Yesterday our Facebook data declared that over 300 folks saw this post:
Today is Multicultural Children's Book Day!
“Content does matter, and we know that the more children read—especially about themselves—the better the odds are to close the achievement gap,” Renee Prewitt
Some call it an opportunity gap or a relevancy gap, whatever gap you call it, let's close it!
#readmorewritemore#representationmatters
It's true; January 27 has been dubbed "Multicultural Children's Book Day," by someone or some group invested in children's literature. As exciting as it was to find that there was a day devoted to such a thing, let us take pause. Didn't we give up the idea of "multiculturalism" back in the 90's? The thing about multiculturalism is this. The term has been truncated in schools and classrooms nationwide, to mean that the curriculum, images, music, books, etc. squeeze in something (be it song, food, art) to represent the person of color. This shows up as a classroom poster with cookie cutter images of children, all with the same features, with mostly white skin tones and a few shades of brown so the viewer senses "inclusiveness." It appears as the "Share Your Cultural Foods Day" in which mixed children nationwide perseverate over what to bring and opt for the most "exotic" representation of their culture because they unconsciously understand that the more exotic they appear the more appeal they will have (this is highly problematic and complex and hence another topic for another day).
So what do we do instead of calling it multiculturalism? If interpreted critically, multiculturalism in education can mean a curriculum that exposes multiple perspectives, checks racial bias, checks gender bias, and analyzes all the "isms” that we find in our collective consciousness and the dominant narrative agenda, that we are desperately seeking to go beyond. Praise be for radical educators everywhere, telling the truth about history, circumstances, sharing their critical lenses, and pushing the educational landscape so that we move beyond the archetypal model of "multiculturalism." Let's move into a landscape that extolls equity, social justice, global competency, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.
Which brings me to my next point. Let's communicate a new term. Let's call "Multicultural Children's Book Day" what we want it to mean; making the statement that we are asking for the representation of the vast and beautiful identities of our children. Whether it's "Representation of Our Children in Literature" or "Intercultural Literacy Representation" or "Racial Competency in Literature" day, let's get it on the map!
Let me contradict myself here. Do we even need a day set aside for such a thing? Our children should be seen as primary characters, be the forefront in images, have leading roles in literature, plays, television, games and movies. Images and characters that represent our modern lives (not stereotyped roles based on caricatures, or historical roles of enslaved peoples all the time). Representation should be happening every day, in every way.
Mainly it's this. We need you to tap into your creative power. You have it. And our children need you. Let's encourage each other to write more and read more! The only way our children will have the stories that put them up front and center (just because) is if you write it. We all deserve a Harry Potter that looks like my brother Kwame or a Katniss who looks like my friend Jah-Yee.
I leave you with this. If we need a day to celebrate Multicultural Children's Books, to bring awareness, cool. If we want to push the envelope a bit and push a clearer agenda, let's get on it. One thing is for certain. We need more literature for our kids. So gather your pens, pencils, computers, ipads, kindles and LET'S WRITE some STORIES!
Today is Multicultural Children's Book Day!
“Content does matter, and we know that the more children read—especially about themselves—the better the odds are to close the achievement gap,” Renee Prewitt
Some call it an opportunity gap or a relevancy gap, whatever gap you call it, let's close it!
#readmorewritemore#representationmatters
It's true; January 27 has been dubbed "Multicultural Children's Book Day," by someone or some group invested in children's literature. As exciting as it was to find that there was a day devoted to such a thing, let us take pause. Didn't we give up the idea of "multiculturalism" back in the 90's? The thing about multiculturalism is this. The term has been truncated in schools and classrooms nationwide, to mean that the curriculum, images, music, books, etc. squeeze in something (be it song, food, art) to represent the person of color. This shows up as a classroom poster with cookie cutter images of children, all with the same features, with mostly white skin tones and a few shades of brown so the viewer senses "inclusiveness." It appears as the "Share Your Cultural Foods Day" in which mixed children nationwide perseverate over what to bring and opt for the most "exotic" representation of their culture because they unconsciously understand that the more exotic they appear the more appeal they will have (this is highly problematic and complex and hence another topic for another day).
So what do we do instead of calling it multiculturalism? If interpreted critically, multiculturalism in education can mean a curriculum that exposes multiple perspectives, checks racial bias, checks gender bias, and analyzes all the "isms” that we find in our collective consciousness and the dominant narrative agenda, that we are desperately seeking to go beyond. Praise be for radical educators everywhere, telling the truth about history, circumstances, sharing their critical lenses, and pushing the educational landscape so that we move beyond the archetypal model of "multiculturalism." Let's move into a landscape that extolls equity, social justice, global competency, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.
Which brings me to my next point. Let's communicate a new term. Let's call "Multicultural Children's Book Day" what we want it to mean; making the statement that we are asking for the representation of the vast and beautiful identities of our children. Whether it's "Representation of Our Children in Literature" or "Intercultural Literacy Representation" or "Racial Competency in Literature" day, let's get it on the map!
Let me contradict myself here. Do we even need a day set aside for such a thing? Our children should be seen as primary characters, be the forefront in images, have leading roles in literature, plays, television, games and movies. Images and characters that represent our modern lives (not stereotyped roles based on caricatures, or historical roles of enslaved peoples all the time). Representation should be happening every day, in every way.
Mainly it's this. We need you to tap into your creative power. You have it. And our children need you. Let's encourage each other to write more and read more! The only way our children will have the stories that put them up front and center (just because) is if you write it. We all deserve a Harry Potter that looks like my brother Kwame or a Katniss who looks like my friend Jah-Yee.
I leave you with this. If we need a day to celebrate Multicultural Children's Books, to bring awareness, cool. If we want to push the envelope a bit and push a clearer agenda, let's get on it. One thing is for certain. We need more literature for our kids. So gather your pens, pencils, computers, ipads, kindles and LET'S WRITE some STORIES!
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