From: Christine Taylor-Butler <kansascitymom_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:19:29 -0600

I've been reading the posts and I think, before this situation gets better, there are some things that should be addressed in the way we approach and "market" books for children of color.

A few years ago I was speaking at the public library in Rogers, Arkansas. The event lasted a week and I estimate I spoke to over 25 elementary schools. On Saturday a teacher returned for the adult workshop and noted that one of her third graders, a Latino girl, was curious about my own ethnicity. It turns out she was fascinated that I had graduated from MIT and wanted to know how that was possible given that I was a minority. She said "So she wanted to go and they let her? Even though she's African American?" When the teacher confirmed it she said, "So does that mean a kid like me can go to a school like that?"

Now recognize that I write full-time but I'm also Chair of MIT's Regional Education Council in the midwest and have been active for about 30 years. And I can tell you that over time not much has changed for kids like that. And I lay the blame partially on reading material available that doesn't depict students of color in a mainstream situations. When we produce books featuring children of color they are almost always centered around race specific situations. The "heroes" are someone else. The students who go to college and excel at school are someone else.

One year, I took off my "author" badge at ALA New Orleans and put on an MIT badge - then proceeded to go from booth to booth asking for non-stereotypical books featuring children of color. I specifically said I did not want books with stereotypes, poverty, gangs, teen pregnancies. Almost every major publisher told me "We don't publish books like that." One of the largest NY children's publishers went further and said "I can't afford to publish those kinds of books if I'm only going to sell a few." Note that sitting behind the person was a copy of Alvin Ho. I didn't ask for African American books - I asked for mainstream books about people of color. There was no attempt to show me that series, or any other. But more appalling were the other publishers who had no offerings at all.

To their credit, another large publisher promised to send me ARC's for urban teens I tutor (all prolific readers), but when I opened the box all the main characters were white. All of them.

The concern I have is two-fold. I think it's important to have books that address culturally appropriate scenarios. But by fixing the problem we may have exacerbated it at the same time. The culturally specific content may brands books about students of color (African American, Latino, Asian, etc.) as niche books. Or books written for "those people." Certainly I've been told by enough librarians that they've seen ALA peers pass over books for mainstream awards because "those people have their own awards." As a result - the books aren't marketable to a wider audience.

So here's the dilemma- especially in light of the statistics that CCBC has posted over the years showing little gain in volume:

If you teach the public to expect that books featuring people of color are ALWAYS centered around race or culturally specific issues - in a world that is not yet colorblind - then you tell that young Latino girl every day "not you." You won't be in Harry's inner circle, you won't get the cute vampire guy, you won't be anything than what you already see around you. We train students who are breaking that mold to hide themselves and - in some cases hate their own ethnicity (as I found when editing the essay of a stunningly brilliant young man who had to train himself to block out media stereotypes when thinking of his own race).

I do think politics plays a role but only because the general public often gets its negative impressions subliminally (and from extremist positions in the media). But in publishing, we're so desperate to talk about "history" that we forget to celebrate life common to all children not tied to their ethnicity. We publish lots of nonfiction but little fiction that is inclusive. I get it...Publishing is about making money. Publishers with major marketing budgets go after low hanging fruit. They spend the vast amount of marketing dollars on already proven models. Barnes and Noble has too much power over what is acquired. And small publishers trying to break the mold are routinely ignored in the venues that could give them a boost (awards.)

The statistical model is at a standstill. Someone has to budge. But it CAN NOT be the model I'm seeing adopted which is to acquire more books by white authors about people of color, while ignoring similar books of quality by people that are simply because it is thought that a white author is more "sellable."

Ask any CSK author or illustrator (Kadir Nelson and the Pinkney's are exceptions) if they are able to generate sales or even marketing support and you'll see what I mean. Many award winners can't even get another book contract. How does the public know a book exists and is appropriate for all children if publishers (and the rest of us) don't make the existence known outside our narrow circles? Especially if we've trained the public otherwise?

We, collectively, need to be the change we want to be - but don't shoot the messenger. So much talent on the CCBC list - perhaps we can view the world the way it truly is, not the way we wish it to be, and apply pressure to make a much needed course correction……….Christine Taylor-Butler
Received on Thu 07 Feb 2013 12:19:29 PM CST