Jinger Duggar Vuolo's hobbies have often had fans seeing red. Critics accused her of elitism for customizing a pair of expensive sneakers. Now, this new children's book has fans accusing her of being tone-deaf.
For instance, "You Can Shine So Bright!" repeatedly features one Black girl in a negative light. In one illustration, we see her angrily pulling a toy out of a friend's hand. In a section on "Self-Control," the girl swipes three balloons from a bunch marked "Take One." One commenter wrote on Jinger's Instagram page, "Deeply disappointed that you choose to use the one person of color to be the thief." It's worth noting, however, that illustrator Naomi C. Robinson is Black.
Another character, a boy in a wheelchair, is paired with the text, "[Jesus] loves you too, more than you know." Katie Joy of the Without a Crystal Ball YouTube channel was among the readers who were offended at the implication that the child is loved by God in spite of his disability, rather than as a unique individual. A follower said, "The fact that the little boy in the wheelchair is by himself also really makes me sad. Why wasn't he playing with friends throughout the book!?"
Some fans were less judgmental. "Honestly, I don't think it is all that bad ...The illustrator is Black, so I really don't think she was doing anything racist," one user commented.
