tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91606360341926910792024-03-28T23:27:45.306-04:00Reading While WhiteReading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-40921271563623968762021-12-14T06:45:00.010-05:002021-12-14T07:21:27.113-05:00NOT RECOMMENDED: On the Other Side of the Forest<div class="separator"></div><p style="text-align: right;"><br /></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTENT WARNING: This review contains descriptions of anti-Black stereotypes and links to the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5383f638-7fff-6563-66cf-44d0d178b6da"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="border: none; clear: left; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 280px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 204px;"><img height="280" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6fQpZItFEMknZ2YVLxaHqYHsQ5_nQyuJh1jSvcfttKpBzFwG-sgVBPIErLj2dwYeSRZvCU1d426tY3DQEtglG6j9goemWslxwNKaWoMU3xPnNRmQ7LtJCbawljiwZLEc-SMkSXKh" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="204" /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the Other Side of the Forest </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">by </span><span style="color: #222222;">Nadine Robert and </span>G</span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(77, 81, 86); white-space: normal;">é</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rard<span style="color: #222222;"> DuBois</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a Canadian French translation. Arthur and his dad–two brown-furred rabbits–live among fellow anthropomorphic rabbits (and their dog Danton) in a clearing surrounded by a forest. Rumors of scary creatures in the woods abound (“No one ever goes in there!”) but nobody from the village has ever discovered what lies beyond.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arthur’s dad, a curious wheat farmer, has the idea to build a tower so that they can peer over the trees and see the other side of the forest. The rabbits harvest the grain, grind it into flour, and bake bread to barter for stones. They spend their off-hours constructing the rock tower: “It’s very tiring. But a magnificent idea takes a lot of work.” When a storm wrecks their progress, the villagers, now full of bread and interested in the exhausted pair’s endeavor, help finish the job. Suspense builds as Arthur and his dad ascend the finished tower and a new truth about their surroundings is revealed. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first person narration and short, rhythmic sentences pace the story. Illustrations resemble oversized block prints on distressed, vintage-looking paper, and function as oversized rectangular panels with a crisp white border. Bright reds, blues, and yellows pop atop an otherwise muted color palette. Characters’ outfits and activities (hoop trundling, for example) evoke an old-timey atmosphere. Much of the book reads like a story of discovery, with themes of community, ingenuity, and exploration. BUT––this is not true of the complete work. There is one spread of this book that includes racist imagery that distorts and overpowers everything else.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="border: none; clear: left; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 338px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 354px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img height="338" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/VZbc3H487b1jp2mbBdCJLTtWF57EdIAAONulKKWvGRCH1WNU6L54dbhQNZl__dfZYEouKvaOVPhnNMy7pBLTyaitor8F6wkyzIE7fQy2Ih9Y-Tuzre87Z6xlK6Kkr2dJBp_-dSpy" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="354" /></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the spread, Arthur’s dad has fallen asleep and Arthur works in the kitchen to help him make bread. The text, told from Arthur’s point of view, reads “To help him, I finish making the dough and I clean the oven.” The art depicts Arthur looking straight ahead, with white teeth, exaggerated white round eyes, and a coal black-colored face, ears, and chest.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I first came upon this page, I thought of a racist image that I had learned about from the </span><a href="https://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/cartoons/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jim Crow Museum</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">’s online database of racist cartoons. Arthur’s appearance after oven-cleaning is positioned as a humorous moment in the story too–this is disturbing! What about having black fur (or skin) is humorous? That the color is temporary–something that is later washed off–also brings up connections to blackface minstrelsy. </span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once I encountered this page, I could no longer in good conscience enjoy or recommend this book. The charms that I had found in other elements of the book–like the reds, blues, and yellows popping atop the muted color palette–became harder to discern. It isn’t because those colors aren’t vivid, but because craft and context are always intertwined. It takes a great degree of privilege to compartmentalize–to celebrate some elements of a racist work while ignoring the racism. Whiteness often positions this particular type of compartmentalization as “objectivity.” This has the consequence of allowing white people like me to ignore anti-racist critique and believe (even if subconsciously) that our position is neutral, noble, and/or superior. It could not be farther from it!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seeing this title reminded me of conversations around another book: </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bad Mood and the Stick </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Daniel Handler and Matthew Forsythe</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the original book cover was released s</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">everal years ago, </span><a href="https://edicottonquilt.com/2017/04/28/i-am-not-your-bad-mood/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Edi Campbell’s writings</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the work of other online activists moved the publisher to change the art. I hope that happens here.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some readers might ask, “don’t you care that </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the Other Side of the Forest</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was on the </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/12/books/review/best-illustrated-childrens-books.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2021 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> list?” I do care, but not because I think an award makes a book infallible. I care that a group of people examined this book and either didn’t see the issue at hand or didn’t care enough about it to add a different book to the list instead. I care about the anti-Blackness that this book normalizes, because it is wrong. I care about the readers who have to deal with the consequences of a racist book receiving accolades and showing up in classrooms and libraries. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The creators might not have intended for this art to communicate these messages and connections, but intent is irrelevant. The reality is that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this image has a racist impact. And</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> whether or not we are conscious of it, we are all taking in messages from our reading and surroundings every day, and these messages direct our thoughts and our behaviors. Kids are receiving these messages too, in ways that are influential to their development and critical to their self-esteem and perception of others. What messages are sent when the <a href="https://blog.leeandlow.com/2020/01/28/2019diversitybaselinesurvey/">white-dominated children’s literature ecosystem</a> continues to uncritically praise books with racist imagery? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">--Review by Elisa Gall</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><br /></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Reading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-45566098300982791112020-07-29T08:00:00.001-04:002020-07-29T08:00:02.579-04:00Challenges & Change<span id="docs-internal-guid-02dc4346-7fff-935c-4682-ae5e82ec21f2"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We at Reading While White have been challenged in recent months to keep up with regular posting as we individually navigate the realities of our world today and collectively consider how RWW can move forward in a way that is responsible, responsive to and part of the anti-racist work of Black, Indigenous and People of Color in the children's and young adult literature world. We hope to have more here soon, but in the meantime, we do have a Links Roundup, and some important updates.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lowercase “white”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have decided to begin using lowercase “white,” and realize that we should have made this change earlier. When we started the blog 5 years ago, we decided to capitalize Black, based on arguments such as </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lori Tharp's "</span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/opinion/the-case-for-black-with-a-capital-b.html?_r=0" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d469c; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Case for Black with a Capital B</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">." We then went a step further to “capitalize White because it forces White people to confront the fact and awkwardness of this invented race. Uncapitalized, it suggested to us that Whiteness doesn't exist as a racial category.” (from our previous FAQs, now updated). It is clear to us now that this needs to change. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Black scholars have their reasons to capitalize “white” (such as </span><a href="https://zora.medium.com/im-a-black-scholar-who-studies-race-here-s-why-i-capitalize-white-f94883aa2dd3" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eve Ewing in “I’m a Black Scholar Who Studies Race. Here’s Why I Capitalize ‘White.’“</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">), and a lot of other racial justice scholars do too; however, we are not either of these groups. We are white library workers and bloggers and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we failed to recognize </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that in making our own decision to capitalize “white,” we were centering the experience of our white readership and ignoring the impact on Black people. </span><a href="https://medium.com/@ryandouglasswilliams/capitalize-the-b-in-black-and-not-the-w-in-white-7b925ac96d1b" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ryan Douglass explains it clearly in Capitalize the “B” in Black (and not the “w” in white)</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“A language shift meant to empower Black people does not have to invite the oppressors to the table in order to be legitimate. Period!”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While we don’t pretend that by changing a term, or a capitalization, we are making actionable difference, we do know that changing language can mean a shift in perspective, and learning--it is certainly that for us. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goodbye to Allie</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Allie Jane Bruce has sadly decided to leave Reading While White, as she looks forward to throwing her whole self into her upcoming graduate school learning and research. We are so grateful for her energy, insight, and many contributions over the past five years. We will miss her voice and her presence here, but are excited for her to embark on this new journey.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Links Roundup</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, as promised, here are some pieces we’ve been reading and reflecting on recently. We’re still processing, so stay tuned. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><a href="https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/09/white-fragility-robin-diangelo-workshop.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What's Missing From White Fragility?</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/15/magazine/white-fragility-robin-diangelo.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-White Fragility' is Everywhere. But Does Antiracism Training Work?</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/07/20/892943728/professor-criticizes-book-white-fragility-as-dehumanizing-to-black-people?fbclid=IwAR3nRNAq5T9un88YYU8pjruV--1OmRFStIOTvEbFA_c4dMeynjkowYgJr5A" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Linguist John McWhorter Says 'White Fragility' Is Condescending Toward Black People</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/07/antiracism-training-white-fragility-robin-diangelo-ibram-kendi.html?fbclid=IwAR2jKhFVra5YLO19RzspXWKsbTy5h3QIN6AmfIwRuhGMVjMvHB2IjaZlDl4" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is the Anti-Racism Training Industry Just Peddling White Supremacy?</span></a></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Reading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-55621327636289373952020-05-31T18:00:00.006-04:002020-06-02T18:11:38.898-04:00Being a “Person of One’s Time” in 2020<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-FMnCSxM7tUpEwNCcsFkMl-6UJzEhyphenhyphenCrQ7PHpFPuBHvlPStCUPpwEmzT-XCg13GT6Vcbob6OdGZrybH1tPXv01xWYoFKd8uAmVOC71ws2Giqhj2hoa1mq4fSK-lVJ7b2TUM2aPWqTjE/s1600/GallRWWphoto.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1262" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-FMnCSxM7tUpEwNCcsFkMl-6UJzEhyphenhyphenCrQ7PHpFPuBHvlPStCUPpwEmzT-XCg13GT6Vcbob6OdGZrybH1tPXv01xWYoFKd8uAmVOC71ws2Giqhj2hoa1mq4fSK-lVJ7b2TUM2aPWqTjE/s320/GallRWWphoto.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elisa Gall</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the events of the last several days, weeks, and years are unique to this moment in history, none of this: </span><a href="http://blackyouthproject.com/tag/state-violence/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">state violence</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://padlet-uploads.storage.googleapis.com/476059971/d2ecf318959490c8c9beb746b3d2b437/99010859_2698277960278434_4534473626115637248_n.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">White supremacy</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/05/george-floyd-minneapolis-mike-pence-colts-walkout" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">racist double standards</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/amy-cooper-central-park-racist-dog-walker-trump-a9533581.html?fbclid=IwAR1rll29som6Zk_N-fQdjYAuw5jthCZv5cZWxLXM7YPMLzIMnemOSY67e80" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">White liberal racism</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">...none of this is new. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a White person, I can’t and won’t ever begin to understand the trauma BIPOC have faced and </span><a href="https://money.yahoo.com/black-colleagues-may-look-okay-223229342.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">continue to face every day</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I can be horrified, devastated, enraged, and justice-focused, and at the end of the day I’m still White. I will always be colluding with racism and benefiting from it. It is my responsibility to work to understand what this means and pay attention to the </span><a href="https://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2020/05/white-erasure-of-bipoc-people-and-work.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">complexities at play</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, especially when I am trying to engage in anti-racist action. It is my responsibility to consider how my ignorance and naivety, my expression of feelings, and my behaviors impact BIPOC. (General reminder: </span><a href="https://www.insider.com/george-floyd-video-activists-are-begging-people-stop-posting-2020-5" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STOP posting</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> traumatic videos of anti-Black violence on your timelines.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t write as fast as the world spins, but as I am sitting and processing what’s happening around me, I’m thinking a lot about the community of children’s and young adult literature of which I am a part. Thanks to Dr. Laura M. Jiménez and Betsy Beckert’s research, </span><a href="https://blog.leeandlow.com/2020/01/28/2019diversitybaselinesurvey/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we have the data from 2019</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to show how #kidlit is dominated by White people just like any other White supremacist, capitalist industry. Children’s literature has never been separate from the wider world. Everything there is here. It is all connected.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As politicians use racist terms like “thugs” to dehumanize activists and denounce organized action, #kidlit uses terms like “online mobs” to dismiss, silence, and punish expert critique and valid expressions of pain. While White community leaders distort </span><a href="https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Martin Luther King, Jr.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">’s legacy and cry for a mythological “peace” that somehow exists without justice, </span><a href="https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/white-supremacy-culture-characteristics.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">norms</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of “niceness” and “professionalism” are upheld and defined by majority-White #kidlit gatekeepers who have a vested interest in protecting the status quo. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is all happening in an industry in which BIPOC pain and trauma are routinely commodified, </span><a href="http://www.corinneduyvis.net/ownvoices/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#OwnVoices books</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (credit Corinne Duyvis) face an uphill path to creation, and racist books filled with straight-up misinformation and stereotypes keep getting published. As Jason Reynolds said last week at </span><a href="https://www.slj.com/?event=school-library-journal-day-of-dialog-nyc-ve" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">School Library Journal’s Day of Dialog</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: “There is something about the documenting of a thing, that it becomes real. It doesn’t matter if it’s true.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am thinking of the BIPOC in the children's literature community who fight tirelessly for equity. I am thinking about the #kidlit patterns we see, again, and again, when racism in our industry is challenged. I’m thinking of the children that we serve. And one other thing that I’m thinking about today, as I write this in 2020, is how often discussions of racism in children’s literature turn into a defense of racism with the excuse that the creator is (or was) “a person of one’s time.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What does it mean to be a person of one’s time?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sure, we are all human. We’re all socialized, we carry ignorance, and even when we are given information our actions have the potential to be racist and anti-racist in the same afternoon. We are all people, yes, and of course we each live during a time. Andrew Jackson was a person of his time. So was John Brown (they lived during the same time actually). Laura Ingalls Wilder was a person of her time, and so was Ida B. Wells (of that same time). Marsha P. Johnson lived during the same time as George Wallace. Helen Bannerman lived during the same time as W.E.B. Du Bois. Fred Korematsu lived during the same time as Theodor Seuss Geisel. Charles Lindbergh overlapped with Langston Hughes. Rebecca Nagle, Judy Heumann, Mari Copeny, and Dolores Huerta all live during the same time as Stephen Miller</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and us.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As long as there has been racism, there have been people fighting racism. Just as there has always been racism in children’s and young adult literature, there have always been people fighting racism in children’s and young adult literature. One look at the </span><a href="https://www.ibcbulletin.info/about/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interracial Books for Children Bulletin Archive</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> organized by Dr. Nicole Cooke and her team shows that.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To say someone is a person or product of their time isn’t just a weird and sort of obvious thing to say to defend racist writings or actions. It functions as an excuse for the racism (and whatever connected systems of oppression are also being challenged in the moment the defense is elicited). When people use “of one’s time” to defend a writer’s work, they are actually naming, even if subconsciously, that the oppressive status quo of that time period is worth making excuses for. Or at the very least, that they are OK with that racist text or behavior being defended in the context of the discussion, which is happening in the present. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #14171a; font-family: roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An “of one’s time” defense claims some sort of time-space neutrality that just doesn’t exist.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To quote Jason Reynolds again</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><a href="https://shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3749#m48669" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">remixing the work of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #14171a; font-family: roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”if you're not being anti-racist, by definition, you are being racist.” </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>EDITOR'S NOTE 6/2/20 5:13PM CST:</b> I want to apologize for citing Ibram X. Kendi above, without crediting Angela Davis, who should be cited for the concept and quote: “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be antiracist.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I'm sorry for this intersectionality fail<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;">—</span>I erased a Black woman's work. Thank you to Stacy Collins for pointing out this mistake. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BLACK LIVES MATTER</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a White person of 2020. I am learning, and sharing, and doing my best to fight the anti-Blackness and racism that I’m swimming in and that has been part of my life and this country since forever. I’m a person of my time, and if you’re reading this, you are a person of your time too. And this (*looks around*) is where we are. The status quo right now, today, is NOT okay. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What each of us does</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what we defend, what we stay silent on, what decisions we make, what we pay attention to, how we spend our money, and even what we </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">don’t do</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">all are choices. Fellow White people, what choices will you make today? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can read our kindred spirits blogs (you should be doing this already, before you read Reading While White) or explore links on this all-ages </span><a href="https://padlet.com/nicolethelibrarian/nbasekqoazt336co?fbclid=IwAR2w6NjK6aV0U-qsfMgsl12UfTJF7ioiB2ixWXlOE0tOEedyfvsDt2uT1IU" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anti-Racism Resources padlet</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> developed by Dr. Nicole Cooke. You can purchase titles recommended by the team at </span><a href="https://wtpsite.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We Are Kid Lit</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (the new list is slated to go live tomorrow). You can evaluate your </span><a href="https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/pld/pdf/Inclusive_Services_Assessment_and_Guide_for_Wisconsin_Public_Libraries_2019_updated_Sept.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">library’s policies</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or a favorite </span><a href="https://socialjusticebooks.org/creating-an-anti-bias-library/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">curricular text </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">using a critical lens. You can support a local </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X4-YS3vFn5CLL9QtJSU0xqmTh_h8XilXgOqGAjZISBI/preview?fbclid=IwAR2wwh9u-XJhvAzZTGP9Q9cyjbWjHfA2YlU8XW5Tg9o7f_yMv96CGw_hlSk&pru=AAABcopMPQU%2AK_puEnU-cBUGKdR1iGi4tA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bail fund</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or a nonprofit like </span><a href="https://www.byp100.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BYP100</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or </span><a href="https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Black Visions Collective</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s 2020. We are all people of now. </span><a href="https://blacklivesmatter.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Black lives matter</span></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and they have always mattered. Full stop. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-Elisa Gall</span></span></div>
Reading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-44703572846135421082020-05-21T05:00:00.000-04:002020-05-21T05:00:03.204-04:00White Erasure of BIPOC People and Work<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBNocwvPgb11sOL80F1K8HiOodELgcs8VLzIBl8ifZ1x-Oy354xd2lJH9KBwT-jawwRZ6drcdLVnaPi_NN8RijVGhB9QYEnyPRhv12GWn1SNO2m9Zz0byWTkRjxAH6dsqU-g97xc2QNQV/s1600/Lisa+Nowlain+image+of+Allie+Jane+Bruce.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBNocwvPgb11sOL80F1K8HiOodELgcs8VLzIBl8ifZ1x-Oy354xd2lJH9KBwT-jawwRZ6drcdLVnaPi_NN8RijVGhB9QYEnyPRhv12GWn1SNO2m9Zz0byWTkRjxAH6dsqU-g97xc2QNQV/s200/Lisa+Nowlain+image+of+Allie+Jane+Bruce.jpeg" width="157" /></a><br />
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<i>A note about the following: I wrote this post several months ago. It was originally scheduled to publish Thursday March 12; we decided not to post it then because the night before, COVID-19 news swept the nation and all attention was focused there.<br /><br />I know that some of our readers, like me, have time and mental space to read this right now; some do not. Our email and DMs are open; please get in touch if there is any support we can provide, and take care.</i></div>
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On January 31, we published a <a href="http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2020/01/links-roundup.html" target="_blank">Links Roundup</a> post. While we published it under the group account, I (Allie) organized and posted it, so I’m primarily responsible for the mistakes therein—namely, that in promoting <a href="https://blog.leeandlow.com/2020/01/28/2019diversitybaselinesurvey/" target="_blank">Lee and Low’s writeup of the 2019 Diversity Baseline Survey</a>, I failed to name and credit Dr. Laura M. Jiménez, as well as Betsy Beckert, as co-authors of the survey. My mistake was part of a pattern in this specific instance (<a href="https://twitter.com/booktoss/status/1223040475600506880" target="_blank">the Guardian also failed to credit Dr. Jiménez and Ms. Beckert for their work</a> on this survey), but it is also part of a larger pattern of White erasure of BIPOC people and work. So with a healthy dose of humility that comes with recognizing myself as a big part of the problem, and with my (and our) sincere apologies to Dr. Jiménez and Ms. Beckert, that pattern of erasure is the subject of this post.</div>
