Literature Awards

Before this week I had never really questioned whether or not specific awards for children's literature could be view as a negative. I like the idea that different cultural groups are being recognized and celebrated for the texts that they produce. It was not until, after researching the Pura Belpre award (and with a push from the readings) that I saw how limiting the awards can be and how they can not include writers and stories of their own cultural group. For example, the Pura Belpre award is for recognition of Hispanic/Latino authors and illustrators. Their definition of a Latino is limited to only descendant of a Spanish-speaking culture. This completely leaves out any author or illustrator that is Brazilian or Portuguese, since the language they speak is Portuguese even though they are considered Hispanic/Latino. I still like these awards, however I hope that the committees and organization that sponsor them will better evaluate the criteria for the category so that no author or illustrator is overlooked for an award because they do not fit the "criteria".

A shocking observation

After reading the book Habibi and discussing the different stereotypes that are often held about Arab Americans, I was on the look out to see some of these terrible stereotypes in play. Sure enough the next day I heard one. On a bus, I can't remember which number, a new driver was being trained. Upon picking up new passengers at a stop, a man that looked of Arabic decent entered the bus and swiped his card like everyone else. The bus driver watched him intently get on, pay, and walk to his seat before turning to the driver training him and saying "You never know since 9/11". I was shocked. I could not believe that kind of ignorance was still being fueled. September 11th was an attack by an extreme group of terrorist, not the entire Arabic ethnic group. I think that people need to take much more time to educate themselves on what is going on in the world, and with the people in it. I am embarrassed for others who would rather perpetuate hatred and harsh stereotyping of people that may be different from themselves, and wish that there were more people willing to gain knowledge on issues, and less people resisting to accept that people are people, and one person cannot define a nation, a ethnicity, or a race.

Insider/outsider debate

When it comes to writing a meaningful work of literature for children or adults, who is writing it is secondary to the content of the book. Some authors may be able to write a great work on a diverse ethnic group that they themselves are not apart of. This does not mean that they have not researched and interviewed many people that could add correct insight and information to the subject. It is when the outsider writing the book does not take the time to research facts, keep cultural references and detail consistent, and put effort into the overall accuracy of the work is when it becomes a problem. As long as the outsider takes the time to find the inside information, there is no reason why they would not be able to write as well on the topic as an insider.