CCBC-Net Archives
Re: Inclusion
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From: Debbie Reese <dreese.nambe_at_gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 06:34:19 -0600
Sarah makes an excellent point in her post. A decision to use numbers to argue for, or against, the body of literature we're talking about gives us distance where we can be comfortable.
Early Saturday morning I began what was turning into a long post about my childhood. Though I grew up in "the land of enchantment" (New Mexico), there was a lot of crap to deal with. Sharing some of those stories, I thought, would help CCBC readers imagine us as people rather than the abstract image that numbers provide.
I wrote about how important Larrick's article was because she did her analysis with African American kids who she worked with right there, in front of her. There was no denying the realities of their lives.
I noted "casual diversity" and imagined Betsy Bird, irate and angry at me. Quite frankly, I was--and am--worried that I'd offended Betsy. It worried me because I see her as a strong ally. She's understands and shares that understanding with readers on her blog. She's a very significant figure in children's literature. I was trying to articulate an apology of sorts. I was also wondering what CCBC members read during their MLIS training that was specific to literature by and about those of us who are "other" to the industry and profession, which is largely white. Allie pointed to Sims Bishop and the categories she came up with. I knew of them because I read her work in graduate school. Did others?
And, I was trying to write a paragraph about Anita Silvey. I trust most of you know she's a powerhouse, too. Tired, I deleted it. Writing about the personal dimension is hard. Instead, I wrote up the top ten sellers at Amazon. Reading Sarah's email about inclusion prompts me to return to what I had deleted. Taking up Silvey...
Earlier in the week, I was over on Twitter. I saw a tweet in my Twitter feed that on Feb 5, Anita Silvey had written about the "brilliant" Ghost Hawk and on Feb 6, she'd written about Island of the Blue Dolphins. A few years ago, she was heralding Sign of the Beaver. I'd submitted a comment. I don't remember what I said. Sometimes I'm pretty direct and other times I'm more diplomatic. She didn't okay my comment for upload. She sent an email, though, saying that each site does something different. She said she sends people to my site when they have questions of authenticity about books. It was clear to me she wouldn't let my voice into the conversation at her site.
When I saw she was heralding Ghost Hawk, I was incensed. I wrote to colleagues and asked if someone could post a comment. Someone did and it was rejected. She got an email, much like the one I got. I'm reluctant to say anything at all about Silvey's responses to voices that are critical of the books she praises, because it seems like I'm making it personal. I guess I am, in fact, because I'm speaking specifically of her and her resistance. She knows about my site and my work, and sends people to it, but won't let me speak to her readers on her site. She characterized her decisions as focusing on what goes right in a children's book. "Right" according to what? I don't understand.
I am so grateful for the people I learned from when I started working on depictions of Native peoples in children's books. Ginny, KT, and Megan were, and are, at the top of my list. Others I learned from are Doris Seale, Beverly Slapin, and Lisa Mitten.
I had high hopes for CBC Diversity. I've been vocal, and strident about it. I want it to change the world right away. I'm impatient, but I've been waiting a long time, and so have Native people. The fact is, CBC Diversity is still a young entity. It has excellent goals. In the quantitative land, people would ask for measures. How, they'd ask, would CBC Diversity measure attainment of goals?
My wish is that enough people (members of the Caldecott committee, for example, that chose Locomotive) would be aware of inclusion such that it would not have been selected. My wish is that its goals would make Anita Silvery change the way she writes about books like Ghost Hawk. My wish is that older books like Island of the Blue Dolphins would be set aside, that we could see and acknowledge that they are not accurate.
Hitting send on this email, because though quantitative figures have their place, Sarah's right. They let us avoid the personal dimension, and it is people who write, review, read, praise... and object.
Debbie
__________________________________________________________ Debbie Reese, PhD Tribally enrolled: Nambe Pueblo
Email: dreese.nambe_at_gmail.com
Website: American Indians in Children's Literature
_at_ http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
Now: Studying for MLIS at San Jose State University Then: Assistant Professor in American Indian Studies, University of Illinois
__________________________________________________________ Debbie Reese, PhD Tribally enrolled: Nambe Pueblo
Email: dreese.nambe_at_gmail.com
Website: American Indians in Children's Literature
_at_ http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
Now: Studying for MLIS at San Jose State University Then: Assistant Professor in American Indian Studies, University of Illinois
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 06:34:19 -0600
Sarah makes an excellent point in her post. A decision to use numbers to argue for, or against, the body of literature we're talking about gives us distance where we can be comfortable.
