Museum slaps trigger warning on Janet and John children’s book over ‘outdated views’

A museum has issued a trigger warning on a Janet and John children’s book over its ‘outdated views’. 

The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley also cautioned that the novel, which was first published in 1949, included ‘negative descriptions of people or cultures’. 

They said that while the depictions were ‘wrong then and wrong now’, rather than remove the book they wanted to use it to ‘spark a conversation about a more inclusive future’. 

The trigger warnings were issued after the Black Country Living Museum expanded its timeframe to include the post-Windrush decades. 

It has built a replica 1960s public library that is stocked with contemporary reading material to allow visitors to immerse themselves in different historical periods. 

However some of the novels, including a Janet and John book, have a trigger warning about potentially offensive content inserted next to the illustrated title page. 

The warnings read: ‘This book may contain negative depictions of people or cultures, and outdated views.

‘These depictions were wrong then and are wrong now. 

The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley cautioned that the novel, which was first published in 1949, included ‘negative descriptions of people or cultures’

The Janet and John book that has been issued with a trigger warning tells the story of a brother and sister playing with their dog

‘Rather than remove the book, we want to acknowledge its existence and impact, learn from it, and spark conversations to make for a more inclusive future.’ 

The Janet and John book that has been issued with a trigger warning tells the story of a brother and sister playing with their dog. 

It includes a description of the children looking at planes and speaking in simple dialogue and repetitive language. 

Other books at the Black Country Living Museum have also been issued with a trigger warning about potentially offensive content, according to reports. 

This includes copies of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels and Murder at the Gallop by Agatha Christie.

A spokesperson for the museum said: ‘We have collected over 6,500 books to display in our 1960s Library, as well as magazines, newspapers and records. 

‘As this is a large collection, we are not able to vet every single item in the library, but we are aware that there may be some texts which contain inappropriate language, illustrations, or attitudes. 

‘We have not redacted or amended any of the content in the library, and our aim is not to censor history but to make it available for visitors to learn about and to discuss.

‘Including our disclaimer at the start of every text allows us to acknowledge this to our visitors, whilst also creating the opportunity for conversation, education and thought. 

‘The disclaimer exists to notify visitors to the fact that they, personally, may find something upsetting or emotive as we cannot – and have chosen not to – censor history.

‘We have consulted with colleagues, the Museum’s Community Advisory Panel, and heritage sector professionals on the development of the wording of our disclaimer and its approach to the literature we share.’