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Re: Multicultural Literature
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From: Ehbluemle <ehbluemle_at_gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 06 Feb 2014 10:58:53 -0500
Kelly - thanks for the wonderful post!
Your uncomfortable feeling about the call for books where race is not the issue is really important to pay attention to, especially for those of us who are white. I understand that all too often in the quest for diversity, only the 'pen color' changes. And I absolutely agree that books directly addressing issues of race and tolerance/intolerance, and historical narratives, are vital to all of us. The goal isn't to ignore race or pretend it doesn't exist, but to broaden our understanding of all the layers.
Obviously, race is a huge part of a person's identity. People of the majority or power-dominant race can (pretend to) ignore it, but of course race is a defining piece of who we are, and denying that cheats all children.
To clarify a little about my own database of books featuring kids of color where race is not the driving force of the story, the emphasis is on "driving force." Many books in the database include characters addressing racial identity in some way. It is also important for kids to read about themselves and each other in terms of the content of their characters -- and I want to provide a resource for people to find main characters of color in a whole range of stories, not only those focusing on race.
I have struggled to figure out how to present this database without it seeming to have a goal of "erasing" race. On the contrary, I simply want it to embrace race and encourage classrooms and families to discover stories outside what they may expect. I don't kids, brown or tan or pink, to turn away from a book because they have come to associate brown faces on book covers with a narrower range of topics.
Thank you for being willing to voice your discomfort. I think this is not an area in which really honest discussion has been encouraged until recently, and there is much to learn! I so appreciate taking apart these issues and looking at their many layers, and trying to get to the heart of it in a meaningful way.
Cheers, Elizabeth
Kelly Starling Lyons wrote:
> I'm thankful for the dedication, sincerity and hard work of everyone who pushes for more multicultural children's books, but there's something that makes me uncomfortable in the drum beat for children's books where race is not the issue too. I know it's not intended to come across like this, but sometimes it feels like I'm being told as a writer - or consumer (I have two children) - that books that focus on race or history are not what kids need.
>
> I feel there should not be any limits put on what authors of color write. Kids of all backgrounds need contemporary stories, fantasy and science fiction ones and books that focus on the past. I think sometimes, unintentionally, historical fiction - particularly books that explore slavery and civil rights - gets written off as more of the same in the effort to make the important point that kids of color need to see themselves in fun and every-day books too.
>
> They need it all. We need more awareness of the wonderful books that are already out there in all genres and a commitment to kick down doors to make sure more books that speak to the beautiful diversity of our world are made and make their way into children's hands.
>
> I'm honored to be part of this conversation. Thanks again to CCBC and all of you for making a difference.
>
> Warm Wishes,
>
> Kelly
>
> Kelly Starling Lyons
> www.kellystarlinglyons.com
>
Date: Thu, 06 Feb 2014 10:58:53 -0500
Kelly - thanks for the wonderful post!
Your uncomfortable feeling about the call for books where race is not the issue is really important to pay attention to, especially for those of us who are white. I understand that all too often in the quest for diversity, only the 'pen color' changes. And I absolutely agree that books directly addressing issues of race and tolerance/intolerance, and historical narratives, are vital to all of us. The goal isn't to ignore race or pretend it doesn't exist, but to broaden our understanding of all the layers.
Obviously, race is a huge part of a person's identity. People of the majority or power-dominant race can (pretend to) ignore it, but of course race is a defining piece of who we are, and denying that cheats all children.
To clarify a little about my own database of books featuring kids of color where race is not the driving force of the story, the emphasis is on "driving force." Many books in the database include characters addressing racial identity in some way. It is also important for kids to read about themselves and each other in terms of the content of their characters -- and I want to provide a resource for people to find main characters of color in a whole range of stories, not only those focusing on race.
I have struggled to figure out how to present this database without it seeming to have a goal of "erasing" race. On the contrary, I simply want it to embrace race and encourage classrooms and families to discover stories outside what they may expect. I don't kids, brown or tan or pink, to turn away from a book because they have come to associate brown faces on book covers with a narrower range of topics.
Thank you for being willing to voice your discomfort. I think this is not an area in which really honest discussion has been encouraged until recently, and there is much to learn! I so appreciate taking apart these issues and looking at their many layers, and trying to get to the heart of it in a meaningful way.
Cheers, Elizabeth
Kelly Starling Lyons wrote:
> I'm thankful for the dedication, sincerity and hard work of everyone who pushes for more multicultural children's books, but there's something that makes me uncomfortable in the drum beat for children's books where race is not the issue too. I know it's not intended to come across like this, but sometimes it feels like I'm being told as a writer - or consumer (I have two children) - that books that focus on race or history are not what kids need.
>
> I feel there should not be any limits put on what authors of color write. Kids of all backgrounds need contemporary stories, fantasy and science fiction ones and books that focus on the past. I think sometimes, unintentionally, historical fiction - particularly books that explore slavery and civil rights - gets written off as more of the same in the effort to make the important point that kids of color need to see themselves in fun and every-day books too.
>
> They need it all. We need more awareness of the wonderful books that are already out there in all genres and a commitment to kick down doors to make sure more books that speak to the beautiful diversity of our world are made and make their way into children's hands.
>
> I'm honored to be part of this conversation. Thanks again to CCBC and all of you for making a difference.
>
> Warm Wishes,
>
> Kelly
>
> Kelly Starling Lyons
> www.kellystarlinglyons.com
>
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Received on Thu 06 Feb 2014 09:59:38 AM CST
