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Re: Interesting blog post on Black History in YA (and MG)
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From: Debbie Reese <dreese.nambe_at_gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 13:03:27 -0600
I saw the timeline and wondered about ways to construct one in my area of expertise.
Along the lines of sharing...
I read something yesterday that made me dizzy. Reading about violence can do that (make me dizzy). Did you know that the much beloved Frances Hodgson Burnett had a black doll she named Topsy, and that she'd whip that doll?
You can download Robin Bernstein's article (published in 2011), "Children's Books, Dolls, and the Performance of Race; or, The Possibility of Children's Literature" from here: http://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/4795341
I was curious to know if she also acted out stories that involved American Indians. The answer? Yes. You can read the source material for the article here: https://archive.org/details/oneiknewbestofal00burn
Reading Bernstein's article, I wondered if it was fair to say we've come a long way from then, but then I remembered the story on This American Life a few years ago when all the white baby dolls were sold out at the adoption nursery at F.A.O. Schwartz, and white moms didn't want the black dolls. So maybe a little progress but then a step backwards?
And this morning, there's a news story about Getty Images wanting to improve the diversity of the ways in which women are shown in their database. I went to the database and did a search on "American Indian" and refined it with "woman." Depressing how many of the hits were of people playing Indian. I repeated it with "Latino" and "Hispanic" and "Asian American" and "African American," refining each one with 'women' and was relieved that there weren't horrendous stereotypes in them. I hesitate, though, because in those particular groups, I'm not as tuned in to problematic depictions as I am with Native ones or ones that purport to be Native. And of course---the news has stories again today about the Washington pro football team and how it honors American Indians. As I write this, I think about the campaigns where people sign on to read 50 books by people of color (or something similar to that). I'm wondering if a different strategy might help. Maybe one in which they spend a month reading Native news stories would be good. I do that all the time. If you're interested, try out Indian Country Today Media Network located here: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/
And listen into Native America Calling: http://www.nativeamericacalling.com/. On Wednesday, the program is "The Next Generation of Writers." It features the writing program at the Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA). Editors/publishers on CCBC-NET might especially be interested in students in that program.
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
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 13:03:27 -0600
I saw the timeline and wondered about ways to construct one in my area of expertise.
Along the lines of sharing...
I read something yesterday that made me dizzy. Reading about violence can do that (make me dizzy). Did you know that the much beloved Frances Hodgson Burnett had a black doll she named Topsy, and that she'd whip that doll?
You can download Robin Bernstein's article (published in 2011), "Children's Books, Dolls, and the Performance of Race; or, The Possibility of Children's Literature" from here: http://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/4795341
I was curious to know if she also acted out stories that involved American Indians. The answer? Yes. You can read the source material for the article here: https://archive.org/details/oneiknewbestofal00burn
Reading Bernstein's article, I wondered if it was fair to say we've come a long way from then, but then I remembered the story on This American Life a few years ago when all the white baby dolls were sold out at the adoption nursery at F.A.O. Schwartz, and white moms didn't want the black dolls. So maybe a little progress but then a step backwards?
And this morning, there's a news story about Getty Images wanting to improve the diversity of the ways in which women are shown in their database. I went to the database and did a search on "American Indian" and refined it with "woman." Depressing how many of the hits were of people playing Indian. I repeated it with "Latino" and "Hispanic" and "Asian American" and "African American," refining each one with 'women' and was relieved that there weren't horrendous stereotypes in them. I hesitate, though, because in those particular groups, I'm not as tuned in to problematic depictions as I am with Native ones or ones that purport to be Native. And of course---the news has stories again today about the Washington pro football team and how it honors American Indians. As I write this, I think about the campaigns where people sign on to read 50 books by people of color (or something similar to that). I'm wondering if a different strategy might help. Maybe one in which they spend a month reading Native news stories would be good. I do that all the time. If you're interested, try out Indian Country Today Media Network located here: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/
And listen into Native America Calling: http://www.nativeamericacalling.com/. On Wednesday, the program is "The Next Generation of Writers." It features the writing program at the Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA). Editors/publishers on CCBC-NET might especially be interested in students in that program.
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
---
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Received on Mon 10 Feb 2014 01:03:56 PM CST