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With full credit to the <a href="http://pisab.org/" target="_blank">People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond</a>, we here at Reading While White define racism as “Race-based prejudice coupled with access to systemic, structural power.” It is impossible to exist in the world without having internalized race-based prejudice, and Whiteness necessarily confers a privileged relationship to systemic and structural power upon White people. Therefore, under this definition, all White people are racist. And all White people working on anti-racist activism necessarily bring their racism into their anti-racist work.<br />
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It is an inescapable truth that I will bring my own Whiteness and my own racism into anti-racist spaces, and that I will often reproduce racism in those spaces. I can always work to do better, but part of doing better is accepting and sitting with the inherent contradiction of my being in these spaces at all, trying to do anti-racist work while not denying the fact that I am racist.<br />
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In a <a href="http://www.edchange.org/publications/White-Activists-Causing-Burnout-Racial-Justice-Activists-Gorski-Erakat.pdf" target="_blank">study on how White activists contribute to severe burnout among BIPOC activists</a>, Paul C. Gorski and Noura Erakat identified patterns of White activists “undermining or invalidating the racial justice work of activists of color” and “taking credit for participants’ racial justice work and ideas” as major contributors to BIPOC burnout (among others). According to Gorski and Erakat, “white activists derived benefits from their involvement in racial justice activism at the expense of activists of color who, in turn, were silenced, undermined, disrespected, and eventually burned out.”<br />
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Specifically, in Gorski’s and Erakat’s study, BIPOC activists reported that White activists:<br />
<ul>
<li>“appropriate antiracist organizations by usurping power from activists of color”</li>
<li>“Need… the spotlight, [which] led some to exploit activists of color either to acquire benefits—leadership positions or speaking invitations, for example—or to win validation from activists of color.”</li>
<li>“take credit for ideas they previously dismissed from [BIPOC activists]”</li>
<li>“accept benefits, such as credit and recognition, for ideas and work produced by activists of color.” (One interviewee offered, as an example, White Academics “who just want to get their name published with someone who is recognized for doing racial justice.”)</li>
<li>“take the work developed by marginalized people and ‘put their name on it.’ [One interviewee] explained, ‘I have white racial justice workers who ... even record me or photograph something I post and use it as if it’s theirs, without giving me credit ... as they coopt it and reappropriate it in a way that is dangerous.’”</li>
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BIPOC activists in Gorski’s and Erakat’s study described these White-rooted, within-community conditions as more intense and potent than external causes of burnout: “The racism that propelled participants into racial justice movements was reproduced within those movements. For many participants, this was a particularly disappointing and stress-inducing condition because they had entered movements hoping for a reprieve from the racism with which they coped outside their movements….” It stands to reason that White activists (including us at RWW) have done as much to undermine the anti-racist movement as any external force, and we (White people, including us at RWW) inevitably continue to do so.<br />
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There are different levels of White erasure of BIPOC work, from just ignoring it to actively appropriating it. Failing to acknowledge or credit BIPOC people for their work and ideas also erases their very existence and presence in activist spaces, a particularly noxious form of racism.<br />
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Big names in the White Anti-racist movement necessarily play a role in this problem. Tim Wise has been rightly <a href="https://www.gradientlair.com/post/61521224722/i-dont-need-tim-wise-as-an-ally" target="_blank">criticised</a> for how he dominates, profits from, and moves in general through anti-racist spaces; Leslie Mac, creator of the Ferguson Response Network and much more, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeslieMac/status/694607832470175748" target="_blank">wrote</a>: “From Tim Wise to Dixon White - our pain is used for profit. And repeating concepts created by Black folks thru a white lens will always sell.” While I myself have learned deeply from, and am grateful for, the work of White Fragility author Robin DiAngelo, I recognize that she also benefits from White privilege within the anti-racist movement; the BIPOC people with whom she’s collaborated don’t have nearly the same level of national name-recognition, at least among White people (I saw Dr. DiAngelo present at a conference with <a href="https://oaktalk.com/2019/08/07/ten-questions-for-darlene-flynn-oaklands-director-race-equity/" target="_blank">Darlene Flynn</a> in 2017; both were excellent, and I’ve been bothered ever since that Robin DiAngelo is a household name among White activists and Flynn is not).<br />
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We here at Reading While White fall into this category as well. Although we do not have the same level of mainstream attention nationally as Wise or DiAngelo, we do have a disproportionate degree of clout within the fields of librarianship and children’s literature, given that some of our BIPOC colleagues have done this work for more than twenty years (and we turn five this Fall). Ironically, given how I subsequently erased her work, Dr. Laura Jiménez pointed this out to me when <a href="http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2017/01/rww-interviews-laura-m-jimenez_10.html" target="_blank">I interviewed her</a> three years ago: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The one thing that frustrates me the most--and I’m glad that Reading While White is doing what it does--is that if I say something about a book, if Debbie or Edi says something, we’re all told that we’re not giving the author a chance. That they tried. We are not believed. If you look at the traffic RWW get vs the traffic I get or Edi gets, even though we’ve been doing this for longer, you get more, and the only difference is that you’re White. To be honest, part of me resents that. And, I am glad that there are people willing to amplify our voices. If I write something, and you pick it up, that means so many more people will be willing to hear it. And that is paramount to my work. You get a lot of crap, the same criticism, but at the end of the day, you are heard and you are believed. Without White voices, our message can’t be heard. We are not believed. It’s good that your team realizes it.</blockquote>
I am glad that Dr. Jiménez was honest here, although she was much more generous with us than we deserve, i.e., we do NOT get the same crap; what we get is much smaller, and benign by comparison. I imagine there are many BIPOC people within the children’s literature field who feel similarly—or more strongly—and for good, valid reasons aren’t inclined to tell us that they feel that way (see: Gorski’s and Erakat’s study about burnout above).<br />
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You’ve probably heard that Black people—especially women—need to work “twice as hard for half as much” (mainstream White America can thank <a href="https://www.essence.com/entertainment/black-hollywoods-thoughts-on-working-twice-as-hard/" target="_blank">Scandal</a> for bringing that maxim into our consciousness). Think about what this means for us as White people: We work half as hard, for twice as much.<br />
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How does this show up in children’s literature? For one, the bar to be published is infinitely higher for BIPOC creators; and even if you are published, the level of attention and spotlight from the vast majority of bookstores and libraries is disproportionately higher for White creators. While perusing my local Barnes & Noble the other night, I was angered by the number of mediocre books by White people, mostly men, prominently on display in the children’s section. There were several that I’d hazard would never have been published, let alone given the best display space, had a Black woman submitted the same text. This itself is a form of erasure—our insistence upon highlighting the same White men, over and over, causes and allows them to take up space that should belong to BIPOC creators, and by extension, BIPOC readers.<br />
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SCBWI Minnesota recently quite literally erased—that is, deleted—the work of Dr. Sarah Park Dahlen when <a href="https://twitter.com/readingspark/status/1232773956878454789" target="_blank">she pointed out that the image they’d set as their banner was a stereotypical, racist image</a> (link included with permission). They also erased the voices of many people who’d commented in agreement with Dr. Dahlen. Deletion of harmful posts is a common form of White erasure; in one fell swoop, the original poster can erase, rather than take ownership of, their mistakes, and can also erase the voices of any BIPOC critiquing racism. In this case, SCBWI Minnesota also decided <a href="https://twitter.com/readingspark/status/1233523034142781446?s=20" target="_blank">not to clarify who was responsible for the deletions</a> (link included with permission), thereby erasing their responsibility for that act of erasure and diffusing the blame for this act of racism. Such deletions gaslight the targets of racism (which compounds the initial racism). As Dr. Ebony Elizabeth Thomas noted in a thread about patterns of White erasure she noticed last year, “oppression justifies its violence and power by arguing that the oppressed's receipts are invalid” (quote included with permission).<br />
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(A point of clarification here: SCBWI Minnesota later posted screenshots of the deleted content. Another point of clarification: Screenshots that are not transcribed are not accessible to those who use screen readers.)<br />
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Erasure also shows up in children’s literature when White creators steal ideas from creators of color and present them as their own. This ranges from the constant entitlement White authors feel to tell BIPOC stories to outright theft and plagiarism. (If you haven’t read <a href="https://www.hbook.com/?detailStory=who-can-tell-my-story" target="_blank">Jacqueline Woodson’s Who Can Tell My Story</a> in a while, pause and re-read it now, and also make time for a re-read of <a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2007/07/often-posed-question-who-can-tell-your.html" target="_blank">Debbie Reese’s An oft-posed question: "Who can tell your stories?"</a>—and actually, also read <a href="http://www.mayagonzalez.com/blog/2018/04/my-story-your-story-their-story-who-gets-to-tell-it-and-why/" target="_blank">Maya Gonzalez’ My Story, Your Story, Their Story, Who Gets To Tell It</a> before you read any more of my work). You may also have read David Bowles’ <a href="https://medium.com/@davidbowles/non-mexican-crap-ff3b48a873b5" target="_blank">recent</a>, <a href="https://medium.com/@davidbowles/american-greed-who-enabled-cummins-3364f0d8a8cf" target="_blank">expert</a> <a href="https://medium.com/@davidbowles/american-dirt-dignity-equity-de6b6a3b8ad0" target="_blank">pieces</a> on the “harmful, appropriating, inaccurate, trauma-porn melodrama” that is Jeanine Cummins’ American Dirt, or Maya Gonzalez’ <a href="http://www.mayagonzalez.com/blog/2018/05/gender-work-stolen-childrens-book-industry/" target="_blank">careful</a> <a href="http://www.mayagonzalez.com/blog/plagiarism-two-childrens-books-gender/#">documentation</a> of how White authors Brook Pessin-Whedbee and Kelly Storck, as well as their publishers (Jessica Kingsley Publishers and Instant Help Books/imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.) plagiarized her work. Recently, <a href="https://medium.com/@tangerinejones/the-privilege-of-rage-e5b2cb53d238" target="_blank">Tangerine Jones wrote about how authors Katherine Alford and Kathy Gunst, plus their publisher Simon and Schuster, coopted and profit from her work</a>—and the White aggression Alford and Gunst brought against her. White plundering of Native stories and cultural content for profit also echoes the history of colonial invasion. As <a href="https://www.narf.org/tsosie-intellectual-property/?fbclid=IwAR29fvFsQyDrzHsv3mj9CiemHzCeMbIOMKru1KAMoxNyMA5cCzD-0Tk7Aec" target="_blank">Professor Rebecca Tsosie says</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Indigenous peoples have property interests, even if they don’t fall within the narrow definitions of Western law. This was a problem in the sixteenth century when the Doctrine of Discovery was applied as an international doctrine to validate the interests of European sovereigns in claiming property in the lands that were described as the “New World.” They said that indigenous peoples don’t really have property rights, they just kind of roam around on the land, and so it’s okay for Europeans to go and appropriate the land and say that they have title. Now that’s what we <b>don’t</b> want to do with intellectual property rights in the modern era... [P]eople can go and basically steal indigenous songs and stories, and then <b>they</b> can copyright them... the harm’s not merely economic, but it can be a cultural form of harm that could be very devastating.</blockquote>
(Many thanks to Dr. Debbie Reese for answering my questions on this subject, and for sending me that link.) All of the above are examples of the different forms that White appropriation and erasure of BIPOC work can take in the world of literature.<br />
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<b>[CONTENT WARNING FOR THIS PARAGRAPH - discusses police killings of Black people]</b><br />
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But perhaps the most dangerous, destructive aspect of this erasure is the flipside. If White people leap to take credit and rewards for BIPOC work and ideas—and if we make those White names household staples, while erasing the names and existence of robbed BIPOC people—we also do the reverse, when it comes to blaming BIPOC people for their own murders while simultaneously erasing the White-owned guilt for those murders. I’m talking to White readers, now. You likely can name a slew of Black people murdered by police: Michael Brown. Eric Garner. Tamir Rice. Philando Castile. Alton Sterling. How many of their killers can you name, off the top of your head? They are: Darren Wilson. Daniel Pantaleo. Timothy Loehmann. Jeronimo Yanez. Howie Lake. Blane Salamoni. Yes, I had to look up most of those. No, they aren't all White, but their lack of mainstream name recognition still protects a White-dominant police force. None were held legally responsible for killing the above human beings. Why were their victims put on trial, their private lives plundered and exposed, by a White-dominant media and public desperate to find a reason to blame them for their own murders? Why have we (White people) done our best to malign their names and their legacies, exonerate their killers’, and <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality?language=en" target="_blank">erase those of women and nonbinary BIPCOC victims</a>? In the interest of <a href="https://aapf.org/sayhernamereport/" target="_blank">Saying Her Name</a>: Meagan Hockaday. Tanisha Anderson. Mya Hall. Alexia Christian. There are too many more. We should know them.</div>
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All of the credit for anti-racist gains, none of the blame for racism… this is still the dominant narrative in every sector of the White community, from open bigots with sheets and torches to the wokest of the woke.<br />
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At the White Privilege Conference in 2017, Darlene Flynn and Robin DiAngelo said that “getting educated just makes White folks better racists.” BIPOC activists have raised <a href="https://medium.com/the-establishment/whites-only-the-caucasian-invasion-of-racial-justice-spaces-7e2529ec8314" target="_blank">concerns about White anti-racist activism</a> for a long time; I recently re-read the famous excerpt from The Autiobiography of Malcolm X in which he advises “sincere” White people to “...find all other white people they can who feel as they do—and let them form their own all-white groups, to work trying to convert other white people who are thinking and acting so racist." This passage, among many other things, helped inform our thinking when we first launched Reading While White. I’d remembered the above words perfectly, but had conveniently managed to forget the following:<br />
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I have these very deep feelings that white people who want to join black organizations are really just taking the escapist way to salve their consciences. By visibly hovering near us, they are ‘proving’ that they are ‘with us’ … generally whites’ very presence subtly renders the black organization automatically less effective… I know that every time that whites join a black organization, you watch, pretty soon… a black may be up front with a title, but the whites, because of their money, are the real controllers.</blockquote>
What can we White people do, to be and do better? It’s possible to get stuck in guilt, when we reflect on how we can aid and abet racism despite our best intentions. It’s also tempting, while reflecting on this, to outright disengage from anti-racist efforts; and at times, we White people do need to step back, since our very presence can (as Malcolm X reminds us) automatically render BIPOC-led efforts less effective. And we should definitely remove ourselves when we’re told that we’re actively harming BIPOC activists.<br />
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White activists won’t, however, help matters by completely and permanently disengaging from the movement. We also won’t help by self-flagellating—especially publicly, which puts a lot of pressure on the injured people to provide forgiveness and absolution. There is no perfect science to knowing when to step up and step back, but we have a responsibility to keep trying to show up when it’s helpful to the movement, and to step back when it’s not.<br />
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The study I cited above from Gorski and Erakat suggests that White activists can improve by “policing one another around concerns related to credit- and spotlight-grabbing behaviors (such as coopting the ideas of activists of color) so activists of color do not need to expend energy doing so.” We must hold each other accountable to this, and we must fight the kneejerk defensiveness that so often comes when anyone—fellow White people included—try to hold us accountable. Inviting others to give us direct feedback (and sharing how they can do that easily) is a good first step here, and in that spirit, please always feel free to email us, <a href="mailto:readingwhilewhite@gmail.com">readingwhilewhite@gmail.com</a>. We must remember, also, that asking fellow White people to hold us accountable should not be an excuse to ignore or dismiss BIPOC people when they do choose to expend energy to hold us accountable, feedback to which we are not entitled but for which we should be grateful.<br />
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We can also correct ourselves and each other when we start to subtly usurp and take control of BIPOC-led organizations, as Malcolm X warns is our default. Making finances, funding, and decision-making processes in organizations transparent, and making transparency the norm, can help; we also must listen and act when BIPOC people voice concerns about White leadership or processes. Patterns of BIPOC leaving organizations are almost always a signal that something is rotten in the White culture of that organization, and when we notice such patterns, we must self-examine and ask for help and education from our White friends and community. And above all, when we’re made aware that we’re impeding anti-racist efforts, we must remove ourselves, and commit to change and accountability, before we continue to inflict harm on BIPOC activists and weaken the movement overall.<br />
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Gorski and Erakat also advise White activists to “prioritize movement goals over their needs for recognition and validation.” Putting this into practice is easier said than done. Many White people are drawn to anti-racist work entirely for ego- or profit-based reasons; maybe a few are drawn to the work for entirely pure reasons and don’t care about recognition at all. But most of us fall somewhere in between (I include myself in that group). I need to learn, and practice, checking my ego (and letting others check my ego). We White people need to help each other actually do that work of prioritizing movement goals over egos—and this involves having very clear goals, as well as people we trust to hold us accountable.<br />
(A quick N.B.: This language—“prioritize movement goals over your need for recognition and validation”—should never be used as an excuse to give men credit for the work of women and nonbinary people, to give cisgender or heterosexual people credit for LGBTQIA+ work, to give nondisabled people credit for disabled work, or to justify oppression of any other intersecting identity.)<br />
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We must also work on doing the flipside of all this. In addition to giving full credit to BIPOC people for BIPOC ideas and work, we need to work to take responsibility for White-owned and White-originated mistakes, harm, and damage. This means making apologies that don’t ring hollow, taking action to correct the damage we’ve done, and working to prevent similar mistakes in the future. This means we openly and eagerly educate fellow White people about our own mistakes, rather than covering them up from each other in an effort to be the best White person in the group.<br />
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Dr. Jiménez told us, three years ago, that one of the most useful things we can do at Reading While White is to pass the mic. We have to do a better job of passing that mic, and talk internally often about how we can do better (we’re always open to criticism and suggestions on this subject, as well). Our White readers can also play a role in this, by making sure that you hear what our BIPOC colleagues have to say when we do pass the mic. Read our kindred spirits, and read them before you read us. We make it a point to link to BIPOC articles, essays, and blog posts as often as we can—click through those and read them. If it means you have to stop reading us so you can read them, please read them. Like them more than you like us on social media. Amplify them more than you amplify us. And when they call upon you to take action, listen to them. Don’t wait for us to say “don’t promote books with anthropomorphic monkeys”—believe <a href="https://crazyquiltedi.blog/2018/07/20/monkey-business/" target="_blank">Edi Campbell when she says it herself</a>.<br />
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I’m sorry to Dr. Jiménez—I shouldn’t have erased your work. All of us at RWW are grateful that Dr. Jiménez encouraged us to acknowledge and examine that act; it’s given us a chance to reflect and learn. And in the spirit of this work, we hope that these reflections are useful to you, too.<br />
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-Allie Jane Bruce</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-39428513736988294932020-05-16T05:00:00.000-04:002020-05-18T08:01:29.330-04:00Links Roundup May 16, 2020For those with the mental and physical space to look at some links, here are a few:<br />
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Check out <a href="https://crazyquiltedi.blog/">CrazyQuiltEdi.blog</a> for a resource-rich series titled <i>I Read Asian and Pacific Islander American Books</i>. Read Edi Campbell’s intro post <a href="https://crazyquiltedi.blog/2020/05/01/i-read-asian-american-books/">here</a>, and check back regularly, updates are coming fast!<br />
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For the entire month of May (and beyond), follow <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%2331daysibpoc&src=typeahead_click">#31DaysIBPOC</a> on Twitter, bookmark <a href="https://31daysibpoc.wordpress.com/">their website</a>, and if you need an intro to #31DaysIBPOC, read Dr. Kimberly Parker’s article: <a href="https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=may-means-31DaysIBPOC-centering-indigenous-black-and-people-of-color-in-education">May Means #31DaysIBPOC: Centering Indigenous, Black, and People of Color in Education</a> in SLJ.<br />
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Dhonielle Clayton experienced horrifying racism and witnessed equally horrifying fatphobia from teens during an <a href="https://twitter.com/brownbookworm/status/1253430577119653901?s=20">online author visit</a>. Kelly Yang wrote in Elle about similar experiences, in the context of rising fear, racism, and xenophobia directed at Asian Americans (fueled by Trump) during COVID-19: <a href="https://www.elle.com/ocd/a32107527/coronavirus-asian-americans-racism/?fbclid=IwAR0JKeFznKVbtCSywwrSHDqpGaFruck_qUZSKAKafXct-81EyNBJ2YovyjQ">Our Voice Is Our Armor</a>. We send empathy and support to all.<br />
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We are all learning about both the possibilities and vulnerabilities inherent in using online conferencing tools. Because of unsettling incidences such as this, we now know that preparing ahead of time for such behavior is something we all must do if we are hosting an event. Outline respectful behavior expectations ahead of time. Make sure you are familiar with the platform you are using and know how to shut things down on the technology side if inappropriate remarks are made regardless. This includes knowing how to change settings so that all participants, other than the speakers and facilitators, are muted and cannot unmute themselves. Finally, it’s not enough for any of us to just condemn such behavior; we must engage in the work of helping students unlearn it. The “Resources” tab of <a href="https://teachingwhilewhite.org/">Teaching While White</a> is a great starting place for this work, as is <a href="https://drkimparker.org/2020/05/01/31daysibpoc-we-begin/">#31DaysIBPOC</a>.<br />
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Back in April, We Need Diverse Books launched an <a href="https://diversebooks.org/wndb-emergency-fund-for-diverse-creatives-in-childrens-publishing/">Emergency Fund for Diverse Creators in Children’s Publishing</a>. Click through for more info, and to donate if you’re able.<br />
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Though we’ve featured it before, don’t forget to sign onto <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeLtWPLZ0PPzxBqEgKWpJlgX3qgpKO22LlJH68ic2vHMfZHyQ/viewform">APALA’s pledge</a> to fight the vicious racism being directed at Asian Americans right now.<br />
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<b>Beyond Children’s and Young Adult Literature</b><br />
