Turns out, even history’s “greats” and most famous figures had some ugly chapters. Churchill downplayed the Bengal famine, Jefferson ran a plantation, Dr. Seuss pushed anti-Japanese propaganda, and Gandhi’s views on Africans were far from peaceful. Heroes? Sure. But maybe it’s time we stop pretending the past was spotless and start reading it honestly. Here is a list of 10 famous figures that were exposed for their secret racist beliefs.
Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss might’ve taught generations to rhyme, but his past didn’t always measure up. During World War II, Theodor Geisel drew racist, anti-Japanese cartoons and backed internment camps. After visiting Japan years later, he changed. “Horton Hears a Who!” (1954) became his apology, dedicated to Japanese friend Mitsugi Nakamura.
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi is often seen as the peaceful face of resistance, but his early years tell a different story. In 1893, while in South Africa, he complained about sharing a cell with Black prisoners, calling them “animals.” His writings and letters revealed racist views, ranking Africans as “uncivilized” compared to Europeans and Indians. Even icons have shadows.
Walt Disney
Walt Disney built a kingdom of dreams, but his legacy isn’t spotless. In 1938, he hosted Nazi filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl at his studio and was accused of attending pro-German meetings. Then came 1946’s “Song of the South,” pulled for its racist themes. Even his grandniece later said he “bordered on rabid fascism.”
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson wrote that “all men are created equal,” then spent his life proving he didn’t mean it. The third U.S. president owned about 600 slaves at Monticello and freed only two. He also fathered children with Sally Hemings, an enslaved teenager—confirmed by DNA tests centuries later.
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson loved calling himself a man of the people—but only if you weren’t Indigenous or an abolitionist. In 1830, he signed the Indian Removal Act, forcing around 60,000 Native Americans west in what became the “Trail of Tears.” Nearly 16,700 died from disease, violence, and exhaustion. Jackson called abolitionists “monsters.” History might choose another word for him.
Henry Ford
Henry Ford revolutionized the car industry—and drove straight into infamy with his antisemitic newspaper, The Dearborn Independent. Launched in 1919, it became required reading for Nazis. Hitler even called Ford “an inspiration” and kept his portrait nearby. Ford shut the paper down in 1927, apologized—though many say that signature wasn’t his.
Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.
Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. wasn’t just the father of America’s most famous political dynasty, but he was also the family scandal magnet. As U.S. ambassador to the U.K. in 1938, Kennedy reportedly echoed antisemitic views to German diplomats. His aide, Harvey Klemmer, claimed he “used antisemitic phrases regularly.” Friendly with extremists and responsible for his daughter Rosemary’s lobotomy, Kennedy’s ambition left a permanent stain on the family name.
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill may have helped defeat the Axis Powers, but his record in Bengal is indefensible. During the 1943 famine, he refused relief, sneering that Indians were “breeding like rabbits.” He redirected food to British troops while up to 3.8 million starved. History remembers his victory—just not the victims.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte wasn’t just a short guy with big military dreams—he also made France take a giant step backward. In 1802, he reinstated slavery with the Law of 20 May, undoing the Revolution’s 1794 progress. He even sent fleets to enforce it, causing over 20,000 deaths in Haiti. The so-called liberator also banned non-white people from entering France.
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson might’ve built the League of Nations, but he also built barriers. As president, he segregated government offices and banned Black officers from the military. His White House even hosted The Birth of a Nation, a film glorifying the Klan—complete with a Wilson quote praising white supremacy.
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