In research for a unit I'm planning on the Hunger Games, I found this article from Bitchmagazine.org, "Black Girls Hunger for Heroes, Too: A Black Feminist Conversation on Fantasy Fiction for Teens." The article included the following illustration which I thought was particularly grabbing and illustrative of this reality. The illustration is by Tina Kugler on the statistics of racial disparities in children's literature.
This article really made me think about what sort of literature I have encountered (I especially love dystopian novels and post-apocolypse stories like the Hunger Games) and how since the majority of characters are caucasian that continually shapes my experience and my privilege as a reader (and white female). Is there one of these novels I can think of where the main character was a P.O.C.? Nope. Not One. I certainly don't want to disenfranchise my students by having my selected literature in class follow this trend. I'm planning on building up a large classroom library and I really want to make it as diverse as possible in all possible ways (topics, cultures represented, genre, length, level of difficulty, canon vs. non-canon, banned books, etc.).
I have found a great resource (one of many I am sure!) that lists great YA books featuring diversity.
http://diversityinya.tumblr.com/
Also check out http://weneeddiversebooks.org/-- a campaign for diversity in the classroom that provides some resources as well.
Other links to consider regarding Diversity:
"Where Are the People of Color in Children’s Books?" by
15, 2014 (New York Times
"Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors" by RUDINE SIMS BISHOP, originally appeared in Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom. Vo. 6, no. 3. Summer 1990."The Importance of Diversity in Library Programs and Material Collections for Children" written for the Association for Library Service to Children by JAMIE CAMPBELL NAIDOO, PHD. adopted by the ALSC board on April 5th, 2014
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