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More on Multicultural Literature
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From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 14:44:46 -0600
I think there's too often a disconnect--I don't want to think of it as a a divide--when we talk about how to get more high-quality multicultural literature published and into the hands of children and teens. I don't see editors and others in publishing standing on one side and advocates for more multicultural literature on another.I hope we are all advocates and all want the same thing---great books for all children and teens that collectively reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences---but our understanding of how to achieve that and what gets in the way is informed by different things.I think we've seen that over and over again across this discussion.
I don't think any of us are looking for THE answer, because it doesn't exist. We are all looking for answers---in the plural---and things we might do to further not just this discussion but, more important, the creation and consumption, if you will, of multicultural books for youth.I am in awe of many of the multicultural books produced by both small publishers and large corporate publishing companies. I am also certain of the need for more multicultural books.
And yet I have no doubt that publishing is a business with a bottom line, and arriving at that bottom line involves many decisions and elements I don't comprehend. I have no doubt more needs to be done to help aspiring authors and illustrators of color connect with the world of publishers and publishing. I have no doubt that more needs to be done to encourage librarians, teachers, and others to use the limited budgets they have to continue to diversify their collections and resources. I have no doubt the fact their budgets have become so limited has had a significant impact on sales, not to mention the environment in which children and teens are learning each and every day.
But I also have no doubt that while we have differing opinions on why there aren't more multicultural books for children and teens, we are all contributing perspectives that matter as we seek answers--in the plural--and approaches to problem-solving. There are people both outside and inside publishing, on this listserv and beyond it, who have been doing hard work and hard thinking in this arena for a long time, and many more who care just as passionately.That's something that serves this cause and all of us well.
Megan
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 14:44:46 -0600
I think there's too often a disconnect--I don't want to think of it as a a divide--when we talk about how to get more high-quality multicultural literature published and into the hands of children and teens. I don't see editors and others in publishing standing on one side and advocates for more multicultural literature on another.I hope we are all advocates and all want the same thing---great books for all children and teens that collectively reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences---but our understanding of how to achieve that and what gets in the way is informed by different things.I think we've seen that over and over again across this discussion.
I don't think any of us are looking for THE answer, because it doesn't exist. We are all looking for answers---in the plural---and things we might do to further not just this discussion but, more important, the creation and consumption, if you will, of multicultural books for youth.I am in awe of many of the multicultural books produced by both small publishers and large corporate publishing companies. I am also certain of the need for more multicultural books.
And yet I have no doubt that publishing is a business with a bottom line, and arriving at that bottom line involves many decisions and elements I don't comprehend. I have no doubt more needs to be done to help aspiring authors and illustrators of color connect with the world of publishers and publishing. I have no doubt that more needs to be done to encourage librarians, teachers, and others to use the limited budgets they have to continue to diversify their collections and resources. I have no doubt the fact their budgets have become so limited has had a significant impact on sales, not to mention the environment in which children and teens are learning each and every day.
But I also have no doubt that while we have differing opinions on why there aren't more multicultural books for children and teens, we are all contributing perspectives that matter as we seek answers--in the plural--and approaches to problem-solving. There are people both outside and inside publishing, on this listserv and beyond it, who have been doing hard work and hard thinking in this arena for a long time, and many more who care just as passionately.That's something that serves this cause and all of us well.
Megan
--
Megan Schliesman, Librarian
Cooperative Children's Book Center
School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison
600 N. Park Street, Room 4290
Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503
schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
My regular hours are T-F, 8-4:30.
---
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Received on Wed 12 Feb 2014 02:45:59 PM CST