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<b><br /></b><i>Here are a few things we’ve been following; please feel free to add more in the comments.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i>Communities of color—particularly Black and Native communities—are being hit hardest by COVID-19 and its domino-effect fallouts. As devastatingly predictable as this pattern is, given the structural racism endemic to the United States, it is important to understand and expose the causes. We cannot list all resources on this topic here, but you can start with <a href="https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/indian-country-s-covid-19-syllabus-EiN-p5Q-XkW-smnaebJV6Q">Indian Country Today’s COVID-19 Syllabus</a>, <a href="https://www.theroot.com/coronavirus-is-exposing-americas-separate-but-unequal-h-1842708469">this article</a> from The Root about the disparities in the US healthcare system that COVID-19 is throwing into sharp relief, and <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/what-next/2020/04/black-people-coronavirus-at-risk">this podcast</a> from Slate about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities.<br />
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Sign the <a href="https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/demand-justice-ahmaud/?sp_ref=633633625.176.206592.o.1.2&referring_akid=.1738634.63yJ9H&source=c2c">Color of Change petition</a> demanding the removal of District Attorneys George Barnhill and Jackie Johnson, who tried to prevent #JusticeforAhmaud by letting Gregory and Travis McMichael get away with the murder in broad daylight of Ahmaud Arbery.<br />
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The Trump administration is trying to sneak a land-grab in while attention is hyper-focused on COVID-19. They've taken a huge step towards disestablishing the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe’s land, which will have very real, destructive impacts (as well as horrific historical reverberations). Find more info, as well as action steps, <a href="https://mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/standwithmashpee">here</a>.<br />
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Keep an eye on McGirt vs. Oklahoma, a case before the US Supreme Court that will determine whether a substantial portion of Oklahoma belongs to Native nations. Read Rebecca Nagle’s <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/oklahomas-suspect-argument-front-supreme-court/611284/">article about it in <i>The Atlantic</i></a>, or listen to her podcast with Crooked Media (<a href="https://crooked.com/podcast-series/this-land/">This Land</a>).<br />
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Be well, all.<br />
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Ed. 5/18: Please also check out <a href="https://www.zettaelliott.com/fear-itself/" target="_blank">this post from Zetta Elliott</a> about fear, spiders, poetry, and Breonna Taylor, who was murdered by police. Thank you, Zetta, for saying her name.</div>
Reading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-48071914258137732102020-03-18T11:00:00.001-04:002020-03-18T11:52:24.810-04:00Sending Thoughts of Compassion, Strength, and HopeWe are so sorry to those whose lives are in turmoil due to COVID-19. To those who are ill, or with loved ones who are ill; to those whose economic situations have been upended; to those battling anxiety and fear during this time of crisis, we hold you in our hearts.<br />
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We strongly support <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeLtWPLZ0PPzxBqEgKWpJlgX3qgpKO22LlJH68ic2vHMfZHyQ/viewform" target="_blank">this pledge from APALA</a> to fight the rising racism and xenophobia we’ve seen against Asian and Asian/Pacific American people. Please take a look and sign your name.<br />
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Our email and DMs are open. Please feel free to reach out if there’s any support we can offer you.<br />
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Take care of yourselves, take care of each other.<br />
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-The Reading While White Team</div>
Reading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-21996591748178865582020-01-31T05:00:00.000-05:002020-01-31T09:53:59.310-05:00Links Roundup!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s been a while since we’ve done one of these roundups, but there’s been some big news lately, so here we go!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lee and Low published their </span><a href="https://blog.leeandlow.com/2020/01/28/2019diversitybaselinesurvey/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2019 Diversity Baseline Survey</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This is an update to a study they did in 2015, and to sum up their results in one line, they've found that "There is no discernible change to any of the other racial categories. In other words, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the field is just as White today as it was four years ago.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">" If you won’t have time to digest the whole survey until your next 3-day weekend, catch the highlights on Lee and Low’s </span><a href="https://twitter.com/LEEandLOW/status/1222172763072405509" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter thread about the survey</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. EDITOR'S NOTE (1/31, 9:45 AM EST): We'd like to acknowledge an oversight in our original post – Dr. Laura Jiménez, PhD, led a team at Boston University with graduate student Betsy Beckert that analyzed and aggregated the data for the survey. This is especially galling considering how often BIPOC are uncredited for their work. We apologize for our mistake.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aaaaaaaaand… there’s so much great news from the Youth Media Awards!! This was the first year that all Caldecott recognition went to BIPOC artists, that a Native author won the Sibert Medal, that the winners of the Coretta Scott King Author AND Illustrator Award also received Newbery and Caldecott recognition, that the American Indian Youth Literature Award winners (featuring a truly fabulous set of books) were revealed at the YMAs… the list goes on (add more fun facts in the comments, please!) Read the complete press release </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2020/01/american-library-association-announces-2020-youth-media-award-winners" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. We at Reading While White were glad to see </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dig</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a novel that wrestles with Whiteness head-on, get Printz recognition, and we highly recommend </span><a href="https://www.publicbooks.org/digging-up-whiteness/?utm_content=buffer8fa0b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwAR17juhQ2LZdzd_6XVWPJGPtSscml9ooYtW5nCc3VBUP2VgJpxUHRXD5zGE" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this article from Public Books</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> about </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dig</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amidst the celebrations, we’re trying to make space for criticism of the awards, and to honor the complexities therein. We recognize that as a White blog with the mission to examine Whiteness in children’s literature, it is almost never appropriate for us to criticize BIPOC work, so we almost never do so. A rare exception to that rule: We highly recommend </span><a href="https://twitter.com/MagpieLibrarian/status/1222231205791371265" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this thread about </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">White Bird</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from Ingrid Conley-Abrams, a school librarian in New York City. We continue to wrestle with the systems that grant unearned advantage to White people at the expense of BIPOC people in the publishing and library worlds; and, we want to promote authentic Jewish representation in children’s literature. We have a long way to go on both subjects.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What have we missed, here? What are you reading that’s caught your attention, of late? Leave a comment!</span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Reading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-24438960887179143692020-01-16T05:00:00.000-05:002020-01-16T05:00:00.154-05:00On Growth & Progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2020 is here, and I’ve spent some time reflecting on the last decade: ups and downs, lessons learned, triumphs, and challenges. Looking back on my own growth since 2010, a lot of feelings bubble up. There’s joy, for relationships cultivated. There’s gratification, for some progress made and successful activism of which I’ve been a part. There’s also shame and anger at the world and at myself—because ten years ago there was so much I didn’t know I didn’t know. As a result of my ignorance (whether willful or unintentional) I hurt people. I’ve made mistakes for which I am 100% responsible; I’m aware of only some of them. As I exist in the world as a White person and try to engage in anti-racism and other anti-oppression work, this will surely continue. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I like to think that I’ve embraced the kind of shame that Nina described on this blog as “</span><a href="http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2019/01/what-about-shame.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">instructive if the owner is open to it.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” I can’t deny those feelings, but what I do with them is up to me. As I reflect on all of this, a few throughlines emerge. In the spirit of learning and looking forward to the next ten years (and beyond), I’m sharing them below.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Changing Outcomes Over Minds</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. Ibram X. Kendi wrote in </span><a href="https://www.ibramxkendi.com/books-1" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How To Be An Anti-Racist</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “An activist produces power and policy change, not mental change.” Dr. Kendi’s examination of history suggests that anti-racist policies can influence changes in perspectives held by people in oppressor groups—but changing someone’s mindset doesn’t often influence policy. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is easy for me to spend a lot of time thinking about changing hearts and minds. Changing minds and changing policies can go hand in hand, but if I am more focused on changing the thoughts of the privileged than I am concerned with anti-racist outcomes, I am centering those from oppressor groups and falling into what Paul Gorski has described as a “</span><a href="http://www.edchange.org/publications/Avoiding-Racial-Equity-Detours-Gorski.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">racial equity detour</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">I don’t think this means I should stop interrupting racism when I see it, or refuse to engage when opportunities for learning and growth arise for myself or others. This is not necessarily an either/or. (Let’s remember </span><a href="http://www.dismantlingracism.org/uploads/4/3/5/7/43579015/okun_-_white_sup_culture.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">binary thinking is rooted in White supremacy culture</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">.) What it does mean is that learning and thinking are not action alone, and it is naive to assume that changing people’s minds will end oppression. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Change Requires Discomfort</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comfort is not a word I use to describe any big shifts, whether mental, behavioral, or political. As a result of my socialization, a degree of defensiveness and discomfort will always be present when the mirror is held up to me. Owning this is easier said than done, but when I think about how some of my biggest moments of growth have also been some of the most uncomfortable, I get a sense of clarity. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking back, only through direct communication (and in some instances SERIOUS PRESSURE) from others did I “move” on an issue or change my behavior. It took courage and intentionality for people to tell me that I was wrong or that my thoughts or actions hurt them. Every time I reflect on an uncomfortable moment of progress for myself, I notice that someone cared enough to help me see the need for change. They could have just walked away (and if I had hurt them, they had every right to) but they didn’t, and that means something.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feedback can come in many forms. (We White people need to check our </span><a href="https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=educators-mist-mind-tone-policing" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tone policing</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, especially when it masquerades as White cries for “calling in.”) No matter how the criticism feels, it is a gift. My actions and my responses are my responsibility. It is probably still going to be hard, but that discomfort is where learning happens.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I Am Not Entitled to Forgiveness</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In </span><a href="http://bit.ly/2Btyrr8" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So You Want to Talk About Race</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ijeoma Oluo shared this scenario:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Say you get drunk in a bar and punch a stranger in the face, spend the night in jail, realize that your life has taken a turn for the worse, get treatment, stop drinking, and dedicate your life to anti-violence work. To the person that you punched that night, you may forever be the person who assaulted them. The person who made them scared to go into bars for a while. The person who made them feel violated. To the people you have helped since, you may always be a hero. The person who made them feel safer in the world.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are both who you are, they are both valid and do not cancel each other out. If you run into the person you punched years later, they may well still be afraid of you, they may react with anger. They will treat you like someone who punched them, because you are. And even if you respond to that anger and fear like someone who abhors violence, because that is also who you are, you have no right to demand that they see you differently.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It can be really difficult to know, that as Oluo writes, “to some people [I] will forever be the person who harmed them.” Working to do better and working to earn forgiveness might be connected endeavors, but they are not the same thing. While both are certainly context specific, I believe time spent on the former should be prioritized. It is, after all, that over which I have (and should have) control. Forgiveness may or may not come—but no one is entitled to it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Privilege is also tied up with forgiveness and how White people have systematically been afforded more chances to “try again,” as Dr. Ruha Benjamin </span><a href="http://bostonreview.net/race/ruha-benjamin-black-afterlives-matter" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">details here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Change is Constant</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s one specific pattern of equity pushback that I’ve noticed in recent years when it comes to change. It looks like this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once upon a time, I supported X.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My mind/actions around X shifted (likely as a result of feedback).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I talk about my learning and work for change against X.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Person in support of X declares, “You used to support X. Here’s proof! </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therefore, you are in no </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">place to push against it and you are the thing that is oppressive, not X!”</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This type of pushback is a non-argument and a form of </span><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/whataboutism-origin-meaning" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">whataboutism</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It is a distraction that makes use of something true (past support of X) and throws in a nonsensical curveball. “You used to love X” does not mean that X is not racist, sexist, ableist, heterosexist, classist, or oppressive in myriad ways. Evidence of past support is just that: evidence of past support. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Change alone is neither ethical nor unethical, but purity and perfectionism are ideals </span><a href="http://www.dismantlingracism.org/uploads/4/3/5/7/43579015/okun_-_white_sup_culture.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in White supremacy culture</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Stagnation is never the only option, nor are any people or institutions doomed to be frozen in one place and time forever. History exists, and new histories are created every day. How we acknowledge the past and what we decide to do today are up to us. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This last discussion is one I expect to see more of in the #kidlit world well into the 2020s. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Change might look like me raving about a book and later retracting that recommendation after listening to critical perspectives from people with insights and identities different than my own. It </span><a href="http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2017/09/looking-back-charlie-chocolate-factory.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wouldn’t be the first</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or last time I deemed a book “excellent” and had my mind changed. (If </span><a href="https://www.hbook.com/?detailStory=mac-barnett-and-greg-pizzoli-talk-with-roger" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">creators</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, publishers, or </span><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/laura-moriarty/american-heart/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">review journals</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> make edits to their work as a result of feedback, this also wouldn’t be new.) It’s worth noting the importance of aiming for transparency in these experiences; if I try to brush a mistake under the rug, the learning stops with me and I am not taking full accountability.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Change might look like celebrating the evolution of a </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/clla/about" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">book award</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, even when I once uncritically supported that award as-is. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It might look like increased interrogation of norms that have been embedded into my professional networks: conventions like organizations expecting free labor and financial sacrifices to be made by people in their membership without any questions asked; conventions like book criticism’s “Look at each book for what it </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, rather than what it is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” (</span><a href="https://www.hbook.com/?detailStory=considering-the-criteria-addressing-book-discussion-guidelines-in-the-twenty-first-century" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vicky Smith has already pointed out</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the limits of taking some of our field’s esteemed guidelines as a be-all and end-all.)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Change might mean embracing ambiguity and challenging interpretations of librarianship’s critical terminology, especially when those interpretations conflict with the profession’s </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/corevalues" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">core values</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I believe “professionalism” and “intellectual freedom” are important for everyone </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I believe it is necessary to question what it means that not everybody has equal power to define these values for the masses—and gatekeep what these values can look like in active, everyday practice. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Change might mean a lot of things, only a few of which I’ve shared here. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that wondering what “2030 Elisa” will think of me right now kind of freaks me out. Still, worrying about that is energy better spent elsewhere, and </span><a href="https://www.unr.edu/Documents/student-services/student-services/Harro%20Cycle%20of%20Socialization%20and%20Liberation.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">doing nothing only supports the oppressive status-quo</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I look forward to the next decade, I’m left with hope and resolve, and also with these words recently shared by </span><a href="https://crazyquiltedi.blog/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Edi Campbell</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: “There’s no ‘woke.’ Only ‘waking’.”</span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-68616268560141352052020-01-07T06:00:00.000-05:002020-01-07T06:00:01.475-05:00Newbery, Caldecott and Perspectives on Excellence<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Each year leading up to
the announcement of the Newbery and Caldecott awards, there are discussions of eligible books and
attempts to predict the outcomes, while those serving on the committees quietly
go about their work. They are quiet by design: while the award criteria are
public, the work itself takes place in confidentiality that, regardless of
intent and purpose, is also exclusionary. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I understand the desire
for confidentiality during the process, although I don’t think that
confidentiality needs to extend in perpetuity. I was a member of the
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) board that voted to ease some of
those rules, making suggestions, nominations and justification statements
accompanying nominations for post-2016 committees available after 50 years. I’d
love to see future boards go farther; for example, allowing the changes to
apply to 2016 and earlier, and expanding the transparency to balloting
results. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My rationale is about
more than desire for greater transparency. I’m<i> </i>concerned that the aura
of secrecy around the Newbery and Caldecott has led to a cult of mystique
surrounding the awards, one that promotes the idea that they are somehow bigger
than the work we do in the field of children’s and young adult literature. In
fact, they are, simply, part of the work we do, and require the same vigilance
as other forms of critique and evaluation when it comes to awareness of how
Whiteness impacts the work we do.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The fields of publishing
and librarianship and criticism, and those of us in them, are struggling and
striving when it comes to understanding this. We still fail more than we thrive
at it. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Myth of Special
Insight</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For me, one example of
our failure is the idea that only those who have served on one of these
committees, who have “been there,” can understand the rigor of the award
process. The “</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://commons.pacificu.edu/olaq/vol25/iss2/12/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">I have served</span></a><span style="color: black;">”
argument, intended or not, is an insidious way to silence those who have never
served on the committees, whether in the context of sitting around a table
conversing socially or weighing in on critical issues in our field. The “I have
served” argument automatically puts some of us on the inside and some of us on
the outside. It’s essential to consider the implications of that exclusionary
stance not only in general, but specifically as it relates to White privilege,
given that Newbery and Caldecott committee membership across the years has been
largely inclusive of White people, while Black, Indigenous and People of Color
(BIPOC) are greatly underrepresented. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BIPOC individuals have
served on the Newbery and Caldecott across the years, bringing their own critical
perspectives and experiences, but too often they have been solitary members of
a committee--something slowly, happily, essentially changing. Yet even as ALSC
works toward greater diversity on its award committees, there are barriers that
may preclude some from serving. Some can impact both BIPOC and White people,
including the cost of attending conferences, and employer support for the
necessary time away. There are also barriers that can impact BIPOC
disproportionately, including the critical work they may be doing in other
contexts to push the publishing profession forward when it comes to authentic
representation, and in promoting diverse voices and books. (Today, service on
an ALSC award committee requires giving such work up, or doing it anonymously,
when it comes to eligible books during one’s year of service. Those who serve
agree to this, but it’s a requirement that may make some decline the
opportunity.)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I also find the “I have
served” (with its implied “and therefore understand while you don’t”) argument
problematic because, quite simply, I think it’s untrue. Those who have been on
the Newbery and Caldecott committees don’t have membership in a special club
with a secret password. Nor have we participated in a sacred ritual that gives
us shared insight. My experience on Newbery was deeply satisfying. But the only
deeper insight it gave me was into the dynamic<i> for the year I served,</i>
along with a deeper understanding of how the discussion and critique, as
intense as it is, is also, inevitably, subjective, shaped by who is part of
it. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Subjectivity By Any
Other Name...</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The rules of
confidentiality mean the details of how the Newbery and Caldecott committees
arrive at their decision are considered irrelevant in the big picture. And yet,
known or not, those details matter. The individual perspectives of each
committee member matter. Everyone contributes to the discussion and the
dynamic. Everyone contributes to what is—or isn’t—nominated. Everyone
contributes to what is—and isn’t—considered when it comes to individual books
as committee members read and suggest and reread and nominate and discuss the
eligible books in light of the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberyterms/newberyterms.htm"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Newbery</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottterms/caldecottterms"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Caldecott</span></a><span style="color: black;"> award criteria. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Committee members’ work
is informed by their individual identities and opinions and insights and
experiences as they participate in a process that is far from empirical,
although it sometimes seems as if we’re expected to believe that it is. The
award criteria they consider to arrive at a decision doesn’t make the
definition of “most distinguished” a fixed, objective target. Nor does the fact
that it’s an effort shared among 15 people working toward numerical consensus.
