The Strange But True Stories Behind Your Favorite Childhood Books
Charlie Was Supposed To Be Black
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Charlie, the titular character of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was actually supposed to be black. According to Roald Dahl’s wife, he changed Charlie’s race because his agent convinced him that a black protagonist might not appeal to potential buyers.
A lot of people criticized the book for being racist. In the novel, the Oompa Loompas are black pygmies from Africa. When the Gene Wilder Wonka movie came out, the Oompa Loompas became orange people with green hair to avoid accusations of racism.
