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Re: Bitterness and purity -- Mixing Apples and Oranges
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From: Debbie Reese <dreese.nambe_at_gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 06:23:50 -0600
Good morning!
Christine posted a list of what she has personally asked for in the discussions of multicultural literature. It brings clarity to the discussion and, hopefully, to whatever assumptions are out there by various people on the list.
In that spirit, I'll offer mine, too:
I want more books about American Indians that accurately portray us, whether the book is fiction or non-fiction. My preference is Native writers, not because I don't like white people or because I think they have no business writing books about us, but because with that book in hand, there is an opportunity to use the present tense about the author (assuming he/she is not deceased) and about that person's tribal nation. It sends a powerful message to the Native child and the non-Native child, too, that we're still here.
I want authors to know that sources are biased because the people who created those sources didn't know what they were looking at (see this article for an in-depth treatment: http://www.csun.edu/~bashforth/305_PDF/305_FinalProj/305FP_Race/NativeAmFolktales_Caution_Jan07_LA.pdf).
I want authors to read books and articles by people who look critically at texts, whether they are film or books. It does not matter to me if the person is Native or not. Fred Hoxie, for example, is not Native. He is a historian. I use his work a lot. There are several research journals published by professional associations. There's one specific to literature; earlier volumes are online: https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~rnelson/asail/
I want what we DO have available right now to be more visible so it doesn't go out of print.
I also want us to be more critical of classics and newly released books, regardless of genre and regardless of much we love the author, that romanticize or vilify who we were, or who we are. Norma Jean talked about her conversation with Ursula Nordstrom. Sounder didn't work for Norma Jean because it romanticized poverty.
I hope this clarifies whatever assumptions people have made about what I want.
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: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 06:23:50 -0600
Good morning!
Christine posted a list of what she has personally asked for in the discussions of multicultural literature. It brings clarity to the discussion and, hopefully, to whatever assumptions are out there by various people on the list.
In that spirit, I'll offer mine, too:
I want more books about American Indians that accurately portray us, whether the book is fiction or non-fiction. My preference is Native writers, not because I don't like white people or because I think they have no business writing books about us, but because with that book in hand, there is an opportunity to use the present tense about the author (assuming he/she is not deceased) and about that person's tribal nation. It sends a powerful message to the Native child and the non-Native child, too, that we're still here.
I want authors to know that sources are biased because the people who created those sources didn't know what they were looking at (see this article for an in-depth treatment: http://www.csun.edu/~bashforth/305_PDF/305_FinalProj/305FP_Race/NativeAmFolktales_Caution_Jan07_LA.pdf).
I want authors to read books and articles by people who look critically at texts, whether they are film or books. It does not matter to me if the person is Native or not. Fred Hoxie, for example, is not Native. He is a historian. I use his work a lot. There are several research journals published by professional associations. There's one specific to literature; earlier volumes are online: https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~rnelson/asail/
I want what we DO have available right now to be more visible so it doesn't go out of print.
I also want us to be more critical of classics and newly released books, regardless of genre and regardless of much we love the author, that romanticize or vilify who we were, or who we are. Norma Jean talked about her conversation with Ursula Nordstrom. Sounder didn't work for Norma Jean because it romanticized poverty.
I hope this clarifies whatever assumptions people have made about what I want.
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 Sun 23 Feb 2014 06:24:32 AM CST