It is a process deeply informed and shaped by who is participating. And when
award committees have been majority White, there is added danger in not acknowledging
this subjectivity when it comes to thinking about how we do what we do.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t think individual
committees operate with an agenda regarding what kind of book will or won’t
win. But the awards don’t occupy some rarified space in which they aren’t
influenced by the individual identities and group dynamics of those involved in
their choosing. They are influenced by both. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The truth is that each
and every year, a group of different individuals would most likely have chosen
a different winner</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. In fact, that’s what I
often say when talking about the awards to librarians and teachers. I also note
that these awards are two of many “perspectives on excellence,” to quote a
phrase I learned from Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) Director Emeritus
Ginny Moore Kruse, because there are many children’s and young adult literature
awards, and many wonderful books worthy of acknowledgment each year.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Representation Matters</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This doesn’t mean each
and every committee hasn’t worked incredibly hard to reach its decision. This
doesn’t mean winners aren’t chosen with integrity. But it does mean that
representation matters, in books, and on the committees, and even, perhaps, in
what is—or isn’t—stated in the award criteria and definitions.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ALSC added a statement about
“Diversity and ALSC Media Award Evaluation” to all its award and notable
committee manuals in 2015. Among other things, it states,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As individuals serving
on committees evaluate materials according to the criteria outlined for their
specific charge, they should strive to be aware of how their own perspectives
and experiences shape their responses to materials. Every committee member
brings unique strengths to the table, but every committee member also brings
gaps in knowledge and understanding, and biases. Committee members are
strongly encouraged to be open to listening and learning as well as sharing as
they consider materials representing diverse experiences both familiar and
unfamiliar to them.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This statement touches on the ideas of cultural competence and <a href="http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2018/11/cultural-humility-in-librarianship-what-is-it/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">cultural humility</span></a> without
naming them, but I wonder what it would look like to have tenets of cultural
competence and cultural humility built into the definitions and/or criteria for
individual awards as committee members are asked to consider what it means for
a book to be “distinguished.” (Or, as Hal Schrieve</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://halschrieve.wordpress.com/2018/10/24/thinking-about-alsc-awards-and-diversity-racism/"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc;">asked</span></a><span style="color: black;">, how can the award decenter Whiteness?)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How, for example, might
the Newbery criteria stating “</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Presentation of
information including accuracy, clarity, and organization” be further
clarified, especially around that thorny concept of “accuracy”? What might be
explicitly asked of both the books and of committee members evaluating a work
when it comes to an author writing about—and committee members reading
about—experiences beyond those they’ve lived or have close knowledge of? In
what way might committee members not just be asked but required to consider
their own cultural identities in relation to the works they are evaluating and
the comments of one another? How might the definitions and criteria for these
awards reflect White privilege in ways I don’t even see? (I am aware that
ALSC may be limited by legal agreements under which the awards were established
when it comes to the “terms,” which is why I’m referring here only to
“definitions” and “criteria.”)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have been skirting
around these ideas, and hesitating on this post, for awhile. I don’t want to
silence or ignore the history or experiences of BIPOC who have served on award
committees. I don’t want to ignore or diminish the contributions of anyone who
has served on the committees, which are an incredible commitment of time and
effort. Nor do I want to diminish the honor of being chosen a winner or honor
recipient. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But my biggest concern
is that I don’t know all the questions to ask, let alone have the
answers. What I do know is that critical perspectives on how the Newbery
and Caldecott are chosen are not the sole purview of those who have served on
the committees.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Megan Schliesman</span></div>
Megan Schliesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014338325346040998noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-51860184256793884232019-11-07T05:00:00.000-05:002020-02-03T12:20:29.791-05:00When White Feelings DominateIn an October 28 article titled “Yes, But… One Librarian’s Thoughts About Doing It Right” in OLA Quarterly (a special issue devoted to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), librarian Heather McNeil shares her thoughts and feelings about a variety of subjects related to racism. Her piece is divided into four sections, titled as follows: “Collection Development”, “Dr. Seuss”, “Debbie Reese”, and “Reading While White.”<br />
<br />
It is impossible for me to respond to this piece without appearing, to some at least, to be operating from a place of defensiveness; any assertion to the contrary will be met with some incredulity. Nevertheless, regardless of whether we’re believed, I can honestly say that this piece is not the result of, or meant to be a response to, the criticisms McNeil directs at Reading While White. If you want to read what she says about us, you’re welcome to check out her article, and to agree or disagree with her at your discretion.<br />
<br />
I am, however, deeply troubled by the blatant disrespect Ms. McNeil directs towards our colleague Dr. Debbie Reese. McNeil’s language, and the content of her attack on Dr. Reese, are part of a larger pattern of White dismissal of Dr. Reese’s work; I’ve heard many White people disparage Dr. Reese using similar tactics.<br />
<br />
Before you continue reading the rest of this post, please read Dr. Reese’s response <a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1189836355733524481" target="_blank">here</a> if you haven’t already.<br />
<br />
Now, here are my own reactions.<br />
<br />
1 - Never does McNeil refer to Dr. Reese as “Dr.” She calls her “Debbie Reese” and “Ms. Reese”, ignoring and erasing the scholarship and qualifications that Dr. Reese brings to her work. She also neglects to name that Dr. Reese is Native (she is tribally enrolled, Nambé Pueblo), thereby dismissing the lens of expertise Dr. Reese brings to her work through her lived experiences as a Native person.<br />
<br />
2 - McNeil titles the paragraph “Debbie Reese”. She does not title it “American Indians In Children’s Literature” (the title of Dr. Reese’s blog) or “An Indigenous Critique of Whiteness In Children’s Literature” (the title of Dr. Reese’s Arbuthnot lecture, which McNeil criticizes). In titling the section “Debbie Reese”, McNeil levels an attack on Dr. Reese as a person, rather than criticizing Dr. Reese’s ideas, words, or actions.<br />
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I’m speaking to my fellow White people now. If you retain only one thing from this response piece, please let it be this: When you name your BIPOC colleagues without their permission, you are potentially putting them in danger. The words that seem innocuous to you can become lightning rods for some (like Neo-Nazis and the alt-right) who seek to do real harm to BIPOC people. I am so grateful to the BIPOC people who have educated me about this.<br />
<br />
3 - McNeil begins the passage about Dr. Reese thusly:<br />
<br />
<i>“Hoo boy. Opening a can of worms here.”</i><br />
<br />
This is, in written form, what many of us have heard countless times in conversations in professional spaces. Someone says “Debbie Reese” (almost always omitting the “Dr.”) and follows it with a sigh, a chuckle, a groan, or some equivalent of “Hoo boy. Opening a can of worms here.”<br />
<br />
This is racism in action. This is the moment when we White people enter into the unspoken agreement that Dr. Reese, as a person, constitutes a Problem--and we agree to unite to contain and constrict this Problem.<br />
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4 - McNeil then goes on to say:<br />
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<i>“Believe me, I admire her work.”</i><br />
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This is another key component of the unspoken White agreement. This is the part where we White people cover our bases. We are “the good ones”, so we say something meaningless about how much we support Dr. Reese in theory, before going on to dismiss her in actuality.<br />
<br />
And therein lies the crux of the issue. Many of us White people like the idea of supporting Dr. Reese in her work, but balk and withdraw when Dr. Reese doesn’t prioritize our comfort in how she conducts her work.<br />
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And when the lived reality of fighting racism doesn’t live up to our White expectations and imaginations, that’s when we write articles about our White feelings, and because we’re White, get them published in peer-reviewed, academic journals.<br />
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-Allie Jane Bruce<br />
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<i>Postscript: Yes, I’m aware that Ms. McNeil can, if she should so choose, point to this post and say “See? Reading While White DOES want me to feel bad.” There’s really no way to counter this self-fulfilling White fragility, so I won’t try, especially since according to her, the damage is already done; we already made her feel bad. Ms. McNeil is free to read this post or not, to feel however she may, and to process those feelings however she may wish. My only suggestion is that she process these feelings in private and with other White people, so as to not task BIPOC people with still more White-feelings-oriented labor. Ms McNeil: We are ready and happy to have a conversation if you wish to talk; just email us.</i><br />
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Ed. 12/11/19 1:45pm: With apologies for the lack of timeliness, I want to highlight <a href="https://lowriderlibrarian.blogspot.com/2019/11/ola-quarterly-racist-edi-article.html" target="_blank">this piece by Max Macias</a>. Thank you, Max, for providing the link in the comments below, and thank you for your activism.<br />
<br />
Ed. 2/3/19 12:20pm: Please also see the <a href="https://ailanet.org/" target="_blank">American Indian Library Association'</a>s Fall 2019 Newsletter, available <a href="https://ailanet.org/app/uploads/2020/01/AILA_Newsletter_v412.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>, which contains a formal rebuttal of McNeil's article.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-15968631723924876372019-09-30T05:00:00.000-04:002019-09-30T05:00:07.462-04:00Reviewing While White: Exile from Eden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwQq0lvcMf3_3CnHfCzn32y1PLW4E90yinPV9K7V5oRpi5ytuLPikvhaeYEqitAPE78r-NWI16oc9yeo8yDR-yp5SA88YHdMwHl-ZjAP33-hAyIjzNzPKTZjY2mblmnmSp1kBiPulKA/s1600/exile-from-eden-9781534422230_xlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="596" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwQq0lvcMf3_3CnHfCzn32y1PLW4E90yinPV9K7V5oRpi5ytuLPikvhaeYEqitAPE78r-NWI16oc9yeo8yDR-yp5SA88YHdMwHl-ZjAP33-hAyIjzNzPKTZjY2mblmnmSp1kBiPulKA/s320/exile-from-eden-9781534422230_xlg.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
Andrew Smith’s <i>Exile from Eden</i>, the sequel to his award-winning <i>Grasshopper Jungle</i>, had its book birthday last week (September 24, 2019). There is… a lot to unpack with this book, and today I’m going to highlight some of the racism and sexism that abounds in Smith’s latest YA novel. Quotes and page numbers are from the advanced readers copy. Spoilers ahead, if you care about that sort of thing.<br />
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Before we dig in, some background: At the end of <i>Grasshopper Jungle,</i> protagonist Austin, his best friend/boyfriend Robby, Austin’s girlfriend Shann, and several of their parents move in to a massive underground bunker (aka "Eden"). There, they hope they will be safe from the ginormous, horny praying mantises (also sometimes called Unstoppable Soldiers) that have taken over Iowa and also possibly the USA. Austin is unethically nonmonogamous (he is dating Shann while also dating Robby, which Shann knows about but does not consent to) and at the end of Grasshopper Jungle has sex in the bunker with Shann. Exile from Eden is set sixteen years after the end of Grasshopper Jungle and is narrated by their son, Arek.<br />
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One of the few characters we meet from beyond “Eden” is a twelve-year-old boy. Described as “brown-skinned” with “wild dreadlocks,” his name is Breakfast (edible brown child, much?). He is frequently described, by himself and the narration, as “completely wild” and he is obsessed with the idea of having money. “‘You have to be wild to survive,’ he told Olive. ‘Just look at me, wouldja? There’s no denying I’m wild. Who’s got money? Me. I’ve got money. Wild’” [16].<br />
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Breakfast (again, the only brown character) spends most of his time naked because he “hates wearing clothes”, and he is constantly “scratching his balls,” spitting, and urinating. He is described as animalistic: “Roaring incoherently like an animal, which was basically what Breakfast was anyway” [107-108]. Also, wait for it: his only companion turns out to be a CHIMPANZEE who doesn’t talk (because, ahem, she’s a CHIMPANZEE) and whom he GENUINELY BELIEVES IS JUST A VERY HAIRY GIRL WHO NEVER TALKS BECAUSE SHE JUST AGREES WITH WHATEVER HE HAS TO SAY. Holy cow. Just let that sink in.<br />
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The three main human women in Exile from Eden fall neatly into the maiden/mother/crone series of archetypes, existing with few hints at any interior life beyond their relationships to Arek.<br />
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Arek’s love interest is his only peer, Amelie Sing Brees, a biracial (Chinese and White American) teen girl who is his aunt by partnership (Arek describes his father Austin’s partner Robby as his father as well, and Amelie is Robby’s half-sister). Arek constantly puts her on a pedestal, regularly saying she’s braver than he is, and she simultaneously has no shame about and no knowledge of anything related to Arek’s sexuality. In keeping with the “maiden” trope, which requires sexual purity and vulnerability simultaneously, Amelie is almost sexually assaulted by a rogue ex-soldier (human, not praying mantis). Even this, though, is really about Arek; we learn almost nothing about how Amelie feels and it is a plot point primarily used to further Arek’s emotional development and increase “drama” (*ahem* <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/menwritingwomen?lang=en">#menwritingwomen</a>). Arek’s mother Shann is described as an emotional deadweight whose depression is oppressive (“Thirteen was a bad year for me. My mother’s sadness and anger became a stormy ocean inside the hole, drowning me, and I think Robby was only trying to make me happy” [13]) and whose parenting is overly controlling (“‘Why have you never taken me outside like this before?’ I asked. / My father shook his head. ‘Your mother and grandmother would never stand for it.’ / Robby nodded. ‘There will be hell to pay when we get home, Porcupine’” [34-35]). Arek’s grandmother (Shann’s mother) is described as uptight, obsessed with the perpetuation of traditional nuclear familial structures and traditions, and in particular obsessed with circumcising Arek. The symbolism is… rich.<br />
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Arek’s primary influence seems to be his father Austin, the misogynistic protagonist of Grasshopper Jungle, and unfortunately the two-dimensionality with which he views and treats women seems to be a patriarchal lineage. Unsurprisingly, Austin constantly perpetuates toxic masculinity by both ignoring the women who make up a *literal* 50% of his community and passing that misogyny onto his son. Austin completely ignores Shann as a co-parent, undermining and belittling her role. Likewise, Arek is vaguely aware that his mother’s emotional distance may have been caused by something (gee, I don’t know, maybe the MASSIVE AMOUNT OF UNACKNOWLEDGED TRAUMA she experienced since the finale of <i>Grasshopper Jungle</i>??), but he has no interest in understanding her better.<br />
<br />
In perpetuating these most basic systems of oppression without using his text to push back against them, Smith makes readers complicit in that oppression and further perpetuates the idea that this representation--inaccurate, harmful, and insulting to his readers--is acceptable. This is not a surprise; we all remember the “<a href="https://www.yainterrobang.com/the-curious-case-of-andrew-smith-twitter-sexism/">keep YA kind</a>” debacle of 2015. Nevertheless, it’s frustrating and disappointing that Smith, his editor at Simon & Schuster (David Gale), and his agent (Michael Bourret) have chosen to yet again ignore both the specific critiques Smith has previously received (it’s been almost exactly four and a half years since <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/xd5nxn/failure-of-male-societies-869">“I consider myself completely ignorant to all things woman and female”</a> and the street date of <i>Exile</i>) and the important work of scholars like Edi Campbell and Kyla Wazana Tompkins, who highlight the problematic associations of <a href="https://crazyquiltedi.blog/2018/07/20/monkey-business/">black children with monkeys</a> and <a href="http://www.kylawazanatompkins.com/writing">brown children as comestible</a>. When you’re been gifted the tools to do better, it is shameful to fail so greatly.<br />
<br />
--Kazia Berkley-CramerReading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-35135928015313067212019-09-13T05:00:00.000-04:002019-09-13T05:00:02.462-04:00The Stories White People Tell...and Control<i>We recently received a question: Why are so many picture books (often biographies) written by White authors and then illustrated by a BIPOC artist? And often these stories are labeled as #OwnVoices [credit: <a href="http://www.corinneduyvis.net/ownvoices/">Corinne Duyvis</a>] when really it’s a White person telling the story of a racial minority. If the publisher came up with the idea, why not choose a person from that background to both illustrate AND tell the story? If the author came up with the idea, what does this say about White people and our insistence to control the narrative? And ultimately, what is the impact of this pattern of White-authored narratives about BIPOC on child readers?<br /><br />A few of us at RWW thought we’d explore this question, and we are sharing our reflections below.</i><br /><br />---<br /><br /><br />ALLIE: There is an overabundance of “overcoming pain” narratives in these White-authored, BIPOC-illustrated, non-fiction picture books. I think of what Zetta Elliott termed the “<a href="https://www.zettaelliott.com/black-voices-matter/">White appetite for Black pathology</a>.”<br /><br />We have decided not to list examples because we do not want any BIPOC illustrators to be dragged into the spotlight against their will, or feel compelled to respond to this piece, or, especially, feel pressured to justify their choices. We ask that our readers--especially White readers--be mindful of this dynamic as well, should you choose to comment or respond to this piece.<br /><br />But the pattern is undeniable--just look for picture book biographies in your library, if you need a starting point. And as a pattern, these books indicate a system that favors White authors telling stories of BIPOC pain, a system in which a BIPOC artist’s role is to illustrate those White author’s words. Giving these books a BIPOC illustrator doesn’t solve the problem of that White appetite for BIPOC pain.<br /><br />SAM: One obvious issue - how much (and what kind of) research has the White author done about this subject? Can we trust this person to tell this story? I think the answer a great majority of the time is a resounding NO, and yet… we still see these books, over and over.<br /><br />ELISA: I think there are so many factors at play, including what you wrote about, Allie, and how White-controlled school curricula can often reinforce and motivate these pain narratives. I’m also thinking about how much nonfiction authorship has traditionally (even if implicitly) meant expertise in a subject area, and how we White people are all too often regarded as an expert on everything--even experiences that are not our own. <br /><br />I would think that the way picture books are acquired has to do with this too. Unless the publisher has the idea outright (as our questioner brought up) it is my understanding that manuscripts are often acquired first, and then the illustrator is assigned later. Assuming that is true (at least most of the time), this would mean publishers are signing White creators’ manuscripts first and then inviting BIPOC creators into the projects. In which case, the White lens is still the one on which the entire project is based. A White author received a book deal about a BIPOC subject - and this could very much mean that a BIPOC author did not. <br /><br />Still, I do not in any way want to devalue the impact of illustration and visual literacy! Reading pictures is as important as reading text--and talented artists have and will continue to share their voices and make their mark in ways that are incredible.<br /><br />ALLIE: Oh, I totally agree. Especially for the youngest kids, who will dive into these books by sitting with and absorbing the pictures long before they can read the words. BIPOC illustrators can imbue their artwork with an authenticity that will speak to young readers in ways that words cannot, and that is invaluable.<br /><br />The term #OwnVoices gives a name and identity to a crucial piece of the puzzle of inequity in children’s literature: the ability and access people from marginalized groups need in order to tell (and publish!) their stories, rather than be crowded out by dominant voices who overwhelm that ability. It is one of many important markers to note and track in books’ subjects and authorship, and at the same time it is a complex issue. Unfortunately, the term can be and has been weaponized by people attempting to police what topics BIPOC can and cannot write about. We do not live in a binary world in which a work is completely “OwnVoices” or “Not OwnVoices.” (For more on this topic, I highly recommend <a href="http://www.corinneduyvis.net/ownvoices/">these FAQs</a> by Corinne Duyvis, who originated the #OwnVoices term and hashtag.)<br /><br />So while we might all agree that an #OwnVoices illustrator is a positive… it is not a systemic fix. It feels more like an easy and comfortable halfway-path for the Powers That Be… a way for publishers and marketers to be able to put a book in the “OwnVoices” category (that false binary) without addressing the deeper problems with inequitable representation and the White fixation on BIPOC pain narratives. In short, it’s part of a system that preserves the power White people have to tell BIPOC stories.<br /><br />ELISA: I remember hearing about White male authors negotiating language in their book contracts requesting BIPOC artists--especially women and nonbinary people--be hired to illustrate their manuscripts. This can prevent all-male or all-White projects and can have the impact of increasing the numbers of BIPOC illustrators publishing books. At the same time, I can also see where this might end up assuaging guilt and supporting that “comfortable halfway-path” you describe. <br /><br />If someone is thinking we’re reading too much into this, one challenge might be to look for books where a BIPOC author has written about any nonfiction subject, and a White artist has been hired to illustrate it. Can you think of any? (I can think of only a few.) That it is harder to list the latter and super easy to list the former shows that this pattern is undeniable.<br /><br />Looking at biographies about BIPOC subjects written by White people can also reveal (through the topics and themes that keep emerging: pain narratives, books about athletes and musicians from more than a half-century ago, etc.) where White adult interest lies. When White creators and publishers control the industry, White people are determining what is interesting, which stories are worthy of exploration, whose stories are being told, and how they are told through text (White-authored books, even biographies about BIPOC subjects, often appear to speak to White readers as a default audience). What topics, themes, or subjects might emerge (or how might these same stories be written differently) if these books were not authored by White people? <br /><br />SAM: I think you’re both right about this pattern being more palatable for the White-dominated publishing world. Think of the White authors who have made a career writing books about BIPOC subjects - I wonder how often one of these authors thinks to themselves, “Hmmm, maybe I should step aside and let an insider tell this story.” Recently I heard <a href="https://www.facebook.com/readingspark/posts/10109526635961986">a story about a White author</a> being asked what research they did before writing a book centered around a culture that wasn’t their own. The author’s response? That they “probably should have.” (I asked for and was given permission to link to the post in question.) The sheer audacity to not only try to tell the story instead of using one’s privilege to leverage a BIPOC voice, but also to show such flippant disregard for authenticity? That’s a White people thing.<br /><br />ELISA: That’s an all-around yikes and YES. Another thing we White people like to do is pretend that because informational texts are rooted in facts, that they are somehow race-neutral and that the identity of the creator does not matter. (Pretending Whiteness has no meaning is a pretty effective strategy to both ignore and maintain White dominance.) Remember when the Tham Luang cave rescue happened last year in Thailand? I remember listening to voices on Twitter talking about what an awesome children’s book the story would make, but also joking that a White person would probably write and publish it first. Sure enough, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40944415-rising-water">that’s what happened</a>. All books contain a point of view--including informational texts. And that’s before we address how many children’s books claiming to be nonfiction actually contain misinformation, stereotypes, or nothing at all about BIPOC (straight up erasure). <br /><br />ALLIE: I also think about the impact on BIPOC illustrators, to have these projects so constant and prevalent. Your job is still to illustrate a White person's words. And the message implicitly sent to White illustrators: You don't have to deign to illustrate the books that "those people" write.<br /><br />These messages are deeply dangerous. The <a href="https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pcstats.asp">CCBC statistics</a> we’re all so familiar with are highly useful, but statistics alone do not tell the full story, do not encapsulate all the subtle methods by which White people cling to a White-dominant world--in this case, by controlling who gets to tell the story.<br /><br />SAM: So where does this leave us; namely, what can I do as a _____ (fill in the blank: teacher, librarian, caregiver, general kidlit person, etc.) to make sure I de-center the dominant White cishet male gaze in books about marginalized people and groups in as many ways as possible - the writing, the visuals, all the way down to the editing and publishing - in my interactions with the children in my life? How do we (speaking now about the wider kidlit world) make sure we de-center the dominant White cishet male gaze in books about marginalized people and groups in as many ways as possible - again, the writing, the visuals, all the way down to the editing and publishing? Should publishers hire sensitivity readers for nonfiction titles in which the book creators do not share the same identity/identities as the person or groups that the book centers? We in the kidlit community need to consider the ramifications of this pattern.<br /><br />ALLIE: Well, I’m a definite “yes” on that last question, and I know many publishers do indeed hire sensitivity readers for nonfiction as well as fiction (good on them.)<br /><br />I think for me, it comes down to recognizing that this pattern is part of a system of White oppression in children’s literature. That system is nuanced and tricky. It adapts to challenges to its power, and those adaptations aren’t always immediately obvious. We won’t out-smart racism by introducing more binaries (“#OwnVoices Only!!”) into the equation, but we can recognize racist patterns for what they are, and use the tools available to us to fight (e.g. the OwnVoices identifier) against these racist patterns.