Very Little Children's Literature Written About

It is very sad commentary in our world when children's literature is not in the forefront of creating stories that show children of all races and cultures interacting with one another in the extremely creative realm of books creative for children. Studies have shown that children don't understand prejudice unless it is taught at homely. One way we can help children to interact with on another is to provide them books that show all races of children as friend who enjoy one another company and have adventures together.

Recently there was a Jet study that found that since 1965 the percentage of Black children appearing in children's literature is between 20 to 30 %. Even if the white and black children are illustrated as being close to one another, there is little to no interaction between the races. The Black children seem to be nothing more than window dressing to make the book seem to be interracial when the story is anything but.

The study was conducted by Purdue University sociologist Elizabeth Graauerholz and colleagues. The report found that most children's literature simply does not foster interracial children working together on plots common in children's literature. The research group found that 15% of the children's literature featured one or more Black children. Certainly this problem is one that needs to be studied more so that authors will understand the very little children's literature is written about multiracial children. If the multiracial children are characters in the book, they are generally peripheral characters and not central to the plot point. In fact there is little to no real friendships between the Black and white children. Certainly the characters are rarely close friends.

During the Civil Rights Movement, even fewer Black children appeared in children's literature. In fact Black children virtually disappeared. This virulent time would be perfect themes to show that all children can get along and be friends if they are given the chance.

After the Civil Rights Movement had met most of its goals, one would think that children's literature would have reflected this change. Instead children's books only used Black children as Africans in historical settings. While very timely and historic, these books did nothing to illustrate Black and white children as friends and equal partners in the stories.

Children's literature has an obligation to tell a great story but it is also important to reflect our preset work where Black and white children are friends and often interact with one another as best friends. Children's literature should follow their lead to help us all have a better world.



ABC FUN
Children's Literature News:
Reading Ahead Journal , Archive » Declaration for the Right to .
A document has been circulating around the country since it was drafted in 2009. Called the Declaration for the Right to Literacy, it currently has 30000 signatures, but more support is needed to make a bigger impact when the document ...




Technorati Tags: , ,