How Do Children Books Promote Diversity

My first awareness of racial identity and diversity occurred when I was in Year 3. Having being raised acknowledging acceptance of people of racial or cultural difference my thoughts of children of colour were positive and impartial. However, one day a boy in my class of Sri Lankan descent got into trouble with another student, but only the Sri Lankan boy was asked to go to the principal’s office. During our lunch break he came over to a group of us and told us that he thought he was the one that got into trouble ‘because he was ‘black’’. I remember thinking to myself, ‘why would he get into trouble just because he was black?’ It was in fact that both boys

A multicultural classroom needs to provide a safe and accepting environment for successful learning, prevents prejudices and discriminations from the class, and have a strong cultural consciousness. (E.K. Garcia, 2016) To accomplish this, teachers should be integrating a diverse list of reading materials, introduce

It is agreed that if an author is stating his assertion to a topic, then he should incorporate what the opposing view has to say; therefore, without the other view he writes nothing but fallacies. However, in Gurdon’s case she offers support from the other side allowing them to state their claim. She recognizes the use of first person in these particular YA books, permitting the reader to take on the “persona of the narrator” (Gurdon 2). Then, she detects the claim of the book industry writing that “kids have a right to read whatever they want” and that “the world is a tough place; and that there’s no point shielding children from reality” (Gurdon 3). Refuting this assertion she calls out the incorrect logic of the claim stating that in other words the authority adults have over the content children absorb should “somehow vaporize when it comes in contact with the printed word” (Gurdon 3). The things children read teach them what to presume about the world around them, and that “books don’t just cater to tastes. They form tastes” (Gurdon 4). Subsequently, she offers her proposal that people associated with the publication of books would “exercise better taste” (Gurdon 2) than that of every teen experience. The comprehension of Gurdon’s claim becomes clearer after integrating the opposing view and using it to support her

Understand the importance of promoting equality and diversity in work with children and young people

Since 1982, there have been 11,300 books challenged in the United States. As the number of challenged books continues to rise, society’s exposure to diversity in literature decreases. According to the American Library Association, 51% of the top ten challenged books between 2005 and 2014 featured “diverse content.” Diverse content is defined as works featuring either non-white, LGBT+, or disabled primary characters, or discussions of issues in relation to race, religion, LGBT+ matters, mental illness and/or disabilities, among many other defining characteristics. Censoring such books has the potential to fundamentally stunt the personal growth of society, though many may feel certain information and topics must be censored for the safety of

From the very beginnings of literature, the act of banning books has long been a heated controversy. While almost everyone can say that there are definitely books that they do not want their children reading, the line between what is acceptable and what is not is much harder to define, especially in today’s world. In “How Banning Books Marginalizes Children” (2016), Paul Ringel argues that the current policy of banning books has had a negative impact on children because it has conveyed a message that rebuffs diversity and has contradicted the fact that the power to ban books should be used to “curate children’s choices with the goals of inspiring rather than obscuring new ideas.”

For years now, censoring has been limiting the public’s freedom in literature, films, media, and plenty of other categories. A big section being censored today, that troubles a lot of people, is children’s literature. Books are the most common thing to be censored, especially children’s. They continue to ban books across the world, meant to be enjoyed, for reasons they call valid. A popular excuse for banning books is the diversity displayed in them. According to “How Banning Books Marginalizes Children”, 52% of the books banned in the last 10 years were called “diverse context”

In conclusion, books can affect children in both positive and negative ways and banning them can determine whether those affects go into play or not. Children can get confused on how they view things in life. This is why books should be given to kids are old enough to understand the content clearly. Although the opposing side would say that anyone should be able to read what they want, some content can damage the minds of those who don’t

The “We Need Diverse Book” campaign is a campaign focuses on creating more diversity in children's books. Diversity isn't just race, it is people with disabilities, people apart of the LGBTQ community, etc. All children deserve to see themselves in books. Because when children don't see themselves in books they may not feel as connected to the human experience. At the same books are more than mirrors, they are windows full of opportunity. Not only is it important for children to see themselves in books, but it is also important for them to read about people who are not like them. It is only then that will will understand the world around us.

The Diversity Committee has been actively working to bring a track of sessions to the upcoming PACRAO Conference that promises to focus on the most prevalent diversity issues of our times. As part of this track, we will be offering a book club session that we believe will encourage interaction and thoughtful discussion on stereotypes and how they affect all of us – including how they affect our students while they are attending our institutions.

Despite attending a very large and diverse public high school, very few of the books we read in school focused on diversity. Every book we read in high school was written by an old, white, male. Since coming to Bryant, I have been exposed to new forms of literature that were written by authors from many diverse backgrounds. In addition to the authors being diverse, the subjects they write about are also diverse. One piece I have read this year that has increased my diversity awareness is “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks. Reading and discussing “We Real Cool” has helped me to become more aware and more considerate of people around me. “We Real Cool” opened my eyes to the fact that diversity deals with more than just race. Diversity addresses

American society is composed of different cultures, religions and beliefs that intertwine across all social levels. In this growing melting pot books can expose our children to different faiths and traditions from around the world. Incorporating children’s literature from other religions can help children understand the core values that they teach and the

them and their families, no matter who and how they are and encourages them to have positive

1. Critical question - Being black I know how important if was for me to see books that had main characters in them that looked like me. After reviewing your page I realized that I have no idea if there’s any children books available for children exploring gender and or sexuality. Is anyone in the group aware of a resource for this?

Diversity activities teach children to respect and celebrate the differences in all people. Gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation are controversial topics in today’s day and age. Even in 2017 people are still treated