Early Saturday morning I began what was turning into a long post about my childhood. Though I grew up in "the land of enchantment" (New Mexico), there was a lot of crap to deal with. Sharing some of those stories, I thought, would help CCBC readers imagine us as people rather than the abstract image that numbers provide.
I wrote about how important Larrick's article was because she did her analysis with African American kids who she worked with right there, in front of her. There was no denying the realities of their lives.
I noted "casual diversity" and imagined Betsy Bird, irate and angry at me. Quite frankly, I was--and am--worried that I'd offended Betsy. It worried me because I see her as a strong ally. She's understands and shares that understanding with readers on her blog. She's a very significant figure in children's literature. I was trying to articulate an apology of sorts. I was also wondering what CCBC members read during their MLIS training that was specific to literature by and about those of us who are "other" to the industry and profession, which is largely white. Allie pointed to Sims Bishop and the categories she came up with. I knew of them because I read her work in graduate school. Did others?
And, I was trying to write a paragraph about Anita Silvey. I trust most of you know she's a powerhouse, too. Tired, I deleted it. Writing about the personal dimension is hard. Instead, I wrote up the top ten sellers at Amazon. Reading Sarah's email about inclusion prompts me to return to what I had deleted. Taking up Silvey...
Earlier in the week, I was over on Twitter. I saw a tweet in my Twitter feed that on Feb 5, Anita Silvey had written about the "brilliant" Ghost Hawk and on Feb 6, she'd written about Island of the Blue Dolphins. A few years ago, she was heralding Sign of the Beaver. I'd submitted a comment. I don't remember what I said. Sometimes I'm pretty direct and other times I'm more diplomatic. She didn't okay my comment for upload. She sent an email, though, saying that each site does something different. She said she sends people to my site when they have questions of authenticity about books. It was clear to me she wouldn't let my voice into the conversation at her site.
When I saw she was heralding Ghost Hawk, I was incensed. I wrote to colleagues and asked if someone could post a comment. Someone did and it was rejected. She got an email, much like the one I got. I'm reluctant to say anything at all about Silvey's responses to voices that are critical of the books she praises, because it seems like I'm making it personal. I guess I am, in fact, because I'm speaking specifically of her and her resistance. She knows about my site and my work, and sends people to it, but won't let me speak to her readers on her site. She characterized her decisions as focusing on what goes right in a children's book. "Right" according to what? I don't understand.
I am so grateful for the people I learned from when I started working on depictions of Native peoples in children's books. Ginny, KT, and Megan were, and are, at the top of my list. Others I learned from are Doris Seale, Beverly Slapin, and Lisa Mitten.
I had high hopes for CBC Diversity. I've been vocal, and strident about it. I want it to change the world right away. I'm impatient, but I've been waiting a long time, and so have Native people. The fact is, CBC Diversity is still a young entity. It has excellent goals. In the quantitative land, people would ask for measures. How, they'd ask, would CBC Diversity measure attainment of goals?
My wish is that enough people (members of the Caldecott committee, for example, that chose Locomotive) would be aware of inclusion such that it would not have been selected. My wish is that its goals would make Anita Silvery change the way she writes about books like Ghost Hawk. My wish is that older books like Island of the Blue Dolphins would be set aside, that we could see and acknowledge that they are not accurate.
Hitting send on this email, because though quantitative figures have their place, Sarah's right. They let us avoid the personal dimension, and it is people who write, review, read, praise... and object.
Debbie
__________________________________________________________ Debbie Reese, PhD Tribally enrolled: Nambe Pueblo
Email: dreese.nambe_at_gmail.com
Website: American Indians in Children's Literature
_at_ http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
Now: Studying for MLIS at San Jose State University Then: Assistant Professor in American Indian Studies, University of Illinois
__________________________________________________________ Debbie Reese, PhD Tribally enrolled: Nambe Pueblo
Email: dreese.nambe_at_gmail.com
Website: American Indians in Children's Literature
_at_ http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.net
Now: Studying for MLIS at San Jose State University Then: Assistant Professor in American Indian Studies, University of Illinois
---
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Received on Mon 10 Feb 2014 06:34:49 AM CST
