Of Rastamice and racism (a personal view)

'I'd never portray a Rasta as a pig or a mouse as I don't think the values of being a Rasta are served by that. If it was a lion that would be very different, a lion is strong symbol in Rastafarianism.
Levi Roots

I have been giving the charges against Rastamouse some serious thought, as a librarian I had heard of Rastamouse (through the excellent books) and when the TV series started on CBeebies I figured that I would get round to watching it eventually.

Then the whispers of racism started, being the inquisitive sort I had a look online to see what was being said (click here, here and here for more) and that was the tipping point, I had to watch the show!

My view is that if Rastafarians were being portrayed as mice it could be found offensive, but after reading the books and watching the show I have noticed that it is portraying Mice as Rastafarians. Now if the Mice were Rastafarians and other cultures & ethnicities were portrayed as being human (or other 'superior' animals) then I think a charge of racism could be sustained but otherwise... no.