Petition for Historically Accurate and Ethnically Inclusive Illustrations in Adventist Children's Literature

A change is really needed.

This would be a blessing

The truth about the bible should be represented in Church illustrations. If we stand for truth it should be all truth and nothing but the truth. For example Jesus was not Caucasian, so he should not be presented so. The devil is the angel of light and can still lie to people today, he should not be presented as black. This is just to mention a few. All colors should be represented because Caucasian are the minority in the bible, how comes they are the majority in church illustrations?

I support this petition.

I’m glad that this is being done. Long overdue.

Let's move forward and be the church that rightly represent in illustrations what the Word presents

It's beyond time

I have two daughters, and we have limited our firstborn’s (age 3) media intake to Adventist children’s programming via YouTube put out by a well-known organization that we have a lot of respect for, along with two other scripture song videos by Steve Green. We have noticed over time that she has shown signs of distaste for her own race, evidenced by stating that she wants straight hair (and wears anything from her dresses to my undershirts on her head to imitate having long, straight hair), that light skin tones are better than darker ones, and favoring her white dolls over her black dolls. Being that the only media that she intakes is what I’ve noted above, along with Uncle ___’s Bible Stories, and other Christian print material, these can be the only places (or at least the primary places) where she’s getting these ideas. And unfortunately both in both the books and programming already mentioned, there are multiple instances where the evil character in the story is presented by someone of color or darker skin. I’ve recently found—fortunately and unfortunately—that the issue we’re having with our daughter is not unique. I’ve drafted a letter to send to SDA speakers on the topic of media in hopes that they will take up this particular media cause to research and produce videos on. Please pray that they and others will respond.

It is part of the work of the antichrist to misrepresent the word of God. We should not be following in the steps of the anti-christ. "By beholding, we become changed". Imagine how you could right the perspective and historical understanding of biblical accounts simply by demonstrating the diversity of humankind (or at the very least, make the characters match people of the region!). Think about what you do to the psyche of young Christians of color, who do not see themselves represented, or who are made to think they are less valuable than their white counterparts in the sight of the Lord. Furthermore, it is deceptive to portray Biblical characters as white when they have been specifically described otherwise. (Jesus was described as having bronze skin and hair of wool).

I requested the leaders to be sensitive to the need for our children of color to be included prominently. I was told, basically, it wasn’t their responsibility.

I grew up with the Dutch version of Arthur Maxwell’s ten volume The Bible Story. Historical accuracy and ethnic inclusion is sorely needed.

Thank you for creating this petition! It is long overdue. Through the years of teaching various Sabbath school divisions I have been perplexed and dismayed at the lack of ethnic diversity shown. I look forward to seeing a real change soon.

TYPO - ...families who do NOT see themselves represented in our literature

I heartily support this petition! As a mother who is Caucasian, have been embarrassed many, many times when reading our literature to my own children. I have often paused to explain to them that Bible characters would not have been white, as typically depicted in our visual illustrations. I empathize with families who do see themselves represented in our literature, and hope this will soon change!

Necessary! For too long the continuing systemic racism has plagued the church.

What our children visually see impacts what they believe. Whether white, black, Asian or Latino, we’re influencing how they will relate to those who do not look like them. We’re shaping the minds of future church & community leaders. Let’s be more careful of inclusivity in our illustrations.

Very good idea

It is long past time to have more diversity in illustrations of Bible stories.

It is long past time to make the illustrations in Bible stories more inclusive. Adam was made from dirt. It is highly unlikely that he was white.

Very good idea to update illustrations to other than white people