Literature Representing Diverse Perspectives

Why Bother? We live in segregated neighborhoods Our first interaction with other cultures often comes from movies, books, and other media People of color make up at least 25% of our population and increases each year. Knowledge of other cultures helps increase tolerance

Types of Diversity Gender Culture Ethnic Racial background Language Physical and mental abilities

What Role Does Literature Play? Literature portrays diversity in natural ways and can spark discussion. Can enhance students’ understanding of others. Books of diverse perspectives are found in all genres.

Multicultural Literature Defined Literature that reflects the multitude of cultural groups within the United States. Literature that reflects ethnic and regional groups whose cultures historically have been less represented than European cultures. International literature is a related body of literature about countries outside the US.

Parallel Cultures Phrase coined by Virginia Hamilton. Many “minority” cultures are no longer numerically in the minority. This phrase refers to some cultures being parallel to the mainstream culture: Asian, Afro-American, Native American, Hispanic.

Why Should Literature Be Multicultural? Makes students feel welcome if their people and perspective are included in the texts and literature they read. Helps those in the “mainstream” learn about others they will interact with.

Identifying Multicultural Lit. Full range between books that just show diverse faces to books that are entirely based on specific cultural aspects. If a person is included just to show that the book is multicultural and is not authentically represented in the text, then it a poor selection. The other end of the spectrum is when the culture is central to the book and is more than highlighted.

Two Ends of the Spectrum Culturally Generic Books –Generally American in theme and plot, the inclusion seems to be incidental at times while purposeful at other times, but the theme remains culturally generic. –Even though they aren’t culturally specific, they are valuable because they present characters of other cultures and universal themes, which shows that people are the same.

Culturally Specific Books –Illuminate the experience of members of a specific cultural group –The daily life, language, attitudes, values and beliefs of members are accurately portrayed. –Helps others share the culture and universal qualities of character as well as differences.

Issues Cultural Authenticity –Written by authors with a cultural conscientious –Make members of the culture feel they have been accurately portrayed and represented. –They engender racial and cultural pride –Does not mislead or convey incorrect images of a culture.

Insider vs Outsider Perspective Insider - author is of the culture being written about. Outsider - author is of a different culture and writes from association, experiences, and research. Is it possible for a culture to be accurately represented by an outsider?

Stereotyping Using a single set of attributes to represent an entire culture. To determine if a stereotype is true, find out if the people of the culture embrace the attribute about themselves.

Identification of Cultural Groups Always included: Asian, African American, Latino, Native Americans. Others: Jewish Americans, Appalachian Americans European American are usually excluded because they are seen as the mainstream.

Criteria for Evaluating and Selecting Do the author and illustrator present insider perspectives? Is the culture portrayed multidimensionally? Are cultural details naturally integrated? Are details accurate and is the interpretation current? Is language used authentically? Is the collection balanced?

International Literature Books written outside the US and translated and books set entirely in foreign countries. Books written in other countries allow readers to experience native perceptions. Books written in US about other countries include information that may enlighten nonnative readers.

Criteria for Evaluating Intended audience: will students in US be able to understand the story? Translation: Is there a flow of language? –Are the unique details preserved –Are foreign situations explained so that readers can understand?

Awards General awards: Newbery and Caldecott Coretta Scott King Award - African American authors and illustrators whose books promote an understanding an dappreciation of the culture and contribution of all people to the realization of the “American Dream”

Pura Belpré Award - Latino author who best depicts the Latino culture Asian Pacific American Award for Literature - Asian Pacific American writers in three categories: literature for children and young adults is one category.

Hans Christian Andersen Award - international award to honor an author who made a significant contribution to children’s literature. Mildred Batchelder Award - books originally published in another language and translated.

Literature about Diverse Perspectives Gender Equity and Gender Roles –Portray males and females appropriately –Homosexuality and alternative family structures Social Diversity: poverty, low social class, homelessness, illiteracy, migrant lifestyle People with exceptionalities