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Re: Social Justice publishers
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From: Jessica SCHMUCKER <jessicawhitelaw_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:17:10 -0800 (PST)
This is an interesting discussion. I'm especially interested in this idea being discussed about what counts as social justice, and how we think abo ut the term. I have found it useful is to think of social justice as much as a stance on the part of the reader as something inherent in the book itself. This is tension-ridden though and here's why: while I recognize perhaps a pragmatic necessity to classify books, I guess I worrythat by compartmentalizing "social justice books" as a type of book, weoften unintentionally compromise the notion (or hijack it entirely) of social justice as a way of looking and thinking about representation, which today, seems to me to be a moral and social imperative.
In my work with teachers and preservice teachers, we have been working together to build ongoing ways of looking that take into account a wide range of "issues" of social justice - race, class, gender, location, power.. (I think about what counts as social justice as anything having to do with power and equity so it looks different - also that it is an inherently human, project and therefore never done). So, in cultivating social justice as
a stance, we could read anything by Jacqueline Woodson, who intentionally brings many issues of social justice to the table in her books; or we could read Babar and raise other questions about social justice there (like issues of class and colonialism). I think thisis an especially important distinction to make for teachers as a way ofguarding against the "social justice unit" pitfall where it can get forgotten
about for the rest of the year.
Finally, thinking about social justice as a way of looking appeals to mebecause it
helps me to see literature as a constant source of renewal in how we go
about the business of living better lives (what counts as justice, the many faces of injustice now and in the past, how things have changed over time, and how things might be better in the future).
Thank you for all of your thoughts and ideas on this topic.
Jessica
Oh, I I'll just also add that my perspective comes from my work in schools, teacher
education, and teaching children's literature. So, I'm always interested to hear the perspective of people who work in libraries.
--- On Sun, 11/6/11, Elsa Marston wrote:
From: Elsa Marston Subject:
Social Justice publishers To: ccbc-net_at_ccbc.education.wisc.edu Date: Sunday, November 6, 2011, 9:52 PM
Re Sully's observation about small independent publishers: I have the im pression that many independent publishers go into book publishing with a sp ecial sense of mission, a particular focus that may be as important for the m (or almost) as the objective of making money--and what could be more moti vating than the desire to make a difference through encouraging awareness o f issues of social justice?
Re an earlier comment about definitions: I think of "social justice" as a very broad, inclusive category, almost as broad as, and in contrast with, "humor," "romance," "suspense,"etc. Of course there's no reason why a " social justice" book couldn't also be characterized by humor, animals, susp ense, and so forth; it's a matter of emphasis and overall effect--and ultim ately, often, a matter of subjective judgment.
I'm finding this a particularly interesting discussion.
Elsa www.elsamarston.com
Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:17:10 -0800 (PST)
This is an interesting discussion. I'm especially interested in this idea being discussed about what counts as social justice, and how we think abo ut the term. I have found it useful is to think of social justice as much as a stance on the part of the reader as something inherent in the book itself. This is tension-ridden though and here's why: while I recognize perhaps a pragmatic necessity to classify books, I guess I worrythat by compartmentalizing "social justice books" as a type of book, weoften unintentionally compromise the notion (or hijack it entirely) of social justice as a way of looking and thinking about representation, which today, seems to me to be a moral and social imperative.
In my work with teachers and preservice teachers, we have been working together to build ongoing ways of looking that take into account a wide range of "issues" of social justice - race, class, gender, location, power.. (I think about what counts as social justice as anything having to do with power and equity so it looks different - also that it is an inherently human, project and therefore never done). So, in cultivating social justice as
a stance, we could read anything by Jacqueline Woodson, who intentionally brings many issues of social justice to the table in her books; or we could read Babar and raise other questions about social justice there (like issues of class and colonialism). I think thisis an especially important distinction to make for teachers as a way ofguarding against the "social justice unit" pitfall where it can get forgotten
about for the rest of the year.
Finally, thinking about social justice as a way of looking appeals to mebecause it
helps me to see literature as a constant source of renewal in how we go
about the business of living better lives (what counts as justice, the many faces of injustice now and in the past, how things have changed over time, and how things might be better in the future).
Thank you for all of your thoughts and ideas on this topic.
Jessica
Oh, I I'll just also add that my perspective comes from my work in schools, teacher
education, and teaching children's literature. So, I'm always interested to hear the perspective of people who work in libraries.
--- On Sun, 11/6/11, Elsa Marston wrote:
From: Elsa Marston Subject:
Social Justice publishers To: ccbc-net_at_ccbc.education.wisc.edu Date: Sunday, November 6, 2011, 9:52 PM
Re Sully's observation about small independent publishers: I have the im pression that many independent publishers go into book publishing with a sp ecial sense of mission, a particular focus that may be as important for the m (or almost) as the objective of making money--and what could be more moti vating than the desire to make a difference through encouraging awareness o f issues of social justice?
Re an earlier comment about definitions: I think of "social justice" as a very broad, inclusive category, almost as broad as, and in contrast with, "humor," "romance," "suspense,"etc. Of course there's no reason why a " social justice" book couldn't also be characterized by humor, animals, susp ense, and so forth; it's a matter of emphasis and overall effect--and ultim ately, often, a matter of subjective judgment.
I'm finding this a particularly interesting discussion.
Elsa www.elsamarston.com
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