to link historically-located practrices. Books, toys, theatrical props, domestic knickknacks and early movies (Uncle Tom's Cabin to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) provide the signposts for Bernstien as she explores how mores and values changed in the 19th and 20th century.
Today's child is seen as innocent, but in the period of Calvinist domination, children were considered sinful, godless, and depraved, however, popular culture, controlled by the media, began to portray white children as pure and vulnerable while, at the same time, excluding black children from these traits.

Broadcast History

Broadcast on KCBX Public Radio

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
Pensative Terry Trotter It's About Time. MAMA 1993 00:00

Related Website

www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~rbernst/RacialInn.html