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Caldecott and diversity
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From: Katie Clausen <clausenkate_at_gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 11:30:38 -0400
Hi, all!
My name is Katie Clausen, and I'm writing because I'm Thom Barthelmess's graduate assistant, and I helped with some of the Caldecott research last fall to spur this very discussion we are talking about!
I think you all have been correct in noting that diversity is a complicated, multi-dimensional word. As I was researching the different Caldecott winners, I was amazed at both the similarities and differences of the artists. Many grew up abroad (in many, many different countries) with a wide range of artistic training. When I was doing research, I had a spreadsheet in which I was checking a box for "Caucasian" or "Not." I found it extremely hard to check either box at times, and instead made a list of notes about every author with their cultural history.
But let's face it-- no matter how diverse their culture of origin was or dynamic their story, many were technically white, middle class males.
This has changed a bit, but it hasn't changed a lot. Of course we need to follow the Caldecott criteria, and OF COURSE we need to choose the best art. But I think we can also be aware. It is our jobs as librarians, teachers, leaders, mentors, colleagues, to just be AWARE, right? To never just look at the surface of things, but to dig deep. Why is this art great? What makes it great?
Julie is correct in noting that if we look at the library profession, it is dominated by the largely white demographic. I often wonder: I'm white, I'm middle class, so what do I have to say that is different? And the fact is, I'm different because I'm ME, right? So I make the world diverse because I'm me, and there is no other me. But because I'm me, I also need to think about diversity in all its forms-- race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, etc. Who has the power to tell their stories? Whose stories aren't being told? If we all think about these questions, we will embrace our own diversity while treasuring and highlighting the diversity of others.
Thom just recently wrote a blog on the book Dream Friends by You Byun on Butler's Pantry (check it out at http://butlerspantry.org/)! He mentions the artist's style of kawaii-- specifically related to her childhood time in Japan and Korea. It is clear that Thom was aware here-- he took time to conceptualize the art in its context with the author/illustrator's cultural identity. It's an extra step, yes, but it's an important one. It's not going away from the Caldecott criteria, it's just enhancing knowledge of the art itself. It's steps like this that we need to take to build our awareness.
Great discussion, everyone. It's hard for me to talk about race, because I am so very privileged as a white, female graduate student. But it's so so so important, because it's real and relevant to our dynamic children's book world.
Cheers, Katie
-- "Trying to satisfy your life with material things is like trying to fulfill hunger by taping sandwiches all over your body."
Received on Thu 16 May 2013 11:30:38 AM CDT
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 11:30:38 -0400
Hi, all!
My name is Katie Clausen, and I'm writing because I'm Thom Barthelmess's graduate assistant, and I helped with some of the Caldecott research last fall to spur this very discussion we are talking about!
I think you all have been correct in noting that diversity is a complicated, multi-dimensional word. As I was researching the different Caldecott winners, I was amazed at both the similarities and differences of the artists. Many grew up abroad (in many, many different countries) with a wide range of artistic training. When I was doing research, I had a spreadsheet in which I was checking a box for "Caucasian" or "Not." I found it extremely hard to check either box at times, and instead made a list of notes about every author with their cultural history.
But let's face it-- no matter how diverse their culture of origin was or dynamic their story, many were technically white, middle class males.
This has changed a bit, but it hasn't changed a lot. Of course we need to follow the Caldecott criteria, and OF COURSE we need to choose the best art. But I think we can also be aware. It is our jobs as librarians, teachers, leaders, mentors, colleagues, to just be AWARE, right? To never just look at the surface of things, but to dig deep. Why is this art great? What makes it great?
Julie is correct in noting that if we look at the library profession, it is dominated by the largely white demographic. I often wonder: I'm white, I'm middle class, so what do I have to say that is different? And the fact is, I'm different because I'm ME, right? So I make the world diverse because I'm me, and there is no other me. But because I'm me, I also need to think about diversity in all its forms-- race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, etc. Who has the power to tell their stories? Whose stories aren't being told? If we all think about these questions, we will embrace our own diversity while treasuring and highlighting the diversity of others.
Thom just recently wrote a blog on the book Dream Friends by You Byun on Butler's Pantry (check it out at http://butlerspantry.org/)! He mentions the artist's style of kawaii-- specifically related to her childhood time in Japan and Korea. It is clear that Thom was aware here-- he took time to conceptualize the art in its context with the author/illustrator's cultural identity. It's an extra step, yes, but it's an important one. It's not going away from the Caldecott criteria, it's just enhancing knowledge of the art itself. It's steps like this that we need to take to build our awareness.
Great discussion, everyone. It's hard for me to talk about race, because I am so very privileged as a white, female graduate student. But it's so so so important, because it's real and relevant to our dynamic children's book world.
Cheers, Katie
-- "Trying to satisfy your life with material things is like trying to fulfill hunger by taping sandwiches all over your body."
Received on Thu 16 May 2013 11:30:38 AM CDT
