The Importance of Diversity in Children’s Literature by Abigail Kulemeka
Only 10% of children's books include people of colour. This needs to change. Before diving into this article, I would like to give the definition of what I mean by the term ‘diversity’:
‘Diversity’ is differences in racial and ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic, and academic/ professional backgrounds. People with different opinions, backgrounds (degrees and social experience), religious beliefs, political beliefs, sexual orientations, heritage, and life experience. So why is diversity in literature so important? Seeing characters or people in a similar situation or who look, act, or think the same the way as yourself provides comfort and relief knowing that there are other people out in the world who relate to you. Because of this people tend to be drawn to stories with which they can identify and may feel isolated by those who don’t. It is especially important in children’s novels for the children to be able to see themselves within characters, so that they are not isolated and restricted by the ideology they are shown of how certain types of people should behave and act. Kate Sullivan, in her article “Why Diversity in Literature Matters” states - “This is a particular problem in children’s and YA literature because kids need to see themselves represented in order to develop healthy selfimages and to feel comfortable with who they are... You may not see other folks like you out and about in town... and you’re not always seeing them in books, either, making you feel even more isolated.”
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