The image of the wicked witch of the east under the house is a well-known moment from L. Frank Baum's beloved novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." In this iconic scene, a cyclone carries Dorothy and her house from Kansas to the magical land of Oz, where they inadvertently crush the wicked witch of the east upon their arrival. The wicked witch of the east is depicted as a cruel and power-hungry ruler of the Munchkin people in the eastern region of Oz. She is described as having magical powers, which enable her to maintain control and instill fear in the hearts of her subjects. Despite her treachery, the witch's demise is celebrated by the Munchkins as they have endured her oppression for far too long.
--Publishers Weekly, starred review
While the discord around the mascot is a long-standing one in the Virginia community, the assignment empowers the students to take the issue to the school board. The creators eschew judgment to present a well-rounded discussion about classism and racism, as well as effective allyship, with compassion and understanding.
Despite her treachery, the witch's demise is celebrated by the Munchkins as they have endured her oppression for far too long. The house landing on the wicked witch of the east adds an unexpected twist to the story. This event serves as a catalyst for Dorothy's journey in Oz, as it instantly propels her into the center of attention.
Valley Regional High School’s Racist Mascot
Valley Regional High School’s mascot and athletics logo reductively stereotypes diverse Native American society as a piece of disrespectfully homogenizing imagery. The “warrior head” icon and the team name “Warriors” are both harmful representations of indigenous peoples and local heritage.
The logo itself is a backwards facing duplicate of the widely protested Washington NFL team logo, against which there is a current movement supported by the NCAI (National Congress of American Indians). This logo was designed during a historical period of assimilation, oppression, and political persecution of Native American tribes and populations. Throughout the United States at this time, imagery like the logo was used to dehumanize and denigrate the racial identity of Native Americans. The Washington NFL logo, and the Valley Regional High School athletic logo, which is identical, are remnants of these prejudiced times.
Across Connecticut, many high schools have successfully altered racially offensive vocabulary and imagery in their general advertising. In West Hartford, a town wide initiative successfully pushed for local schools to drop their racist mascots and team names. Northwest Catholic, Conard, and Hall all made efforts to eliminate their racist advertising. Though Conard and Hall kept their offensive team names, at the very least their logos were dropped. In Maine, legislation has been passed prohibiting the continued use of racially stereotypical or offensive advertising. A similar bill has been proposed in our neighboring state of Massachusetts.
The reasons that the usage of such imagery is detrimental to our community are numerous and well defined by the NCAI. Above all such imagery enables the persistence of a systemic portrayal of Native Americans as inferior.
This petition calls on the Fourth Regional School District of Connecticut to halt Valley Regional High School’s racism. Students and alumni, such as myself, seek a more adequate education about and celebration of indigenous heritage especially on an immediately local level. It is time to heed the words of the activists who have spoken out against the usage of this imagery across our nation, as both members and allies of the populations it affects.
For further information please review these sources:
A glance at the cover of the novel-in-verse MASCOT will tell you where it stands on this issue. ("Discrimination is discrimination, even when people claim it's 'tradition, '" is printed above a painted-over image of a feathers-wearing, tomahawkwielding Indian.) Written by Charles Waters ("African Town") and Traci Sorell (a member of the Cherokee Nation and author of "We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga"), the book tracks how young minds can change over a single school year.
With the witch's death, the Munchkins are freed from her tyranny and express their gratitude towards Dorothy. Furthermore, the event introduces the iconic ruby slippers to the story. These magical shoes are initially worn by the wicked witch of the east and are then transferred to Dorothy's feet by the good witch of the north. These enchanted slippers play a crucial role in Dorothy's quest to return home, as they possess the power to grant her wishes. The image of the wicked witch of the east under the house symbolizes the destruction of evil and the liberation of the oppressed. It represents the triumph of good over wickedness and sets the stage for Dorothy's adventure in the Land of Oz. This memorable moment has become ingrained in popular culture, featured in various adaptations, such as the classic 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz," ensuring its ongoing recognition and significance..
Reviews for "The East Witch Chronicles: Reliving the Events Leading to Her Imprisonment Beneath the House"
1. Susan - 2 stars - I found "Wicked Witch of the East Under House" to be quite underwhelming. The plot was predictable, the characters lacked depth, and the writing style felt amateurish. It felt like a cheap attempt at capitalizing on the success of other fantasy novels, without bringing anything new or interesting to the table. Overall, I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Mark - 1 star - "Wicked Witch of the East Under House" was a complete waste of time. The story was confusing and poorly structured, and the dialogue was unrealistic and stilted. The author seemed to rely on tired clichés and lacked originality. I struggled to connect with any of the characters and felt no emotional investment in their fates. Save yourself the trouble and skip this book.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I was hoping for a unique twist on the classic "Wizard of Oz" story with "Wicked Witch of the East Under House", but unfortunately, it fell flat. The pacing was off, with too much time spent on insignificant details and not enough on developing the plot. The writing itself was average at best, with awkward sentence construction and grammatical errors throughout. I had high expectations, but was ultimately disappointed by this book.
4. John - 1 star - I couldn't finish "Wicked Witch of the East Under House". The writing was so poorly executed that it was painful to read. The author seemed to have no understanding of pacing, character development, or plot structure. I struggled to make sense of the nonsensical story and found myself questioning why I even bothered picking up this book. I strongly advise others to steer clear of this mess.