Why did the NAACP object to a high school putting on the play "Ten Little Indians"?

Question

This was a recent news story that my husband heard

Answer 1

Because the original title of the 1939 Agatha Christie novel, upon which the play is based, was "Ten Little N*ggers," from the "childrens' rhyme" of the same name. Later editions of the book were published under the title "Ten Little Indians," with the rhyme inside the book being changed accordingly, or even under the title "And Then There Were None," which is the last part of the rhyme.

I think this was a bit of an overreaction on the part of the local NAACP chapter, since most people now are probably completely unaware of the book's history. On the other hand, maybe it'll help to bring attention to just how short a time in the past such a book title would would have been considered acceptable.

At any rate, it's too bad the play was cancelled . . . it's a great story.

By the way, when I first previewed my answer, the one where I had written out the full offensive title, a certain word was rendered as a string of asterisks, so I had to go back and modify the word a little so it would be accepted. Apparently YA has an "offensive word" filter. Interesting . . .

Answer 2

Because 1 person probably had aprobloem with it. Indians are our history we SHOULD celebrate it. We arent making fun of indians or saying they are violent people. The NAACP hates all things but blacks I think... They have to... its the only thing they actually allow... well that & gays, athiest, or any other discriminated people. I think today the most discriminated are the christians & caucasians(white people). Do you see anybody fighting for their rights or trying to keep people from making snide remarks about them? NO, you dont.
Our locol college recently had to change the name of the mascot because we were the Indians... I was proud of that, especially bc I am an Indian, that is my heritage. The school wasnt saying that Indians are violent. It was just a mascot nothing more but now we will have some lame name because of what 1 woman started.
Sorry, I may have rambled on but I am tired of being run over by people like that.

Answer 3

the NAACP was a great vehicle in eliminating racism in our country but of late i think they causing more unrest than good, America has come a long way in the last 4 decades racist people are few and far between as most of us respect our neighbors no matter what their ethnic or skin origin. i honestly feel that the powers that be such as Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton are on a bit of a power trip and doing more harm than good, example: don imus in my opinion is not a racist, although he is an obnoxious self absorbing rude person i think his comments were motivated because he thought it was cute. he since apologized and has paid dearly for remarks. it's time to move on and forgive, isn't that what these men of the cloth are suppose to be about. they jump on every little thing to get people aroused, no one really cares about a play about 10 little indians that is meant to be an educational tool for our children. i dressed as an indian for that play as a child and learned about our heritage, it's a fond memory and i am not a racist. enough is enough!

Answer 4

It's a murder mystery, containing, as an element, ten plaster Indians. As one is broken or vanishes, one of ten guests disappear or die.
I have no idea why NAACP would have an interest in this.

Answer 5

Easy..

1.It keeps them in the public eye.

2.Objecting promotes their particular style of racism and
keeps them in their jobs and influence.

3. This is a safe topic that won't generate much opposition
because they picked a small town to intimidate.

Answer 6

White Christians whining about persecution. Always good for a laugh.

Yeah, the Native Americans "we" slaughtered are part of "our" history.

Answer 7

Because they are communists!

Answer 8

Because they object to everything....absolutely everything.