<br /><br />ELISA: Agree. And I'm pushing myself to remember, always, that although there are a lot of adults in the kidlit ecosystem, it is young readers who are on the receiving end of these patterns once these books are out in the world and into their lives.Reading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-43310372985052555562019-06-10T05:00:00.000-04:002019-06-10T07:41:11.361-04:00Summer Reading<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s almost summer, which means people are starting to plan or make goals for their next few months of reading. If you’re looking for recommendations, look no further than </span><a href="https://wtpsite.wordpress.com/2019/03/24/2019-summer-reading-list/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the 2019 Summer Reading List</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> published by the </span><a href="https://wtpsite.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We Are Kid Lit Collective</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Formerly known as We’re the People, the </span><a href="https://wtpsite.wordpress.com/about-us/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We Are Kid Lit Collective </span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was founded by Edi Campbell in 2015. The website explains that the group "</span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">works</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to </span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">create materials and opportunities to recognize the humanity of Indigenous and People of Color (IPOC) in youth literature. Our work is premised upon the principles of social justice, equity, and inclusion and centers IPOC voices in children’s literature in order to identify, challenge and dismantle while supremacy and both internalized and systemic racism. Our intended audience includes educators, librarians, caregivers and young people. We look for ways to improve the literacies of IPOC children, promote books written by and about IPOC, and to encourage gatekeepers to bring a lens of critical literacy to their work." </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><a href="https://wtpsite.wordpress.com/2019/03/24/2019-summer-reading-list/" style="text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2019 Summer Reading List</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was curated by a team of authors, librarians, and scholars: Tad Andracki, Edi Campbell, Laura Jiménez, Sujei Lugo, Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Debbie Reese, and Dr. Sonia Alejandra Rodriguez. Every title was read and vetted by at least two professionals to ensure the books celebrate “diversity, inclusivity, and intersecting identities.” Check out the list and all of the other resources available on the <a href="https://wtpsite.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">We Are Kid Lit page</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What additional books are you looking forward to reading this summer? Please share in the comments. Here are a few titles some of the RWW contributors are excited to read or recommend:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jenna</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: The only Octavia Butler I’ve read is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kindred</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, so I’m excited to delve into more of her work, starting with this new edition of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Parable of the Sower</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. My favorite book of the year so far is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by debut author Roselle Lim so I’ve been recommending that nonstop as a great summer read.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Allie: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I cannot WAIT to dive into </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States For Young People</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Debbie Reese, and Jean Mendoza. For my own recommendation, although this came out a while ago, I want everyone to read </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mother of the Sea</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Zetta Elliott, a novella that straddles the line between YA and Adult and between realism and magical realism. It’s a powerful work of art and activism.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sam: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, I’m currently in the midst of Ebony Elizabeth Thomas’s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> which is required reading for everyone in children’s and young adult literature. I just finished </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good Talk: a Memoir in Conversations</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Mira Jacob, and it was one of those books that you want to reread the moment you finish it. (The only reason I didn’t do that was because of the size of my to-read pile!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Megan: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m looking forward to both </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Dark Fantastic</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the adaptation of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An Indigenous People’s History of the United States .</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Recent or not-so-recent reads I can’t stop thinking about include </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Griefkeeper </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Alexandra Villasante (just finished!), </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love from A to Z </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by S.K. Ali, and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Place to Belong </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Cynthia Kadohata. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The New Kid</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Jerry Craft is about the school year but so funny and fearless that there’s never not a good time to read it. Finally, although it’s not by a BIPOC author, I want to also give a shout out to A.S. King’s </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dig, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which has me thinking a lot about how White writers can address race and racism--something I think this book excels at (and although I wouldn’t say it’s the main point of the story, it’s not </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the point, either).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Elisa: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">There are so many good books here! My summer book club is discussing </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">The Dark Fantastic </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">and </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States For Young People</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">, so I’ll be reading those too</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m also looking forward to reading and learning from</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;"> Eve Ewing’s </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">1919, </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">a book of poetry spotlighting stories from the Chicago race riot. Another one on my to-read list for August (when it gets released) is Ibram X. Kendi’s </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">How to Be an Antiracist. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;">I recommend everybody take a look at</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This Place: 150 Years Retold, </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a comics anthology exploring stories of Indigenous resistance and leadership past, present, and future.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kazia: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like Sam, I just read </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good Talk</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and can’t recommend it enough! I have two nonfiction titles at the top of my (small) TBR pile of books for grownups:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Esmé Weijun Wang and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Bound Woman Is a Dangerous Thing: The Incarceration of African American Women from Harriet Tubman to Sandra Bland</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by DaMaris B. Hill. Last year I read and loved </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Kiss Quotient</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Helen Hoang, so this summer I’m also really excited to get my hands on her sophomore romance, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bride Test</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">!</span></div>
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<br />Reading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-13120107338196133142019-05-13T05:00:00.000-04:002019-05-13T05:00:06.503-04:00Problematic Patterns In White Narratives About BIPOC Critique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigB3B2RtvUfXSTceHAisS5KibQcfS_rpZ9Zl5hL5DVUIioV2NY-giEVO1x6mrB3dR_GxProd990RVtOQciAnApC-wiGjgV7Efv1w7lYhiJOVJgOdz0_bm1eMBu8_7exvUGwF2_yEyAKqKW/s1600/Allie+Jane+Bruce+portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1262" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigB3B2RtvUfXSTceHAisS5KibQcfS_rpZ9Zl5hL5DVUIioV2NY-giEVO1x6mrB3dR_GxProd990RVtOQciAnApC-wiGjgV7Efv1w7lYhiJOVJgOdz0_bm1eMBu8_7exvUGwF2_yEyAKqKW/s200/Allie+Jane+Bruce+portrait.jpg" width="157" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVZ5QwtLw8MW0Fy4ytrIXEt5kAgS4uzkp4KjKKr9iophhhS43QulDkuh8mVlQrfF14dY0GhTIs3Y2NXKavlsBgTVWVOIwbaVHBCRiNwNWwLBBAMZJK45FHHILEdM1kr1aag05i_sX1djH/s1600/Kazia+Berkley-Cramer+portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1262" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVZ5QwtLw8MW0Fy4ytrIXEt5kAgS4uzkp4KjKKr9iophhhS43QulDkuh8mVlQrfF14dY0GhTIs3Y2NXKavlsBgTVWVOIwbaVHBCRiNwNWwLBBAMZJK45FHHILEdM1kr1aag05i_sX1djH/s200/Kazia+Berkley-Cramer+portrait.jpg" width="157" /></a>“Cancel culture,” “Attack,” “Toxic,” “YA Twitter mob,” “McCarthyism,” “Apartheid,” “Online lynch mob,” “New-Age censorship,” “Orwellian,” “Cesspool,” “Public shaming,” “Pile-on culture,” “Thought police,” “Book burners,” “Diversity Stormtroopers,” “Cannibalistic,” “Dangerous people…”<br />
<br />The list goes on and on (and on and on). These are just some of the phrases regularly leveled at BIPOC scholars who utilize anti-racist lenses in their critiques of children’s literature.<br /><br />Who levels these charges? Overwhelmingly, White people: librarians, teachers, book creators, publishing professionals, journalists, bloggers, and more.<br /><br />Today, we examine patterns that crop up time and time again as White people create, disseminate, and escalate racist narratives about BIPOC advocates and criticism in the world of children’s literature.<br /><br />(“We,” today, is Allie and Kazia Berkley-Cramer, our newest RWW member, who you can read more about at the end of this piece. Welcome, Kazia!)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
THE PATTERN</div>
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Critique and criticism are an integral part of any literary or artistic community, and the world of children’s literature is no exception. Members of the community--reviewers, creators, librarians, teachers, booksellers, parents, authors and artists themselves--constantly share feedback publicly, whether on Goodreads, blogs, Twitter, or other preferred social media platforms. It’s part of the process. And at least once a year, a children’s or YA book--often a highly anticipated release--is publicly critiqued and the situation quickly escalates. <br /><br />Here is the pattern we’re seeing:<br /><ol>
<li>As per usual in children’s lit publishing, folks from the community get hold of a galley, egalley, jacket copy, art sample, early copy, etc. of a book.</li>
<li>Folks (usually BIPOC) provide critique laying out the precise ways the work reinforces problematic, oppressive ideologies, sometimes asking others to reconsider their initial enthusiasm--sometimes publicly, sometimes privately, sometimes semi-privately. These are often intra-community conversations.</li>
<li>White people, especially journalists with mainstream platforms and huge numbers of followers, blow up these discussions--mischaracterizing the nature of criticism, equating critique with attack, ascribing motives that include jealousy, attention-seeking, and downright malice, describing the critical community in ways that <a href="https://medium.com/@justinaireland/ya-twitter-is-a-bottomless-well-for-click-bait-articles-heres-why-a46d18b2faf9" target="_blank">depend on racist and sexist stereotypes</a>, crying “censorship” and “book banning” and leaving all nuanced discussions behind.</li>
</ol>
In her recent Arbuthnot lecture, Dr. Debbie Reese commented on the long history of this pattern, which predates social media and the Internet itself, and the media’s framing of these discussions. “Instead of taking children’s literature seriously… and the analysis that we try to do as critics of children’s literature, it got framed as entertainment, and drama. Assaults on freedom of speech. To the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/link%20https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1004138034881851392?lang=en" target="_blank">[Diversity] Jedi</a>, those mainstream articles were ignoring the criticism that can shape children’s literature, and they were ignoring the audience for all these books. That audience is young people.… For the mainstream media, articles about these books were part of the 24-hour news cycle. They were big news in these 24-hour periods, gone from the next 24-hour cycle. But for the parents, and the teachers, and the librarians that use children’s books, and for the writers and editors and publishers, reviewers and critics who create, promote, and study children’s books, our concerns about books are not a 24-hour news cycle. For those of us who believe in the power of children’s books, we’re in it 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. We know children’s books shape the future. For hundreds of years, Whiteness has had its way, but today, we’re using social media to push against Whiteness.” (We highly recommend the entire speech, which you can see <a href="https://wpt4.org/wpt-education-livestream/" target="_blank">here</a>. These remarks, 50:20-52:53.) The media’s framing, with its emphasis on “drama,” ignores the context of these discussions and their place in the long history of the fight for BIPOC representation. It also ignores the real impacts these books have on real people--primarily children.<br /><br />When the overwhelmingly White, mainstream, media report on these “dramas,” they rarely include the voices of the BIPOC scholars whose critiques are under fire. We highly recommend following our Kindred Spirits (list on the right-hand side of the screen) as they lead the field of criticism as well as discussions about criticism. We especially recommend, in addition to viewing Dr. Reese’s Arbuthnot lecture, <a href="https://twitter.com/Ebonyteach/status/697886384523190272" target="_blank">these</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Ebonyteach/status/1121400227951464449" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Ebonyteach/status/1126509874316136449" target="_blank">threads</a> by Dr. Ebony Elizabeth Thomas.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
CYCLICAL WHITE SUPREMACY, HYPOCRISY, AND FRAGILITY AT WORK</div>
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When White folks jump in, leveling charges of censorship and thought policing, responding as if the very existence of criticism with an anti-oppression lens is irrational and unexpected and new, they can literally endanger the lives of critics who have been doing this work for eons. To call criticism a “mob” or similar is to further marginalize already marginalized voices, to irrationalize them and often to equate oppressed groups with oppressors, such as when online voices are referred to as “lynch mobs.” Equating resistance to oppression with oppression itself is a highly effective, long-practiced technique used to weaken that resistance. Framing advocacy for marginalized groups as “violent” also ignores the fact that <a href="https://booktoss.blog/2019/05/02/muted-but-not-silenced/" target="_blank">BIPOC critics run the risk of real violence</a> from White supremacists and other terrorists who wish them bodily harm. The vast majority of us would never send a threat of violence, or wish such a thing on anyone, but when we White people buy into the narrative that BIPOC critics are “overly forceful” or “violent”--even White people who <a href="http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2019/04/seizing-narrative.html" target="_blank">want to support their advocacy work</a>--we are part of this problem.<br /><br />Many times, White journalists (and non-journalists) cite the fact that many of these conversations happen on social media as evidence of the irrationality and ignorance informing it--conveniently disregarding that many of the people engaging and leading these discussions on social media are experts in their fields, with enormous credentials and decades of experience. White professionals frame the BIPOC who participate in criticism, especially women, as ringleaders, out to censor and damage other authors. This framing is <a href="https://medium.com/@justinaireland/ya-twitter-is-a-bottomless-well-for-click-bait-articles-heres-why-a46d18b2faf9" target="_blank">rooted in racist and sexist stereotypes</a>, not in facts. And although the presence or absence of scholarly qualifications shouldn’t ever disqualify someone’s lived experience, framing BIPOC critics doing advocacy work as an “angry Twitter mob” railroads over the fact that many of those prominent critics hold PhDs.<div>
<br />And when White journalists who employ all of the above techniques insert themselves into conversation about and/or among BIPOC critics and creators, they exploit the intra-community nature of these conversations and discredit the multi-varied expertise, opinions, and experience of Black, Indigenous, and people of color--an especially pernicious and toxic form of racism.<br /><br />As Sam Bloom <a href="http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2019/04/an-open-letter-to-scales-on-censorship.html" target="_blank">notes</a>, we as a broad professional community, and White people in particular, need to come to terms with our hypocrisy in discussion criticism--who gets to be a critic, and when? Do we only cite BIPOC criticism when it’s convenient and furthers our viewpoint, or do we genuinely absorb what these scholars say to better form our own opinions? Do we value “professional” reviews over blogging and other social media, thereby prioritizing people who have the privilege of time (and thus also money) to review for journals, either completely for free or very little? While several organizations, including Kirkus and SLJ, have made a particular effort to diversify their staff of reviewers (in the best and broadest sense of the term), those with the time, energy, and connections outside of their “regular” jobs to take on this work are few and far between.<br /><br />And, accusations of censorship are often wielded as clubs to strike down well-reasoned arguments; who gets to wield these clubs? Who gets to say “this is censorship” and have that sentiment believed? Throughout modern US history, the answer is almost always: White people. When BIPOC cite the <a href="https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pcstats.asp" target="_blank">CCBC statistics</a> as evidence of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/29/smiling-slaves-the-real-censorship-in-childrens-books" target="_blank">the censorship of BIPOC voices</a>, do prominent anti-censorship organizations like the NCAC and PEN throw the weight of their institutional support behind them? We’ve yet to see that.<br /><br />Furthermore, whose books are canceled or postponed or celebrated by the establishment? Who bounces back, and how easily? We’ve seen an abundance of White authors and illustrators--Sophie Blackall, Jack Gantos, Daniel Handler, Meg Rosoff, Lane Smith, Raina Telgemeier, Jonah Winter, Nora Raleigh Baskin--win awards, headline book festivals, and publish further titles with ease after BIPOC scholars and critics laid bare the racism in their words, works, and deeds. Indeed, each of these authors had a long list of White protectors ready to go to bat for them, and none of them has had books actually canceled due to a public, critical outcry. This is White privilege at work.<br /><br />Note, too, the pattern of specific anti-Blackness at work here--the protective outcry in defense of Black creators has been strikingly small in comparison to the fervent defense we see time and again of non-Black creators, especially of White creators. We urge anyone who believes Black creators are treated equally in this industry to check both the facts and their privilege.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
ASKS FOR OUR FELLOW WHITE PEOPLE</div>
</div>
<div>
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<br /></div>
Fellow White people, we ask you to consider how you perpetuate racism in how you talk and write about BIPOC critics. We ask that you evaluate your priorities, consider that books have an impact on their readers, and that impact CAN be harmful. We at Reading While White are White folks committed to learning about, and undoing, our <a href="https://ayadeleon.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/white-fragility-the-day-of-the-dead-and-the-power-of-the-second-person-with-bonus-are-you-racist-quiz/" target="_blank">White fragility in the context of how we respond to criticism</a>--we ask you to join us in that commitment.<br /><br />We ask you to consider this: choosing to not buy, not read, not keep, or not lift up books that are not in keeping with values of embracing equity is NOT censorship. Choosing not to provide additional platforms for creators who perpetuate racism and white supremacy is NOT censorship.<br /><br />We ask that, before you level knee-jerk and irresponsible accusations of “censorship”, you consider this: do you believe that critics have the right to criticize? Or does that not fall under your definition of “free speech”? And, in turn, by leveling charges of censorship, who might you be silencing? We ask you to listen and understand critique for exactly what it is: asks for action, asks for better.<br /><br /><br />-Allie Jane Bruce<br /></div>
<div>
-Kazia Berkley-Cramer is excited to be joining the team at Reading While White! She’s been an avid (but quiet) reader of the blog since its inception, and is honored to be jumping into the fray. She is a White children’s librarian at a medium-sized public library, and in addition to an MS in library science, she also holds an MA in children’s literature. She co-founded the Stonewall speculation blog <a href="https://medalonmymind.com/" target="_blank">Medal on My Mind</a>, is a book reviewer, and served as a member of the 2019 Sibert Award committee.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-49929346248275076102019-05-08T11:39:00.000-04:002019-05-10T15:10:48.169-04:00An Open Letter Regarding The ABC of It: Why Children’s Books Matter Exhibit at the UMN Children’s Literature Research Collections<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Today, members of the children’s
literature community ask for action and change from the curators of an exhibit currently housed at the University of Minnesota.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Please read the letter below and
leave a comment that includes your name if you would like to lend your support. (If
you have trouble commenting, please email us at </i><a href="mailto:readingwhilewhite@gmail.com">readingwhilewhite@gmail.com</a><i> with
the text of your comment, and we will gladly post it on your behalf.)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">[Ed. 9am 5/9/19: Please note that we will wrap up signature gathering at 4:30 pm EST today (Thursday, May 9), and will also close comments at that time. We will send this letter with signatures to the Kerlan Board this afternoon at their board meeting. Ed. 4:30pm 5/9/19: Comments for this post are now closed.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">May 8,
2019<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Leonard
S. Marcus and Lisa Von Drasek, Curators<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Members
of the Kerlan Board<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">The
ABC of It: Why Children’s Books Matter<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Children’s
Literature Research Collections (CLRC Kerlan)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Anderson
Library, University of Minnesota<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Dear Mr.
Marcus and Ms. Von Drasek,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">We write
to you today to ask for a public response to concerns regarding the erasure of
racism in books and by authors featured in the exhibit, </span><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The</span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">ABC</span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">of</span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">It</span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">: </span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Why</span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Children</span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">’</span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">s</span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Books</span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Matter</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">, that was first mounted at The
New York Public Library in 2013 and brought to the University of Minnesota </span><a href="https://www.lib.umn.edu/clrc"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">CLRC</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">
with an accompanying book in February of 2019. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Racism
in societal institutions is more visible than ever and is being addressed in
museums, schools, and in the children’s book industry. In this moment, the
exhibit that proclaims that “children’s books matter” uses children’s books and
words about those books to tell Indigenous People and People of Color that
their children’s experiences with anti-Native and racist books do not matter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Before
the exhibit’s opening events on February 26 and 27, Trisha Speed Shaskan and
other children’s book authors questioned Von Drasek on her directive to
docents:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">“Don’t
be political. Do be culturally sensitive. For example Dr. Seuss was a
racist. Yes he was, there is certainly a time and a place to discuss this.
Comments can be put on post-its on the second floor. Caddie Woodlawn is racist.
Yes it is. Again we welcome discussion. This exhibit is through one lens, there
are others.” (Lisa Von Drasek, docent training document)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">We are
astonished that while Von Drasek acknowledged the well-documented histories of
these books’ racist content, she refused to add new signage. Instead, she added
a display of academic articles in the corner of the second floor. The exhibit
opened and was not well-received by many members of the children’s literature
community, particularly because neither the February 26 nor February 27 event
included Q&A opportunities to publicly address these concerns with both
Leonard Marcus and Lisa Von Drasek. On March 6, Von Drasek added signage to a
few of the exhibits, but their placement and size are insufficient. She also
began publishing a series of blog posts addressing the racism in Seuss and <i>Caddie
Woodlawn</i> on the UMN Continuum’s </span><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/kerlan/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Blue</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/kerlan/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/kerlan/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Ox</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/kerlan/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/kerlan/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Review</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">
page, but when they were criticized, they were revised, deleted, and
republished again, without explanation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Another
response was to announce the “</span><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">ABC</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">of</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">It</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">: </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Whose</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Story</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">is</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Being</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Told</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">? </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Race</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">, </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Inclusion</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">, </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">and</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Representation</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">in</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Children</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">’</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">s</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Literature</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">” panel, to be held on May 10.
