My first read of Dr. Seuss was, surprisingly, not one of his picture books. I discovered Bartholomew and the Oobleck in the school library, and loved the marvelous chaos of the falling green goo, the word “oobleck,” the spooky executioner, and the thoroughly satisfying ending. Our third-grade teacher required us to read a book aloud in class: my read of Bartholomew and the Oobleck enthralled my classmates and was a high point in an otherwise pallid year.
 
As an adult, I read Dr. Seuss to my students and then to my daughters. The man—Theodore Geisel—had an innate sense of a child’s mind and needs. He also wrote and illustrated some racist stuff.
 
But here’s the thing: Dr. Seuss realized his wrong. He apologized. And he wrote Horton Hears a Who as an amends for his racist depictions. In addition, he ceased “othering” people groups in his depictions, and his estate, following Seuss’ lead, ceased publishing the earlier, troubling texts. Was it enough? As a white person, that’s not mine to answer. I can, however, speak to Dr. Seuss’ courage.
 
It takes guts to admit when we’re wrong: I’m not talking about tossing off an apology. I’m talking about sitting with the damage our actions caused, grieving that, and taking action moving forward to first right the wrong as best we can, and then to alter the arc of our lives toward the Good.
 
Because, if we cannot muster the courage for honesty and humility, we fall prey to hubris: a faux strength that expresses itself in bullying, lying, projection, verbal and physical abuse, and/or willful denial. Hubris hurts everyone—ourselves included.
 
On the Christian calendar, it’s the season of Lent: a time to get real about ourselves and our relationship to the Divine. A time to confess our “bads,” to seek the Good, and to live into the freedom of authenticity and abundance. After all, “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
 
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