The Rabbits' Wedding by Garth Williams

The Rabbits' Wedding is a lovely story about two rabbits who fall in love. However, originally this book stirred great controversy because of the color of the rabbits: one is black, the other is white. Alabama public libraries even went so far as to place this book in the restricted section due to the perceived theme of interracial marriage and suggesting this book was "integrationist propaganda." Published in 1958, this book arrived on the scene at a time when the Civil Rights Movement was brewing, and states like Alabama wanted to resist integration at all costs.

Although I am not sure that children would interpret this story as being about interracial marriage, I easily interpreted this book as such. Children may just assume it is a simple animal love story. Two common phrases arise again and again throughout this story. The rabbits happily play different games together, but the black rabbit often becomes sad. The white rabbit asks, "What's the matter?" The black rabbit always responds the same way, "Oh, I'm just thinking." After this goes on a while, we learn that the black rabbit is continuiously thinking about his wish. "I just wish that I could be with you forever and always." By the black rabbit being the sad rabbit and longing to marry the white rabbit, this could be interpreted as being symbolic of the social and political climate of the time.

I especially liked the ending because the rabbits end up together and live happily ever after. The brightest colors used in the book are the yellow dandelions when the rabbits celebrate their wedding. Transcending the times, the rabbits' union symbolizes interracial marriage. The bright color of the dandelions shows hope for the future. An alternative interpretation of the book does not consider this book to be about interracial marriage since perhaps Williams used a black and white rabbit to easily distinguish between the two rabbits. No matter the interpretation, young and old alike can enjoy this story for its delightful story, the use of repetition, the simple sketched pictures, and the final line. Set alone on its own white page without an illustration, the final line reads "And the little black rabbit never looked sad again."

Now a modern classic, The Rabbits' Wedding no longer stirs the controversy it did in the 1950s. Having progressed from the segregated society we were in the past, it is easier to see now the romantic, true love of the black and white rabbit. Despite the changes that happen in society, one common thread remains: love.