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Re: Social Justice and Class
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From: K.T. Horning <horning_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:01:13 -0500
Megan, I think this is a reflection of the difficulty we have in general in our society with talking about issues of race and class. On more than one occasion, I have seen people equate the two.
Interesting examples often emerge in discussions of "I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This," by Jacqueline Woodson and "Make Lemonade," by Virginia Euwer Wolff. The Woodson novel deals with a friendship between a middle class African-American girl and a working class white girl, which is difficult for some to get their minds around because they are so accustomed to seeing a privileged white kid befriending a poor Black kid. And in "Make Lemonade," the author intentionally didn't mention the race of the characters; many adults with whom I have discussed the book assume they are African-American because they are working class. Both books elicit rich discussions of race and/or class.
KT
On 11/4/2011 11:04 AM, Megan Schliesman wrote: Additionally, I wish there were more books showing characters of color living middle class lives. I think too often children's and young adult literature equates being black or Latino or American Indian--among the far too few books there are--with being poor.
-- Kathleen T. Horning Director Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 N. Park St Madison, WI 53706 http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc horning_at_education.wisc.edu 608-263-3721 (phone) 608-262-4933 (fax)
Received on Fri 04 Nov 2011 12:01:13 PM CDT
Date: Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:01:13 -0500
Megan, I think this is a reflection of the difficulty we have in general in our society with talking about issues of race and class. On more than one occasion, I have seen people equate the two.
Interesting examples often emerge in discussions of "I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This," by Jacqueline Woodson and "Make Lemonade," by Virginia Euwer Wolff. The Woodson novel deals with a friendship between a middle class African-American girl and a working class white girl, which is difficult for some to get their minds around because they are so accustomed to seeing a privileged white kid befriending a poor Black kid. And in "Make Lemonade," the author intentionally didn't mention the race of the characters; many adults with whom I have discussed the book assume they are African-American because they are working class. Both books elicit rich discussions of race and/or class.
KT
On 11/4/2011 11:04 AM, Megan Schliesman wrote: Additionally, I wish there were more books showing characters of color living middle class lives. I think too often children's and young adult literature equates being black or Latino or American Indian--among the far too few books there are--with being poor.
-- Kathleen T. Horning Director Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 N. Park St Madison, WI 53706 http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc horning_at_education.wisc.edu 608-263-3721 (phone) 608-262-4933 (fax)
Received on Fri 04 Nov 2011 12:01:13 PM CDT