Katie Ishizuka and Ram<span style="background: white; mso-pattern: solid white; mso-shading: white;">ó</span>n Stephens, authors of an </span><a href="https://sophia.stkate.edu/rdyl/vol1/iss2/4/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">article</span></a><a href="https://sophia.stkate.edu/rdyl/vol1/iss2/4/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://sophia.stkate.edu/rdyl/vol1/iss2/4/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">on</span></a><a href="https://sophia.stkate.edu/rdyl/vol1/iss2/4/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://sophia.stkate.edu/rdyl/vol1/iss2/4/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Seuss</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">, and Dawn Quigley, author of an </span><a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/645147/summary"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">article</span></a><a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/645147/summary"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/645147/summary"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">on</span></a><a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/645147/summary"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/645147/summary"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Caddie</span></i></a><a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/645147/summary"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/645147/summary"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Woodlawn</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">, were invited to speak on the
panel. When Ishizuka and Stephens learned about the whiteness and whitewashing
of the exhibit and hostile responses to those who had spoken out about it, they
communicated their concerns to Von Drasek in writing and verbally. Von Drasek
failed to address, or even acknowledge, any of their concerns, which reflected
the collective concerns of their colleagues of color, who have been silenced,
ignored, gaslighted, and further marginalized through this process. In protest
of the individual and institutional racism occurring around the exhibit, they
canceled their participation in the panel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">On
Friday, May 3, the panel was canceled because the fourth panelist, Andrea Davis
Pinkney, was not able to attend. The </span><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">web</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/event/the-abc-of-it-whose-story-is-being-told/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">page</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> with that announcement indicated
that it may be rescheduled. There was no invitation to ask other panelists, or
for the event to continue with Dawn Quigley.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">While
blog posts and panels can be useful, they are ultimately of no use to the
initial visitors who went through the exhibit without the new signage providing
some context to artists like Theodor Geisel or with books like <i>Caddie
Woodlawn</i> and <i>Little Black Sambo</i>. As well, they are of little use to
those reading the accompanying book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Given
the totality of these events, and because the exhibit is expected to travel to
new communities, we the undersigned members of the children’s book community in
Minnesota and beyond, recognize that the CLRC is an essential and respected
institution in the study of children’s literature and therefore respectfully
request that the CLRC: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: .25in .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Acknowledge
that <i>The ABC of It</i> exhibit and book were flawed in their inception and
execution<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: .25in .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Explain
why blog posts were posted, revised, deleted, and re-posted without comment<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: .25in .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Update
the accompanying <i>The ABC of It </i>book to include more context for Seuss, <i>Caddie
Woodlawn</i>, and other problematic works as identified <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: .25in .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Agree
that the exhibit, as it travels to new communities, and the digital educational
materials to be launched in September 2019, will contain the additional signage
and/or more information<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: .25in .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Include
the BIPOC literary community in future exhibit- and event-planning committees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">We await
your reply.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">John
Coy, children’s book author, former Kerlan Board member and Kerlan Award winner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Sarah
Park Dahlen, Associate Professor and former Kerlan Board member<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Shannon
Gibney<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Katie
Ishizuka, The Conscious Kid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Dawn
Quigley (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe), Asst professor, children's book author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Debbie
Reese (Nambé Pueblo), American Indians in Children’s Literature; 2019 Arbuthnot
Lecturer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Stephen
Shaskan, current Kerlan Board member, children’s book author & illustrator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Trisha
Speed Shaskan, Kerlan volunteer, children’s book author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Ramón
Stephens, The Conscious Kid <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Martha
Brockenbrough, children’s book author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Anne
Ursu, children’s book author <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Kelly
Barnhill, children’s book author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Edith
Campbell, librarian; blogger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Nina
Victor Crittenden, children’s book illustrator and author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Sarah
Hamburg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Laura
Hamor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Sarah
Warren, children’s book author/early childhood educator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Kirstin
Cronn-Mills, children’s book author and educator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">H.M.
Bouwman, Professor and children’s author </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Dr.
Laura M. Jimenez, Boston University<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Sally
Morgan, children’s book author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Kristin
Johnson, children’s book author, writing instructor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Stephanie
Watson, children’s book author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Cristina
Rhodes, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Bao Phi,
Children’s Book author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Andrew
Karre<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Megan
Maynor, children’s book author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Swati
Avasthi, children’s book author and professor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">John
Yopp<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Nicholas
Yopp<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Savita
Yopp, student<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Molly
Beth Griffin, children’s book author and educator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Ebony
Elizabeth Thomas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Susan
Marie Swanson, children’s book author and educator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Tasslyn
Magnusson, PhD, poet and children’s book author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Olivia
Ghafoerkhan, children’s book author and professor <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Cori
Doerrfeld, children’s book author and illustrator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Regina
Santiago<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Chayse
Sundt, youth librarian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Mike
Jung, children’s book author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Kristin
McIlhagga, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Megan
Atwood, children’s book author and professor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Kate
Messner, children’s book author and educator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Marcie
Rendon, author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Charlotte
Sullivan Wild, children's book author, former educator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Jean
Mendoza, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Laura
Ruby, children’s book author and educator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Peter
Pearson, children’s book author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Sherrie
Fernandez-Williams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">Links to
more information regarding the exhibit:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">ABC</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">of</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">It</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">: </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Why</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Children</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">’</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">s</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Books</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Matter</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> | </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Continuum</span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> | </span></a><a href="https://www.continuum.umn.edu/2019/02/the-abc-of-it/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">UMN</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Marcus,
Leonard. 2019. </span><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The</span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">ABC</span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">of</span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">It</span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">: </span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Why</span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Children</span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">’</span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">s</span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Books</span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></i></a><a href="https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/the-abc-of-it"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Matter</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">. University of Minnesota Press.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Kirch,
Claire. 2019 January 10. </span><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Kerlan</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Collection</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Adapts</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> 2013 ‘</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">ABC</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">of</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">It</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">’ </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/78967-kerlan-collection-adapts-2013-the-abc-of-it-exhibition.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Exhibition</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">. <i>Publishers Weekly</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Reese.
Debbie. 2019 March 6. Debbie. </span><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">A</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Critical</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Review</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">of</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">THE</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">ABC</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">OF</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">IT</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">: </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">WHY</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">CHILDREN</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">’</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">S</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">BOOKS</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">MATTER</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">by</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Leonard</span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-critical-review-of-abc-of-it-why.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Marcus</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">. <i>American Indians in
Children’s Literature</i> blog. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Kirch,
Claire. 2019 March 7. </span><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">‘</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">ABC</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">of</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">It</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">’ </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Opens</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">at</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">the</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Kerlan</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Collection</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">: </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">A</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Photo</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79457-the-abc-of-it-opens-at-the-kerlan-collection-a-photo-essay.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Essay</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">. <i>Publishers Weekly</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Kirch,
Claire. 2019 March 12. </span><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">An</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">ABC</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">of</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Controversy</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">: </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Kerlan</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Collection</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Tweaks</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Exhibit</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">in</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Response</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">to</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Concerns</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">about</span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/79502-an-abc-of-controversy-the-kerlan-collection-tweaks-exhibit-in-response-to-concerns-about-racist-content.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Racism</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">. <i>Publishers Weekly</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Reese,
Debbie. 2019 May 2. </span><a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1124113310759235584?s=21"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">A</span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1124113310759235584?s=21"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1124113310759235584?s=21"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Brief</span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1124113310759235584?s=21"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1124113310759235584?s=21"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Visit</span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1124113310759235584?s=21"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1124113310759235584?s=21"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">to</span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1124113310759235584?s=21"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> </span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1124113310759235584?s=21"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Minneapolis</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">. <i>Twitter</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Reading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com295tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-21244952378989026832019-04-23T15:00:00.000-04:002019-04-25T20:14:02.507-04:00An Open Letter to the Children's Book Guild<i>Today, Martha Brockenbrough, Julie Foster Hedlund, and Ishta Mercurio ask for action and change from the Children's Book Guild in response to an incident that occurred at a recent event.<br /><br />Please read the letter below and leave a comment that includes your name if you'd like to lend your support.</i><br />
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[Ed. 9am 4/25/19: Please note that we will wrap up signature gathering at 8pm EST tonight (Thursday, April 25th), and will also close comments at that time. We will send this letter with signatures to the CBG the following morning.<br />
Update 8:15pm 4/25/19: Comments are now closed.]<br />
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April 23, 2019<br />
Rhoda Trooboff<br />
Children’s Book Guild<br />
Childrensbookguild@yahoo.com<br />
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Dear Ms. Trooboff:<br />
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We are members of the children’s book community writing in support of Carole Lindstrom, who was treated in an unacceptable manner at a recent luncheon. We are also writing in support of Dr. Debbie Reese, a respected authority in children’s literature and the representation of American Indians. And we are writing to suggest some changes to your protocol for handling these incidents when they occur.<br />
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To summarize what happened: Your membership chair, Jacqueline Jules, initiated a conversation with Ms. Lindstrom during the lunch. Ms. Jules wanted to know what Ms. Lindstrom thought of Dr. Reese, and the intentions behind Ms. Jules’s questioning do not appear to be benign.<br />
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Dr. Reese, who is so respected in the field as to be selected to give the prestigious May Hill Arbuthnot lecture, is frequently criticized by people who do not wish to understand her work, and who do not wish to understand the nuances of cultural representation. She is beloved by people who are committed to writing better books for the children we serve. She is patient, generous with her time, straightforward with her comments, and has made a groundbreaking difference in understanding racism directed at Indigenous people.<br />
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Ms. Jules’ question itself was inappropriate. Dr. Reese is an industry professional, and it is in bad form to disparage an industry professional at an industry function. Furthermore, when Ms. Lindstrom explained that Dr. Reese is a friend, Ms. Jules should have dropped the subject to respect that statement and the boundary it implied. Ms. Jules did not. Instead, she continued, prompting Ms. Lindstrom to leave the luncheon. Then she initiated unwanted physical contact with Ms. Lindstrom, and then she followed her outside after Ms. Lindstrom had made it clear she wanted no part of the discussion.<br />
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No one inside the room did anything to end this disturbing treatment or to intervene on behalf of a guest. What’s more, when your organization heard Ms. Lindstrom’s complaint, you shared it with Ms. Jules without first getting Ms. Lindstrom’s consent. And you do not seem to have any sort of policy for your organization on harassment, or any protocol in place for bystanders to intervene and end the harassment. It also confused many people aware of what had transpired that your organization would choose this week to single out Ms. Jules as “Author of the Day,” a choice that seems the opposite of apologetic. [Clarification: The “Author of the Day” designation was created by the Chesapeake Children’s Festival, not by the Children’ Book Guild. The CBG was boosting the promotion.]<br />
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We, the undersigned, believe the Children’s Book Guild owes Ms. Lindstrom and Dr. Reese apologies, and we believe you would be well-served by creating policies that protect people from harassment of all sorts when they attend your meetings.<br />
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Sincerely yours,<br />
<br />
Martha Brockenbrough<br />
Julie Foster Hedlund<br />
Ishta Mercurio<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Martha Brockenbrough is the author of many works of fiction and nonfiction for young readers. She teaches at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.<br />Julie Foster Hedlund is an author, freelance writer, and founder of 12x12, program to support motivation and accountability for picture book writers. <br />Ishta Mercurio is the author of the forthcoming picture book SMALL WORLD, illustrated by Jen Corace and published by Abrams.</span><br />
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[Ed. 6:45pm 4/23/19: We hear some people are having trouble commenting. If this is you, please feel free to email us, <a href="mailto:readingwhilewhite@gmail.com">readingwhilewhite@gmail.com</a>, with the text of your comment. We'll be glad to post it on your behalf.]Unknownnoreply@blogger.com398tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-8873440151061757082019-04-18T05:00:00.000-04:002019-04-18T05:00:02.207-04:00Seizing the Narrative<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSfcub8KLQFKjbIZgcMspWFzhQ7GdItzoZzh_MHLFJnP1mCgRLNCvLNxWqAjPBWRZYJubtG8ba2Ji-hry-g42i0VDyZvKTNzN6yblXB1JvIsJvWuctW7vmB6X5WwB309RRtqi8HiG428/s1600/ninalindsay-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="946" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSfcub8KLQFKjbIZgcMspWFzhQ7GdItzoZzh_MHLFJnP1mCgRLNCvLNxWqAjPBWRZYJubtG8ba2Ji-hry-g42i0VDyZvKTNzN6yblXB1JvIsJvWuctW7vmB6X5WwB309RRtqi8HiG428/s320/ninalindsay-01.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Saturday April 13th I attended the </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/2019-arbuthnot-honor-lecture" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2019 Arbuthnot Honor Lecture delivered by Dr. Debbie Reese</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It was clarifying and motivating, and I have since been thinking more about the way the work of Dr. Reese and other BIPOC colleagues is framed within the field of youth literature. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In her </span><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/diversity-jedi/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 4</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7.199999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">column at Kirkus Reviews</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that looked forward to the lecture, Children’s Editor Vicky Smith provided a much-needed counterpoint to the wave of attacks on “Toxic Twitter” and the marginalizing of bloggers within the youth literature industry. In it, I see her deliberately using language of active change-making often used to defame women of color and Native women, and instead praising it (emphases added): </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I celebrate the Diversity Jedi who have </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">seized</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the children’s-literature conversation from those who’ve controlled it and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">forced it</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to open up.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Reese’s is one voice among many that have been raised in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sustained, earned rage</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> over the past several years, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">demanding</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that the industry do better in its representation of marginalized identities.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The methods of the Diversity Jedi are often </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not gentle</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I know this from personal experience. But (if you permit the extension of the metaphor) it takes </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">concerted, violent effort</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to take out the Death Star.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She defends the use of “rage” and “violent effort” to make needed positive change against a force that is in itself violent, as she alludes through her “Death Star” metaphor, and that is an appropriate argument. But I am also concerned that without understanding why and how these kinds of words have been used to denounce Dr. Reese and BIPOC </span><a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1004138034881851392" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Diversity Jedi</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, this argument might play into the hands of those who condemn anger when it comes from a BIPOC community—most frequently women of color and Native women—as a way of shoring up the status quo of White supremacy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all get angry, but only some of us are allowed to express it “righteously.” I emailed briefly with Vicky Smith this week regarding her editorial and the issues it brought up for me, and she pointed out: "I figure if people are mad, it’s a good idea to try to understand why." </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I’d like to think about other ways to describe what we are doing when we engage in these critical spaces, and how to recognize what we each bring with us to that space.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What others have called “angry” I have understood to be raising one’s voice to be heard because White people are not listening. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What others have condemned as “violent” I see as activism that threatens the status quo, to which the status quo reacts.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What others have called “unprofessional” I see as colleagues disrupting an unspoken code of Whiteness that has nothing to do with our work, and in fact prevents us from doing our work by preventing us from questioning. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are other words to describe the work of the Dr. Reese and many of the Diversity Jedi: </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inquisitiveness. Seeing something not right—Whiteness’s refusal to admit the stranglehold it has on children’s literature—Dr. Reese asks questions. She has dedicated her career to it, and her critical analyses are based in questions. By asking a question, she asks us to engage in a different perspective, which is surely the point of critical analysis, but may not be where Whiteness was trying to keep the conversation. I think this is what is perceived of as “seizing the conversation.”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Persistence. Undoing the hold of White supremacy on our professional discourse and the creative process of writing and illustrating books and media for youth is the work of generations. Racism is persistent, so only by exposing and pressing against it persistently can we make any change. I think this is what is perceived of as “demanding.” </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intrepidness. Every time I see Dr. Reese speak, I am amazed at how undaunted she appears. Not fearless, perhaps, but working with clear sight of the threats facing her. I think this is what is perceived of as “not gentle.” What does being gentle with racism get anyone? </span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t want to suggest that we shouldn’t use the right word, or seek to reclaim the right to “earned rage,” but I do want White people to recognize the work that our BIPOC colleagues do to engage in our common critical spaces, and the rhetorical tactics that are frequently used against them and are designed to elude the White gaze. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It means so much to the future of our field that Dr. Reese was selected to give the 2019 Arbuthnot Lecture, and that the video of this lecture was </span><a href="https://wpt4.org/wpt-education-livestream/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">recorded and archived</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. There is much to take away from this talk, and I encourage you to watch the whole thing…even if you already saw it live. For my own work, the main takeaway was a line of inquiry that Dr. Reese posited about half way through, in regards to what makes an award-winning book. It’s a segment that typifies what I would call Dr. Reese’s intrepid, persistent inquisitiveness. She is talking about the fact that there “is no neutrality” in books centered in a nostalgia for colonized Native land (transcription, and errors, my own):</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“In fact, if you think about it, every children’s book that is set on this continent—that book is set on what used to be Native lands. If we could hold that fact front and center, every time we pick up a children’s book that is set on this continent, how might that change how we view children’s literature? How might that shape that literature as we move into the future? I don’t know—it’s hard to think about it…but I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">want</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to think about it. I think we </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">should</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> think about it.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These questions from her broke open a haze I have had in my mind in regards to struggling with nostalgia in literature. I’m thinking about it. Dr. Reese got me thinking again, and I will be forever grateful to her for it, because I have some sense of what she’s staked to enter the conversation and move the narrative. As have </span><a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1114299409842491392" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so many colleagues</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Thank you.</span>Nina Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03363775984160309811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-1111596317590402292019-04-02T05:00:00.000-04:002019-04-02T05:00:13.986-04:00An Open Letter to Scales on Censorship and School Library Journal<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each issue of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">School Library Journal</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> contains a full-page segment entitled </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scales on Censorship,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> where Pat Scales, former chair of the American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee, answers questions on censorship. Today Sam Bloom responds to one question from the March 2019 piece, which is pictured here but can also be found </span><a href="https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=1903-scales-on-censorship" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or on page 28 of the print copy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello! I have read </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scales on Censorship</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for quite a while, and like many others, I have trusted Pat Scales over the years to give well-reasoned responses to challenging questions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, I was taken aback by one of the responses in the March issue (see photo). In it, Pat Scales answers a question on how to handle “books containing any amount of cultural misrepresentation”; namely, “Where do we librarians draw the line between sensitivity and censorship?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">I agree that this is a tough question, one I grapple with on a daily basis. I also agree with Scales’s statement that it’s “our duty to purchase books that accurately portray the ethnicity of the main characters”; to that I’d add any number of intersecting identities (gender, sexuality, etc.). But I take issue with Scales’s qualifier that “to remove or refuse to purchase a book because someone sees a small inaccuracy is censorship.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First of all, let’s talk about the choices book buyers make when deciding how to use their budgets. In terms of deciding not to purchase a book based on cultural inaccuracies, well, I feel like </span><a href="http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2016/07/challenging-accusations-of-censorship.html" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we’ve had this talk before</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">… </span><a href="https://bookriot.com/2016/08/16/isnt-censorship-publisher-pulls-offensive-book-good-business/" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">many</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/29/smiling-slaves-the-real-censorship-in-childrens-books" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">many times</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="https://www.bustle.com/p/how-ya-twitter-is-trying-to-dismantle-white-supremacy-one-book-at-a-time-76946" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">before</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Librarians make purchasing choices based on a book’s quality every day. Is it censorship to not purchase a book because it gets poor reviews? I’d say no–that’s simply an informed purchasing choice. And how could cultural inaccuracies *not* affect a book’s quality? (Also, if I may go back to Scales’s “small inaccuracy” comment? That inaccuracy may not seem so “small” to someone else. I also encourage Scales to examine the White privilege that allows her to minimize that which could cause pain to someone from a marginalized group by dubbing it “small”. Not to mention that Scales’s phrasing–“someone sees” an issue–subtly deemphasizes that problematic content in books really does exist, it’s not just people “seeing things.”)