Mother India

This is an image from Mother India. It is an image of an Indian mother and her child in India. 

Mother India was written by a white and American woman trying to make the argument that India needed to be saved. Throughout her book, Mayo makes assessments about India and Indian culture that are heavily impacted by her blatant racism. She decides to zero in on Indian women and how they are treated. Her claims, which are disguised as research, are highly offensive and work more to prove white and American superiority rather than to bring actual change to those who are suffering in India. The specific copy used in this exhibit is from the Mississippi State University Special Collections department. It was published in 1928 by Blue Ribbon Books. The book is beige and worn with yellowing pages. There are also several images dispersed through the book. Matching the title, all images are of Indian mothers.

1928

Mother and child

White Savior

Outsider

Mothers in literature

India

1918 - 1947

eng

Text

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