Multiculturalism in Children's Literature
Multiculturalism Paper
Children’s Literature Due: 11/23/10
PART 1: The need for multicultural literature in the classroom… There is a definite need for multicultural literature in the classroom. Good literature can help reflect many aspects of a culture--its values, beliefs, ways of life, and patterns of thinking. Good literature can also help readers to learn about an individual or a group of people whose stories take place in a specific historical and physical setting. In addition, exposure to quality multicultural literature also helps children appreciate the differences of other ethnic groups, eliminate the idea that one cultural group is better than another, and develop multiple perspectives. Young people will learn that beneath surface differences of color, culture or ethnicity, all people experience universal feelings of love, sadness, self-worth, justice and kindness. The article entitled “Creating New Social Identities in Children Through Critical Multicultural Media: The Case of Little Bill” explores how the civil right movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s brought about a closer examination school curriculum and the understanding that there was a need for multicultural education. The idea that children needed to be protected from learning about real life situations and the difficult issues of living in poverty and growing up in inner cities did not help children who were actually dealing with these issues. This article focused on the development of a “critical social consciousness” in which these difficult issues are discussed and dealt with and educational materials are specifically developed to “awaken ethnic, racial, and gender awareness in children at an earlier age” (p. 19).
“Creating New Social Identities in Children Through Critical Multicultural Media: The Case of Little Bill” then went on to explain some theorists ideas behind why they believe multicultural literature is essential for children to be exposed to in early
Children’s Literature Due: 11/23/10
PART 1: The need for multicultural literature in the classroom… There is a definite need for multicultural literature in the classroom. Good literature can help reflect many aspects of a culture--its values, beliefs, ways of life, and patterns of thinking. Good literature can also help readers to learn about an individual or a group of people whose stories take place in a specific historical and physical setting. In addition, exposure to quality multicultural literature also helps children appreciate the differences of other ethnic groups, eliminate the idea that one cultural group is better than another, and develop multiple perspectives. Young people will learn that beneath surface differences of color, culture or ethnicity, all people experience universal feelings of love, sadness, self-worth, justice and kindness. The article entitled “Creating New Social Identities in Children Through Critical Multicultural Media: The Case of Little Bill” explores how the civil right movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s brought about a closer examination school curriculum and the understanding that there was a need for multicultural education. The idea that children needed to be protected from learning about real life situations and the difficult issues of living in poverty and growing up in inner cities did not help children who were actually dealing with these issues. This article focused on the development of a “critical social consciousness” in which these difficult issues are discussed and dealt with and educational materials are specifically developed to “awaken ethnic, racial, and gender awareness in children at an earlier age” (p. 19).
“Creating New Social Identities in Children Through Critical Multicultural Media: The Case of Little Bill” then went on to explain some theorists ideas behind why they believe multicultural literature is essential for children to be exposed to in early
References: Bannerman, H. (1899). Little Black Sambo. New York: Platt and Munk. Cosby, B. (1997). The Meanest Thing to Say – Little Bill series. New York: Scholastic Inc. Hurtado, A., Silva, J. M. (2008). Creating new social identities in children through critical multicultural media: The case of Little Bill. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 120, pp. 17-30. Rajput, T. (2009). Questioning your collection. Knowledge Quest / The Issue is Questions, 38, pp. 62-69.