</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now on to the issue of librarians who “remove” books with problematic content. I see this referenced a lot in articles from mainstream press, and as an argument it lacks nuance. I certainly cannot say for sure that no single librarian has pulled a book from the shelves because they found it problematic, but in my experience this isn’t a recurring issue sweeping through libraries nationwide. In my large library system, we have hundreds of copies of </span><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/search?q=%22little+house+on+the+prairie%22&max-results=20&by-date=true" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Little House on the Prairie</span><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and its sequels</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; we also still have 20 live copies of a </span><a href="http://oomscholasticblog.com/post/new-statement-about-picture-book-birthday-cake-george-washington?linkId=20436402" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">book that a publisher actually pulled</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from publication three years ago! And if you walk into a children’s room anywhere in the country, I wager you will find at least one copy of </span><a href="https://booktoss.blog/2016/09/18/ghosts-swing-and-a-hard-miss/" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ghosts</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in the collection.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Referring librarians to the WNDB resources page is a great call. I want to point out, however, that several of the sites listed by WNDB are curated by the very same “bloggers and library professionals” whose “strong opinions” regarding cultural representation in books leads them to “sometimes use their online space to aggressively influence book-purchasing decisions.” So I guess Scales recommends people read these bloggers *unless* they are critiquing a book, and as long as they conform to her idea of what meets the criteria for “non-aggressive”? I don't think it's fair or constructive to those of us serving youth to reject the work of these individuals when they are critiquing representation while holding up their work when they are recommending books; both aspects of these bloggers’ work are critical to all of us serving children and teens. Scales’s whole framing of the power dynamics–bloggers are people who “aggressively influence” decision-makers by making problematic books their “target”–stems from a place of White privilege and </span><a href="https://www.uua.org/sites/live-new.uua.org/files/diangelo-white_fragility_and_the_rules_of_engagement.pdf" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fragility</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and fails to acknowledge that some books, and some content within books, in fact constitute acts of aggression against young readers.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furthermore, I am also concerned with the way Scales framed </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Fine Dessert</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> within her response. Yes, it received some “excellent reviews,” but as Lee & Low’s </span><a href="https://blog.leeandlow.com/2016/01/26/where-is-the-diversity-in-publishing-the-2015-diversity-baseline-survey-results/" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Diversity Baseline Survey</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has shown, the overwhelmingly White/female/cishet world of reviews shouldn’t always be taken at face value. Not to mention that in March 2015, before any internet activity had gained steam in relation to </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Fine Dessert</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, John Lithgow wrote this in his </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/15/books/review/emily-jenkinss-a-fine-dessert-and-more.html" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times review</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: “In a bold and somewhat unsettling choice, they portray a smiling slave woman and her daughter….” Critique of this book was not limited to social media; and the fact that some critique does originate online does not lessen its validity. It is far past time for us to acknowledge and embrace the fact that some of the critical perspectives on books are coming not from review journals but from professionals in our field writing on blogs and elsewhere on social media. Again, let’s recognize our privilege as White people in the profession when we start picking and choosing when and if we are willing to listen to critical voices on social media. I believe we can fold these critical perspectives into our consideration and understanding of specific titles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s what Scales wrote next: “Instead of removing the title because bloggers thought a few pages were problematic, librarians should engage young readers in conversation about the controversy.” This remark feels flippant and dismissive of some scholarly and expert opinions, but I would also caution adults (especially White adults) that this is a conversation that would take a great deal of preparation and education for the adults in question. A poorly handled conversation with young children about slavery could very well reinforce stereotypes.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, regarding </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vamos a Cuba,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Scales wrote that “other Cuban Americans” disagreed with the Cuban American school board member who first recommended the book be pulled from the shelves. Scales then asked, “Whom do you believe?” A shared heritage for any of us does not mean identical experiences or perspectives and so the fact that there was and is disagreement is not and should never be surprising. But this makes it all the more critical to be as informed as possible when making selection decisions when it comes to accuracy and authenticity, and today we are fortunate to have informed critical perspectives from professional sources outside those we have traditionally relied on. “Whom do you believe” is a starting point, not the end point, and there isn't necessarily a “right” or “wrong” answer for any book, but there are “informed” and “uninformed” choices, and it is our responsibility to be as informed as possible in selecting materials according to our local policies and procedures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t believe the two things in Scales’s last sentence should cancel each other out. I am working and listening and opening myself to ways of learning how to be culturally sensitive, *and* I am using my skills from library school (though not every librarian has been to library school, nor do I believe one has to go to library school to be an effective librarian) to understand the importance of reading reviews from journals such as </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">School Library Journal</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> *and* from blogs on our Kindred Spirits list. Which brings me to Scales’s closing thought, about the need to parse “which reviews and online tools to trust.” Questions about cultural authenticity and censorship do not exist in a vacuum, nor are they free of power imbalances and racist, oppressive legacies. I do not accept the binary thinking that says criticism = attack = censorship, and I encourage all White members of the children’s literature community–including myself, my fellow members of Reading While White, and Scales–to examine and question the White privilege we necessarily bring to these discussions. Until that happens, I no longer trust Pat Scales to give advice where censorship intersects with cultural representation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sincerely,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sam Bloom</span></div>
Reading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-24000153497718046282019-02-13T13:49:00.001-05:002019-02-14T13:36:41.545-05:00Fighting For Justice: An Interview With the AuthorsToday, in our third and final post in this series, we're so excited to welcome three authors: Stan Yogi of <a href="http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2019/01/fighting-for-justice-fred-korematsu.html"><i>Fred Korematsu Speaks Up</i></a>; Arisa White of <a href="http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2019/02/fighting-for-justice-biddy-mason-speaks.html"><i>Biddy Mason Speaks Up</i></a>; and Laura Atkins, co-author and organizer of the <a href="http://www.fightingforjusticeseries.com/"><i>Fighting For Justice</i> series</a>, which includes the aforementioned books. Everyone, thank you so much for joining us.<br />
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<b>Allie</b>: Can you share your origin story? How did you get started in this work?<br />
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<b>Stan</b>: Thanks, Allie, for letting your readers know about the <i>Fighting for Justice</i> books. I got involved with the series because of Malcolm Margolin, founding publisher of Heyday. In October 2009, Heyday released <i>Wherever There’s a Fight: How Runaway Slaves, Suffragists, Immigrants, Strikers and Poets Shaped Civil Liberties in California</i>, a book I co-wrote with my friend Elaine Elinson. Several months later, Malcolm asked if I’d be interested in writing a children’s version of <i>Wherever There’s a Fight</i>. I thought that was a great idea, and I agreed. Our initial vision was to tell the stories of 10 Californians who fought for civil rights. That plan morphed into a series of books, each one focused on a different civil rights activist.<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Malcolm Margolin, Stan and the book </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Wherever There’s a Fight</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">.</span></div>
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Fred Korematsu’s biography launches the series in part because his story is a keystone to <i>Wherever There’s a Fight</i>. I also feel a personal connection to Fred because my parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts were incarcerated during World War II, just like Fred and his family, because of their ethnicity. <b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">A picture we show in our presentations of Stan’s mother graduating from high school at Manzanar. Stan asks, “Why do you think my mother was sent to a prison camp when she was fifteen years old?”</span></td></tr>
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When I was an undergraduate at UCLA in the early 1980s, I heard Fred Korematsu speak. He impressed me, not only because his story is so dramatic (defying the government’s orders to leave his home, getting arrested, challenging in the Supreme Court the incarceration of Japanese Americans but losing his case, discovering decades later that the government had lied about the justifications for imprisoning Japanese Americans), but also because he was such a soft-spoken, humble man. He taught me that I can make a difference if I speak out against what I think is wrong and if I stand up for my beliefs. Ever since then, Fred has been one of my heroes.<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">An image of Fred Korematsu as an older man that we share during presentations</span></div>
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Around the same time that I first heard Fred Korematsu speak, I participated in the movement among Japanese Americans to seek an apology and monetary redress from the U.S. government for Japanese Americans who had been unjustly incarcerated during World War II. My work in the redress campaign nearly 40 years ago has resulted in a lifetime of activism, including working 14 years at the ACLU of Northern California, where I met my <i>Wherever There’s a Fight</i> co-author, Elaine. <br />
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<b>Laura</b>: Thanks so much for the invitation to share our stories and feature the series! As Stan and I share when doing school presentations with <i>Fred Korematsu Speaks Up</i>, I was raised in a family of activists. My dad was involved in the Freedom Rides, and both of my parents were part of the Free Speech Movement in Berkeley in the 1960s. My mom was an early feminist and a member of a women’s activist singing group, and my stepmother volunteered with the farmworkers’ movement. So I was steeped in a tea of “speaking up” as a young person. That led me to become a young activist myself, starting in middle school — something I also speak to in our school presentations. I was arrested twice in high school as part of the anti-nuclear and anti-Apartheid movements. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A slide from our presentation, showing Laura at an anti-nuclear group meeting in middle school, and getting arrested with a group of Berkeley High School students blockading at Lawrence Livermore Labs. </span></div>
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Activism has been a core part of my identity for as long as I can remember. So getting to be part of helping to tell civil rights stories from our nation’s history, well, it’s a dream come true. And getting to do this by co-writing with different authors whose lived experience connects to the story being told, well, that’s even more of a dream come true. I’ve been a children’s book editor for around 25 years — as an assistant at Children’s Book Press and Orchard Books, and then an editor at Lee & Low Books — and more recently, offered freelance editorial services to people who are indie-publishing their own books. Working collaboratively fits me perfectly, as I’ve been working with folks on telling their own stories for a very long time. I believe that we are all part of an interconnected world and narrative, and that each of our well-being is based on collective well-being. I see this work as grassroots community-based storytelling, with a lot of voices influencing the telling.<br />
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<b>Arisa</b>: The black lesbian mother warrior poet Audre Lorde was the first to articulate for me, in her <i>Sister Outsider</i> essays, that the “personal is political.” She is part of the lineage of my social justice work. As well as growing up Rastafarian, two to six years of age, oriented me toward a distrust of government, to be vigilant of white-supremacist conditioning, to question everything. Injustices were close to home. My mother and stepfather gathered friends for food and groundation—talks of politics in the US, Jamaica, and Guyana, back-home nostalgia, about the similarities and disappointments of anti-blackness across the globe.<br />
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Over the years, I was involved with more “formal” public actions against anti-oppression, often finding a way to incorporate my poetry. Writing and reading poems in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal, safe spaces for women, for the end to the Kosovo War; working with a Zen Buddhist priest to bring poetry writing and meditation to incarcerated youth in Brooklyn, NY. When I went off to graduate school, where I began dating someone in the master’s program for social justice education, we started a series of monthly parties and conversational gatherings for queer people of color. LeftOut was a space for QPOC to form community while existing in predominantly white towns and colleges. With the same partner, I learned some of the language, theory, and pedagogy of anti-oppression work and began to apply that knowledge to my poetic practice, teaching, and self—thinking about the ways our socialization inhibits authentic self-actualization and promotes fear of other, and doing the personal-inner work needed for a radical love ethic necessary for individual and collective change. The ambitious root of each of my poems is this epic desire to repair. <b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<b>Allie</b>: I’m noticing a connection between art and activism, both in your personal stories and in your work--Arisa, you talked about this specifically, in both how you fold your own poetry into your anti-oppression work, and in advocating for others to have access and resources to express themselves via art. Your books are about activists; and, they themselves are a form of activism, both in form and content. How did you decide to tell these stories in verse, rather than a straightforward narrative? What was the poetry-writing process like when you were working collaboratively?<br />
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<b>Laura</b>: I came on board initially to work with Stan as a developmental editor, and he had been approaching the book as a more traditional prose biography. I was then asked to pitch as co-author and I suggested the use of the poetic biography alongside what we call insets: sections with photos, drawings, timelines, definitions and questions for the readers. Once Heyday decided they wanted to go in that direction, I took the lead in writing the poems and Stan took the lead in writing and conceptualizing the insets. With the second book, Arisa, as a poet, took the lead on the poems and I swapped roles to leading on the insets. Though I’d say that Arisa and I did more co-writing on both sections, maybe because it was the second book and we had to go further in conceptualizing how to approach telling Biddy Mason’s story. And our editor, Molly Woodward, helped enormously with all of the writing and thinking for both books.<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">First poem and first inset page from </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Biddy Mason Speaks Up</span></div>
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We had a few motivations for choosing free verse for the biography. We did a focus group with librarian Heidi Bartsch from the West Contra Costa County School District and several of her fourth grade students. She suggested that, while we were aiming at a fourth grade reading level, we write below that as many of her students read below grade level. We liked the idea of using short lines with lots of space on the page so that struggling readers could more easily decode the book. We also were drawn to the idea of engaging students directly with these people’s stories, using a present tense poetic narrative. Starting the first book with Fred getting a haircut, which was a wonderful suggestion by author Betsy Partridge, meant that all readers could relate to Fred’s experience. Because we all get our hair cut. We’ve also had students share their own poetic approaches to telling stories, and it seems a form that young people can relate to and replicate naturally, in their own voices.<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">First poem and first inset page from </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Fred Korematsu Speaks Up</span></div>
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<b>Allie</b>: I’m struck by Stan’s description of Fred Korematsu as a soft-spoken, humble man. This flies in the face of the common image of changemakers as loud, oppositional combatants of the powers that be. What can we learn from him, about different “modes” of activism? What personal lessons have you all learned in researching and writing about the subjects of your books?<br />
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<b>Stan</b>: Fred Korematsu’s life as a civil rights activist taught me two key things. First, people have different journeys to activism. Fred was initially motivated by love, not Constitutional principles when he defied the government’s orders that all Japanese Americans on the West Coast leave their homes to be imprisoned in camps. He wanted to remain in Oakland with his girlfriend. But he also understood that the government was violating his rights. After his girlfriend ended their relationship, Fred soldiered on with his lawsuit because he firmly believed that the government was wrong. <b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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In the early 2000s, Fred connected the racism Japanese Americans experienced during World War II with the hatred directed at Muslims after 9/11. He submitted a “friend of the court” brief to the Supreme Court in solidarity with Muslim men whom the U.S. government had detained without charges or trials. <br />
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My initial activism centered on issues that directly impacted me as an Asian American and as a gay man. But, like Fred Korematsu, I too saw parallels between my experiences and those of others who face discrimination. Recognizing those connections motivated my work with the ACLU in support of immigrants, women, youth, as well as people of color and LGBTQ individuals.<br />
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I also learned from Fred Korematsu and Biddy Mason that there isn’t just one way to make a difference. We can’t all deliver rousing speeches before thousands of people like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King or go on hunger strikes like Cesar Chavez. But individuals can speak out for their beliefs in ways that are organic and meaningful for them. Fred Korematsu liked speaking to students and educating them about the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans. In doing so, he encouraged them to stand up for justice. Biddy Mason provided financial help to Los Angeles flood victims and others in need. When Laura and I present to students about Fred Korematsu, we tell them that if they like art, they can create drawings or paintings that depict unfair situations, like people did through artwork that we include in our book. Or if they like music, they can sing protest songs. Or if they like to write like Laura and me, they can compose stories about ways to fight against injustice. Speaking out in ways that fit our personalities and utilize our unique talents not only creates meaning for us but also enables us to sustain our activism over time. <b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Example of how we include art created by Japanese Americans in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Fred Korematsu Speaks Up</span></div>
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<b>Laura</b>: I love Stan’s answer and don’t have much to add. Just that I’m inspired as I research the lives of people who persevered even in the face of enormous obstacles — living as an enslaved woman, being unjustly imprisoned by the government. People like Biddy Mason and Fred Korematsu inspire me to keep on standing up and speaking out. I hope that we can change the world for my 11-year-old daughter, and all the young people in the next generation who deserve a world that accepts and embraces all of them, no matter their “race, creed or color” (as Fred Korematsu said in his speech in the courtroom when his criminal conviction was overturned). <br />
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<b>Arisa</b>: Biddy Mason reminds me of the collective effort that goes into our liberation. You do what you can, where you can. She incited in me a curiosity about plants, their medicinal qualities, and my life became illuminated by the nature around me. There is spirit as there is air, and we must nurture our spirits because it’s a force that has effect. I understood more deeply the politics of care held between black women. Biddy Mason helped me see myself a little bit more wholly. She is a lesson in digging into the silences to find what was not told to us. <b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Example of how we include plant remedies in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Biddy Mason Speaks Up</span></div>
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<b>Allie</b>: Who do you see engaging in the “politics of care” today? If you were to choose a contemporary activist to highlight in a <i>Fighting For Justice</i> book, who might you choose?<br />
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<b>Laura</b>: It’s a good question, in part because we are developing the idea for the next Fighting for Justice book, and this may be someone (or more than one person) living today who is an indigenous Californian. This is still very much in early development, so nothing set. I’m especially inspired now by young people who are speaking up: Emma González and all of the young people creating a powerful and inclusive movement to speak out about gun control. Also Greta Thunberg who is taking direct action on climate change, and getting the whole world to pay attention. I’m honored to be working with <a href="https://www.reginasdoor.com/about">Regina Evans</a> to develop school presentations on Biddy Mason (Colby College hired Arisa to teach poetry, so she is now based in Maine and will Skype in to visits when she can). Thanks to Arisa’s connection with Regina and her work, we featured her story at the end of <i>Biddy Mason Speaks Up</i>, showing how Regina is a survivor of trafficking herself, and that she has become a modern-day abolitionist using creativity, theater, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and love to support current young people who are survivors of trafficking. She could have a whole book about her and the amazing work that she does to support her community. <b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feature on Regina Evans at the end of </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biddy Mason Speaks Up</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. You can see a video of the powerful talk she gave at the launch event </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/laura.atkins.564/videos/10158017826370830/UzpfSTU4MzI3MDgyOTpWSzoyMTE3ODA0MjcxNjE0MzM3/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
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<b>Stan</b>: Thanks, Arisa, for bringing up the politics of care framework. In difficult times like now when so many communities are under attack, it’s important to remember the politics of care—for ourselves and for others. Like Laura, I think there are many inspiring contemporary activists who are speaking out on specific challenges, as well as leaders like Rev. William Barber, who are making connections among different communities and issues. I’m especially impressed by Marielena Hincapié, the Executive Director of the National Immigration Law Center, an organization defending the rights of low-income immigrants. Marielena immigrated as a child from Colombia to Rhode Island. She’s not only generated positive societal changes through her work as a lawyer, advocate, and educator on behalf of immigrants. But she’s also an amazingly kind person who cares deeply about the negative impacts of xenophobic policies on individuals, families and communities. <br />
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<span style="color: #212124; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Marielena Hincapié, executive director of National Immigration Law Center speaking outside the Supreme Court after oral arguments on Trump's latest Muslim Ban, photo by </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/number7cloud/40999057994" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Lorie Shaull</a></span></div>
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<b>Arisa</b>: There are so many people that it’s hard to pinpoint one person. Who immediately comes to heart is Rev Angel Kyodo Williams, writer, activist, and ordained Zen priest for the spiritually-engaged transformative work she’s doing, reminding us all of the importance of personal accountability for collective change. Choreographer and dancer Amara Tabor Smith, who uses her art to bring healing attention to the mental health of and violence faced by African American women. Scholar, educator, writer and doula, Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs is active in illuminating the scholarship and cultural productions of queer black feminists with her academic and community teachings, intergenerational archival projects, and experimental creative writings that embody the intersectionality of queer black women. <b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Rev Angel Kyodo Williams</span></div>
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<b>Allie</b>: What advice do you have for the generation that’s reading your books and wondering how they, too, can become changemakers?<br />
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<b>Stan</b>: I echo the advice Fred Korematsu shared when he talked with students: Don’t be afraid to speak out for what you think is right. I add to that: Don’t be discouraged if the changes you seek don’t occur immediately. Big societal shifts take time and the efforts of many people. Change is oftentimes incremental. There may be one step backward before two steps forward. As civil rights activist sang in the 1950s and 1960s, “Keep your eyes on the prize” of your ultimate goal and don’t be disheartened (at least for too long) by setbacks.<br />
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<b>Arisa</b>: Let your desire to make change be connected to your heart.<br />
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<b>Laura</b>: Nourish yourself along the way — find the things that feed your soul. I love being in community, so am happiest when working with others with shared values towards change, while also enjoying each others’ company and learning from one another. And remember, we are stronger together (as rad children’s book creator <a href="http://www.mayagonzalez.com/">Maya Gonzalez</a> says and expresses beautifully through her art). We can lift each other up. I love sharing information about important children’s books that don’t always get attention in the mainstream publishing world (you can see a bunch of awesome social justice and mostly #ownvoices Bay Area creators at this <a href="https://bayareabookcreators.weebly.com/">website</a>). Let’s amplify the good work and support each other along the way. <b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The powerful art of Maya Gonzalez graces the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/717181171767670/?ref=bookmarks" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Activist Children’s Book Creators and Activist Books Facebook page</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
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<b>Allie</b>: Thank you all so much for sharing your time, wisdom, and expertise. I and so many others will continue to learn about courage, activism, and speaking up from your answers and your books. I can’t recommend the <i>Fighting For Justice</i> series highly enough; these books should be in every Middle Grade collection and classroom.<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustrator Yutaka Houlette, Laura, editor Molly Woodward, and Stan at the Fred Korematsu Speaks Up launch event. You can see videos of Stan and Laura’s presentations on the <a href="http://www.fightingforjusticeseries.com/school-visits.html" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fighting for Justice school visit page</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="292" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/NMdLBto2itIE9G_OlGNUhLU_6WKUUE3FRSz2VQg-BDhHcZdNZBYPccNLPZoYaKyZOIsXIy4rUUV5pIXvBV0EpuiJwhfiHKlH0jrAOIETzp8bqPx4H-VpPH2mg4EDPEl51B4VS4Wu" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arisa and Laura at the launch event for <span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biddy Mason Speaks Up. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have all of the videos from our launch events shown on our revamped </span><a href="http://www.fightingforjusticeseries.com/" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fighting for Justice website</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Cave Canem graduate fellow Arisa White received her MFA from UMass, Amherst, and is the author of <i>Perfect on Accident</i>, <i>You’re the Most Beautiful Thing That Happened</i>, <i>Black Pearl</i>, <i>Post Pardon</i>, <i>A Penny Saved</i>, and <i>Hurrah's Nest</i></span>. Her poetry has been nominated for a Lambda Literary Award, NAACP Image Award, California Book Award, and Wheatley Book Award. The chapbook <i>“Fishing Walking” & Other Bedtime Stories for My Wife</i> won the inaugural Per Diem Poetry Prize. She's the co-author of <i>Biddy Mason Speaks Up</i>, the second book in the <i>Fighting for Justice</i> series for young readers. Arisa serves on the board of directors for Foglifter Publications and Nomadic Press and is an assistant professor of poetry at Colby College. <a href="http://arisawhite.com/">arisawhite.com</a></div>
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Stan Yogi is the co-author with Laura Atkins of <i>Fred Korematsu Speaks Up</i>, an award-winning children's book. He is co-author with Elaine Elinson of <i>Wherever There’s a Fight: How Runaway Slaves, Suffragists, Immigrants Strikers and Poets Shaped Civil Liberties in California</i>. He is the co-editor of two books, <i>Highway 99: A Literary Journey Through California’s Great Central Valley</i> and <i>Asian American Literature: An Annotated Bibliography</i>. His essays have appeared in the <i>San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Daily Journal</i> and academic journals and anthologies.<br />
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Laura Atkins is the author of the picture book <a href="https://www.mintedprose.com/books/sled-dog-dachshund.html"><i>Sled Dog Dachshund</i></a>, and co-author with Stan Yogi of <i>Fred Korematsu Speaks Up</i>, winner of the Carter G. Woodson Award, New-York Historical Society Award, ILA Social Justice Book Award, and the Jane Addams Honor Award. With Arisa White, Laura co-wrote <i>Biddy Mason Speaks Up</i>, just featured in the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/11/us/california-today-biddy-mason-los-angeles.html"><i>New York Times</i></a>. Laura spent a decade working at traditional children’s publishers and now freelances as an editor with individuals and publishers, including <a href="https://cassavarepublicpress.biz/?v=7516fd43adaa">Cassava Republic Press</a> and <a href="http://www.parallax.org/product/mr-pack-rat-really-wants-that/">Parallax Press</a>. With an <a href="https://www.roehampton.ac.uk/postgraduate-courses/childrens-literature/">MA in Children's Literature</a> and an <a href="https://vcfa.edu/wcya">MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults</a>, Laura is passionate about diversity and equity in children's books. She and her daughter live in Berkeley, California. <a href="http://www.lauraatkins.com/">lauraatkins.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-688122908176536272019-02-11T05:00:00.000-05:002019-02-11T05:00:12.414-05:00Stepping Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs2xyCvmxgutXNXuyfnYKdK8KKgiDIngIy_xM7aqgFLIFbO_QUYpkm9HVvOeL0CuoDoBRGZgUgdCEkaV5KcWyo5CNgUJiioAbal1nxuUMyzPMnkQPkHNDP5ZiTvwU0JOl75reCka_jak/s1600/MS+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="946" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs2xyCvmxgutXNXuyfnYKdK8KKgiDIngIy_xM7aqgFLIFbO_QUYpkm9HVvOeL0CuoDoBRGZgUgdCEkaV5KcWyo5CNgUJiioAbal1nxuUMyzPMnkQPkHNDP5ZiTvwU0JOl75reCka_jak/s200/MS+Image.jpg" width="157" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you haven’t read</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://aprilhathcock.wordpress.com/2019/01/30/alamw-what-happened-and-what-should-happen-next/"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc;">this account</span></a><span style="color: black;"> of what happened at Midwinter by April Hathcock, please
do, because it’s important. It’s important because it lays bare how, for all
the talk of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our field, we have a long, long
way to go.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s important because it lays bare the work we
White people have to do in learning how to be allies.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And it lays bare how, once again, a person who
experiences racist trauma, while still traumatized, ALSO has to do the work of
educating us—of telling us what should have been done, and what needs to be
done.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For me, personally, it has also laid bare a gap.
