When I was growing up, reading was a passion of mine. I often found myself wide awake in the early hours, shrouded in a blanket with a flashlight in one hand and a book in the other. Given the choice between swinging on the monkey bars or curling up with a good story, I always opted for the latter. Reading was my refuge and sparked my imagination, leading me to dream of becoming a writer someday.
However, books that resonated with me as a type A, non-athletic girl were scarce. Most popular tales seemed centered around a white boy and his dog. I remember devouring the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, but upon reflection, they contained elements of racism. I often revisited the same few cherished stories, longing for more variety. Even as a young white girl, I recognized that our literary selections were largely patriarchal and whitewashed.
I can only speculate how my Black and Hispanic classmates felt, as none of the required readings featured characters who looked like them. It wasn’t until high school that we encountered “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Huckleberry Finn.” Did you read those too? In both novels, the narratives of Black characters—crafted by white authors—served primarily to enhance the moral arcs of the white protagonists. In other assigned readings, the sparse Black characters often appeared as criminals or the athletic sidekicks.
Like many kids of the eighties and nineties, I grew up with classics like “The Secret Garden” and “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” My shelves eventually filled with “Sweet Valley High” and “The Baby-Sitters Club.” I remember the excitement of learning that Claudia was Asian and Jessi was Black, finally seeing some representation in my reading materials that mirrored the diverse environment of my school. It wasn’t until shows like “The Cosby Show” and “Family Matters” aired on TGIF that my generation saw positive portrayals of Black families.
Despite the fact that all the characters in books and films resembled me, alongside a plethora of toy options, these choices did not reflect the diversity of my classmates. Why was our literature and history so disconnected from our reality?
In terms of history, we had brief lessons on slavery and a handful of historical figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. These discussions felt more like afterthoughts, as we celebrated a few notable Black individuals for just one day each year while glorifying the achievements of wealthy white individuals throughout the rest of the year. Our heavy history books were filled with facts about white superiority and depictions of pale figures.
It’s essential to acknowledge that being raised to primarily regard the perspectives, narratives, and successes of white men is problematic. The impact of a whitewashed history can be detrimental, fostering stereotypes and reinforcing the notion of white supremacy while promoting a patriarchal view as the ideal. For example, the complexities of Thomas Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemings or the truth about Columbus “discovering” America are often glossed over. Similarly, many enslaved individuals remained unaware of the Emancipation Proclamation until Juneteenth.
With the knowledge I possess today—though I still have much to learn—I am profoundly thankful that my children have access to a far more diverse array of media to explore and appreciate. More parents are advocating for the replacement of outdated, supremacy-driven history texts with accurate accounts of history. While we still have a long way to go, there has been significant progress.
In our home, books like Jacqueline Woodson’s “Brown Girl Dreaming” and Brandy Colbert’s “The Only Black Girls in Town” are favorites, along with resources teaching kids to combat racism. My tweens are diving into “This Book is Anti-racist” by Tiffany Jewell and “Stamped” by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. These texts not only center on Black experiences but are also penned by Black authors.
My kids are learning about innovators like Lonnie Johnson, the creator of the Super Soaker, and Misty Copeland, the first Black woman to become a principal dancer at ABT. They’ve enjoyed “Black Panther” and have watched “Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse” countless times. They can recite the soundtrack of “Jingle Jangle” and have seen every episode of “Doc McStuffins” repeatedly.
There is so much Black excellence depicted today, far beyond the stereotypical realms of music and sports. In their lifetime, they witnessed our country elect its first (hopefully not the last) Black president and are currently watching Kamala Harris take a significant role in the White House. Additionally, Georgia recently elected its first Black senator, Reverend Raphael Warnock, largely thanks to the efforts of Stacey Abrams.
My children are exposed to positive and powerful representations of Black individuals, both in reality and fiction. No longer are Black characters confined to stereotypes or reduced to roles like villains or comedic sidekicks. They understand that Black history is a rich tapestry of incredible figures, not just a few token personalities.
This new wave of diversity benefits all children, not just those of color. We want today’s kids to grow up without needing to unlearn the stereotypes and inaccuracies that previous generations faced. I hope that my children, along with yours, will utilize the accurate knowledge they’ve gained to further the pursuit of racial equity. The traditional wealthy white male narratives are gradually stepping aside, and we’re all better off for it.
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Search Queries:
- How to find diverse literature for kids
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- Modern literature for young readers
- Resources for teaching kids about racial equity
In summary, the evolution of the literature and historical narratives available to my children marks a significant improvement over what I experienced. They are growing up with diverse voices and stories, which is essential for fostering understanding and empathy in an increasingly interconnected world.
Keyphrase: Diverse literature for children
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