An analysis of news coverage on directives from the Brazilian Ministry of Education concerning racism in the children's book Caçadas de Pedrinho (Little Pete Goes Hunting) by Monteiro Lobato (1882-1948) reveals numerous media attacks against a purported "leftwing politically correct patrol". Such media coverage also denied or glossed over the racism in Lobato's literary work and life. The current article differs from the dominant stance in the Brazilian mainstream media by exposing the blatantly racist content of various passages in Lobato's books, the need and justification for political correctness in contemporary democratic societies, and the inappropriateness of the dominant media position and the Ministry of Education's recommendations on the use of this book in classrooms.
Monteiro Lobato; political correctness; racism; children's literature; media