While I wasn’t at Midwinter, since reading this I have been asking myself: If I
had been in that Forum session, would I have been shocked into silence by the
attack, or worried about making waves in the moment (so damnably ingrained), or
would I have spoken up? If I had spoken, up, would I have known how to do it in
a way that didn’t make things worse for the person being attacked?</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A few years ago, there was an ongoing chaotic situation
in my neighborhood. There was an afternoon when I was home and heard a woman
outside yell “Don’t touch me!” I didn’t think, I didn’t hesitate, I just acted:
storming out of the house with words booming out of my mouth,
uncharacteristically bold and loud: “Take your hands off her!” The man backed
away.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My response in that moment to a woman in danger
was instinctive. My response to racist attack in the moment, whether in a
professional setting or on the street, has got to become just as instinctive.
And bold. And uncompromising.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But it also also needs to be informed, with the
integrity and needs and safety of the person being attacked at the forefront of
my thinking. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I’m committing myself to better understanding
exactly what it takes to do that, in the moment and long term. As an individual
moving through the world, and as a member of the American Library Association,
I ask: How can I embody in action the ideals I claim in words, and how should I
demand ALA do the same? </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the end of her post, April Hathcock laid out
definitive steps she wanted to see the organization take, starting with an
apology, but moving on to meaningful actions to educate members. <a href="http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2019/01/ala-executive-board-releases-statement-regarding-incident-council-forum"><span style="color: blue;">Here is the response</span></a> of ALA’s Executive Board
to-date:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To which I say: This statement of partial
ownership is a start. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes, the Executive Board apologized. There’s a
problem, though, in citing past work the ALA has done toward diversity and
inclusion, as it does in the final paragraphs, with the “it takes time” caveat.
We all know it takes time, none more so than those who have been biding their
time even as they work for change. There’s a problem in particular when “it
takes time” comes after a statement acknowledging that the organization fell
short in enforcing its own code of conduct. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There’s a problem, too, when “it takes time”
comes after stating, “The ALA attorney and President-Elect met with April Hathcock
in the Council meeting room shortly before Council III to share some nonpublic
information about events after the incident in question. ALA leaders deeply
regrets an<span style="background: #F3F3F3;">y</span> distress this caused; it
was not intent of the attorney or ALA to threaten Ms. Hathcock in any way.” Not
intending to cause harm and not causing harm are two very different things. Not
intending to cause harm starts with considering the potential harm of any
action you are considering and making choices that do no harm. In this case, after
the fact, it requires acknowledgment of why the action taken felt threatening.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">REFORMA released a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.reforma.org/content.asp?admin=Y&contentid=415"><span style="color: #1155cc;">statement in response</span></a><span style="color: black;">
to what happened at Midwinter, and it underscores the fact that racism is not a
new thing at ALA conferences, and that the systemic racism that permeates our
culture also permeates our profession and professional organization. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ALA is a member organization. Obviously,
individual members are not all in synch regarding their beliefs and values, but
this hasn’t stopped ALA from a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.ala.org/aboutala/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">stated
commitment</span></a><span style="color: black;"> to diversity and inclusion, and to committing to
applying a social justice framework to its </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/aboutala/strategicplan"><span style="color: #1155cc;">strategic
directions</span></a><span style="color: black;"> work. That’s something as a
member I’d like to take pride in; I do take pride in it, up to a point. But I
want my professional organization to dig deeper and work harder to make its
stated ideals a reality. That means not only owning completely when a mistake
has been made, but also calling on all of us who are members--not just
BIPOC--to be part of the work. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And I need to demand the same thing of myself
that I’m demanding of ALA, because challenging racism is not the sole
responsibility of BIPOC. It’s the responsibility of White people, too. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<![endif]--><b id="docs-internal-guid-a13156a1-7fff-9a26-29e1-03891de5fc30" style="font-weight: normal;"></b>Megan Schliesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014338325346040998noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-68435561389952261512019-02-06T05:00:00.000-05:002019-02-06T05:00:04.368-05:00Fighting For Justice: Biddy Mason Speaks Up<div dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDdrjzOZDsR9fkmpiw2dqECzMg9oVxDf3xRCPE9g-8RMQj6Tnx4RvI-M5nkEx9Lj2Cb4Ck5WlmoppFGpxq_uitoVwy7UoJgLeFPBCYV-ff6-xMgNDL2yyPDF57HK2s4VHVjYRjZE_jGk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-02-03+at+2.41.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDdrjzOZDsR9fkmpiw2dqECzMg9oVxDf3xRCPE9g-8RMQj6Tnx4RvI-M5nkEx9Lj2Cb4Ck5WlmoppFGpxq_uitoVwy7UoJgLeFPBCYV-ff6-xMgNDL2yyPDF57HK2s4VHVjYRjZE_jGk/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-02-03+at+2.41.49+PM.png" width="253" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today we welcome Guest Blogger Sarah Jo Zaharako in our second of three posts spotlighting the “Fighting for Justice” series from <a href="https://heydaybooks.com/" target="_blank">Heyday Books</a>. The first post was a review of <a href="http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2019/01/fighting-for-justice-fred-korematsu.html" target="_blank">Fred Korematsu Speaks Up</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Fighting for Justice: Biddy Mason Speak Up</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>By Arisa White and Laura Atkins</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Illustrated by Laura Freeman</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>ISBN: 9781597144032</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781597144032" target="_blank">Click here to purchase.</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 1866, Biddy Mason bought a parcel of land on the outskirts of Los Angeles. The purchase provided a legacy for her family and helped Mason become one of the wealthiest people in Los Angeles. She was 48 years old, a midwife and herbalist; a single mother; a formerly enslaved person and a survivor of rape. Mason helped shape the Black community in Los Angeles through philanthropy and community organization. Her story, like so many millions of untold stories, fills a gaping hole in how the American historical narrative is transmitted to young people. </span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-715485c9-7fff-92ed-7367-f35000cd41b0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDczKOwkSsBG02izy_YKnqXprXFT7rpIkslA1gOkSOUXKeD9hQyeoSrKJJllMYGJCxwUiGmLm4PO6XZJl0zR10mflWJ0ICvHbZajb2Omq7uPKrxbz7mUAtCQY6wn0qAY8vgQ6IwgnH1g/s1600/9781597144032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDczKOwkSsBG02izy_YKnqXprXFT7rpIkslA1gOkSOUXKeD9hQyeoSrKJJllMYGJCxwUiGmLm4PO6XZJl0zR10mflWJ0ICvHbZajb2Omq7uPKrxbz7mUAtCQY6wn0qAY8vgQ6IwgnH1g/s320/9781597144032.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through a smorgasbord of documentation, White and Atkins demonstrate the depth of evidence needed to fully understand the impact of slavery and racism both in a historical context and in modern day society. Painful and violent concepts like enslavement, profiteering, and rape are respectfully approached with age-appropriate clarity, which will prompt meaningful discussion. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chapter three provides an honest look at slavery and genealogy, a topic integral to Mason’s story. The inset explains that slavery was matrilineal, meaning that if a mother was enslaved, her child was enslaved. “Enslaved women could sometimes partner and have children with enslaved men. Masters could also rape enslaved women. Enslaved people did not have a choice about how their bodies were used, since they were seen as property” (p. 21). A supplemental text box defines rape as “When one person forces a sexual act on another person who does not want it or who is unable to give consent” (p. 21). Direct explanations like these encourage questions and link the atrocities of the past with current campaigns for equality and justice. The Fighting for Justice books explain to children why things aren’t fair. They also uplift and empower, proving through their protagonists that ordinary people can speak up. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Among many defining attributes, the Fighting for Justice series (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fred Korematsu Speaks Up</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 2017) forges a connection between history and present day society. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biddy Mason Speaks Up </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">invites readers to confront White supremacy, and to explore equality and injustice together in a meaningful way. A supplemental section titled “Healing Your Community: From Biddy’s Day to Ours” explores modern day activists and organizations including </span><a href="https://blacklivesmatter.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Black Lives Matter</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Here, an inset introduces the work of modern-day abolitionist Regina Evans and describes the prevalent but not widely recognized practice of human trafficking. This reference demolishes the idea that slavery is neatly contained in a single ugly chapter of American history. </span></span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Throughout the book, readers are encouraged to apply the concepts in each chapter to their own experience through thoughtful prompts like, “What are the barriers that keep you from speaking up?” Such questions promote reflection, a critical practice for mindful readers and thinkers. When learning is personal, so is it memorable.</span></span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The focus on Biddy Mason as the protagonist further sets the book apart from the myriad historical texts for middle-grade readers. Publishers have traditionally delegated the portrayal of slavery in America to a relatively small cast of historical figures like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. In doing so, slavery’s repercussions are given limited scope in the literary world. Mason’s story suggests that she is but one of millions whose experience has been omitted, if not erased, from the American narrative. I found myself asking the question, “Why have I not heard this story?” and contemplating how many more stories I have been denied by a traditional American education.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biddy Mason Speaks Up </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">invites young readers to join a conversation, to reflect, and to make connections. It is powerful in its intimacy and memorable for its honesty. Most of all, the book empowers. The Fighting for Justice series lays a foundation of knowledge and provides the questions that will fuel the change makers of tomorrow. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biddy Mason </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is intriguing, direct, and impossible to put down.</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Guest Reviewer </span></span><span class="il" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sarah</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span class="il" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jo</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Zaharako works with children in public and school libraries in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a musician and mother and will soon complete her MLIS at San Jose State University.</span></i></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Nina Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03363775984160309811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-27508718460327901722019-01-30T13:45:00.000-05:002019-01-30T13:45:03.441-05:00Fighting for Justice: Fred Korematsu Speaks Up <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLWOvcTvH0JWcr5aA3WYkitiMaq9g8VrdGZnlfWg-JtrJ67nA3GIVEq96M1Qs4InQb6rhLgpsDsmLHpotUC73CLFS0B-yR1xZJYaOhmGx-5_zZgrSjlOXadmjznISUAuo99t3OUORzuc/s1600/GallRWWphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1262" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLWOvcTvH0JWcr5aA3WYkitiMaq9g8VrdGZnlfWg-JtrJ67nA3GIVEq96M1Qs4InQb6rhLgpsDsmLHpotUC73CLFS0B-yR1xZJYaOhmGx-5_zZgrSjlOXadmjznISUAuo99t3OUORzuc/s200/GallRWWphoto.jpg" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Review by Elisa Gall</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the first of three posts spotlighting the “Fighting for Justice” series from Heyday Books. </span><a href="https://heydaybooks.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to learn more about the publisher and its upcoming releases. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><br /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fighting for Justice: Fred Korematsu Speaks Up</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Laura Atkins and Stan Yogi</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Illustrated by Yutaka Houlette</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISBN: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9781597143684</span><br />
<a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781597143684" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click here to purchase</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Have you ever spoken up when you saw something that wasn’t right?” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the first sentence readers encounter in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fighting for Justice: Fred Korematsu Speaks Up</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The pages that follow illustrate Korematsu’s life and legacy in a unique and engaging blend of narrative nonfiction and informational, textbook-like pages.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><br /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TiYAjxRWNvjAymi18-FhrMEZGzs-rgHWy33CAC4OzfCkmZHutmhM44F59VlDhRNMwla9uClHCj1n47O7hyphenhyphenrnXj5zDV1ENcYb95lweMCWLQufU97rHL39gTv651LZKYQ844854aoRHjE/s1600/Fred+Korematsu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TiYAjxRWNvjAymi18-FhrMEZGzs-rgHWy33CAC4OzfCkmZHutmhM44F59VlDhRNMwla9uClHCj1n47O7hyphenhyphenrnXj5zDV1ENcYb95lweMCWLQufU97rHL39gTv651LZKYQ844854aoRHjE/s320/Fred+Korematsu.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover of <i>Fred Korematsu Speaks Up.</i></td></tr>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fred Korematsu was born in 1919 and raised in Oakland, CA. He endured racism and discrimination as a Japanese American and at the same time felt less connected to Japan and Japanese culture than his Issei (first generation) parents. He fell in love with a White woman, and planned for a future with her; but, all hopes and plans were derailed in 1942 when U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Japanese Americans and Japanese immigrants were forced into concentration camps. Korematsu knew that internment was not right and defied the order.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><br /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He used a fake identity to avoid relocation, but was caught and arrested in May of 1942. At that time, the White woman he loved deserted him. A lawyer with the ACLU approached Korematsu and together they challenged the case and the unconstitutional imprisonment of Japanese Americans. After making bail, Korematsu was taken to </span><a href="http://encyclopedia.densho.org/Tanforan_(detention_facility)/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tanforan</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and later </span><a href="http://www.topazmuseum.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Topaz</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, where many of his fellow imprisoned Japanese and Japanese Americans did not support him (some feared the legal fight was causing the community even more trouble). As Korematsu faced hardship, heartbreak, and isolation, his case moved from “one court to the next” until 1944, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the government, saying that internment was legal due to “military necessity.” Korematsu lost.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over time, the war ended and Korematsu moved to Michigan, fell in love, and started a family. It wasn’t until 1982, almost 40 years after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, that the case was reopened after a group of lawyers found proof that the U.S. government lied about the threat posed by Japanese Americans during World War II. This time, Korematsu won the case. Several years later, the U.S. government apologized and committed to paying reparations to survivors of internment, and in 1998, Korematsu was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. For the the rest of his life, Korematsu traveled and spoke about his experiences, encouraging people to speak up and fight injustice wherever and whenever they see it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the book, visceral details about Korematsu’s life are shared through poems, which are separated into chapters and offer readers the opportunity to consider the events from his perspective. Co-authors Atkins and Yogi employ a direct, intentional voice. For example, the text in one poem reads:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What the government calls</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Assembly Centers.”</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Really Prisons.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This makes clear the gap between what the U.S. government messaging was and the reality of what was happening. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><br /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Illustrations, rendered digitally by Yutaka Houlette, start each chapter off by showcasing important moments in Korematsu’s life on each spread’s verso page. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><br /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In between the chapters are nonfiction pages. A series of definitions, timelines, photographs, poems, artworks, and other primary documents give these pages a museum exhibit-like feel, and interactive questions push readers to recognize and consider what they are thinking and feeling as they read and reflect.</span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><br /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hefty back matter includes a note from Karen Korematsu about her father and information about the Korematsu Institute, including </span><a href="http://korematsuinstitute.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a link to where readers can order a free teaching kit</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Materials for young activists are also included: resources for further information, ideas about working together, and tools to take action towards equity. There are many names (educators, librarians, writers, and more) listed in the acknowledgements, showing that this project was a collaborative one. </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><br /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This book shines in its accessibility and how it bridges the gap between then and now, inviting reflection on the past and motivating change in the present day. It is honest and unique in its balancing of straight-up facts and personal, emotive story (as reflected through the narrative poetry). </span></div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today is January 30. It is Fred Korematsu’s birthday and it is also </span><a href="http://www.korematsuinstitute.org/fredkorematsuday/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This book celebrates Korematsu and inspires readers to reflect on what they know and what they can do--and will do--to fight unfairness and to create positive change. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fighting for Justice: Fred Korematsu Speaks Up </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is highly recommended.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Elisa Gall</span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Reading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-258881102380291432019-01-24T05:00:00.000-05:002019-01-24T05:00:09.444-05:00We Are This. We Are More Than This.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs2xyCvmxgutXNXuyfnYKdK8KKgiDIngIy_xM7aqgFLIFbO_QUYpkm9HVvOeL0CuoDoBRGZgUgdCEkaV5KcWyo5CNgUJiioAbal1nxuUMyzPMnkQPkHNDP5ZiTvwU0JOl75reCka_jak/s1600/MS+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="946" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs2xyCvmxgutXNXuyfnYKdK8KKgiDIngIy_xM7aqgFLIFbO_QUYpkm9HVvOeL0CuoDoBRGZgUgdCEkaV5KcWyo5CNgUJiioAbal1nxuUMyzPMnkQPkHNDP5ZiTvwU0JOl75reCka_jak/s200/MS+Image.jpg" width="157" /></a></div>
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The footage that has gone viral
over the past week of a group of White high school students and their
interactions with a Native elder and other Native people at the Indigenous
People’s March has me thinking about children’s books. Among many other things.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
As more time passes and people continue to examine and reflect on what
happened, the larger context in which that scene unfolded—the context of our
country today, the history we share, and the experiences that we may or may not
have in common based on whether our appearance brings us privilege—can’t be
ignored. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Whatever you see in that
footage—the shorter version originally released, the longer version—it’s an
unsettling scene, one that has elicited many responses online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
We have those in our field, too: Unsettling scenes. Many responses. And the
responses are sometimes as upsetting—and revealing—as the original concern
about racism.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m also thinking about <a href="http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2019/01/what-about-shame.html" target="_blank">Nina’s post</a> last week about shame, and the difference between fleeting/embarrassment
shame, and toxic/damaging shame. I’ve been thinking about how
fleeting/embarrassment shame can lead to toxic defensiveness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And I’m thinking about the fact
that when something horribly racist happens, whether it’s outside the world of
children’s and young adult literature, or within it (and we do have our
equivalents), at some point someone always says: “We are more than this. We are
better than this.” I know I’ve said it, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But, we also ARE this. And by
“we” I mean we as a country, and we in the world of children’s and young adult
literature, and most especially and particularly we well-meaning White people
who turn our attention to the good, and the better, because it’s so damn hard
to dwell on the worst. That’s privilege right there. And maybe, if we could
agree to acknowledge that privilege, it would be a starting<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>point: A small piece of common ground on
which we could all stand as we try to address that reality and do the hard work
of being better.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Because while we are more than
this: as a country, as a community (whatever that community is), as the field
of children’s and young adult literature, we cannot let that essential belief,
that essential truth, blind us to the reality of toxic racism and privilege
that also exist, and the very real damage they cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
We cannot ignore that racist depictions of Native people in children’s
literature are both a product of, and perpetuate, the scene that unfolded last
week in which a crowd of (mostly) White boys didn’t hesitate to do a mock
“tomahawk” chop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot ignore that
racist depictions in children’s books feed a culture in which Blackface is still
acceptable to some, and are part of our lager society in which Black- and
brown-skinned youth and adults are dehumanized every day in myriad ways, from
micro-agressions to violence at the hands of law enforcement.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We want and need to feel hopeful.
We want to be hopeful. In the work we do, in the country we live in. And there
are many reasons to be: the long history of work of BIPOC to fight against
systemic racism, to educate allies as well as those less willing to listen. The
long history of activism within and beyond our field. And so many good hearts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But good hearts and good
intentions without hard, sometimes painful work are just a feel-good starting
point. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Good hearts and good intentions
can still lead to children’s and young adult books with stereotypes, with
whitewashing, with jaw-droppingly insensitive images and scenes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And when they’re called out, look
out. Shame—that fleeting/embarrassment kind—may lead to knee-jerk, angry
reactions. The anger may also come from genuine disagreement, or a misplaced
sense of entitlement, or even hatred, pure and simple. Regardless, the result
is an inability—or refusal—to try to understand the perspective of a critic whose
lived experience can speak with authority to the damage and the pain. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This failure in a field where imagination is currency never fails to astonish
me. And maybe it brings us back to shame again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It doesn’t feel good to hurt
someone. Anger is sometimes a reaction to the tension of owning/not wanting to
own that pain.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And we are so beyond the point of
needing to get over that. Instead of lashing out, we need to be quiet and
listen; we need to hear what others have to say and we need to listen to our
own thoughts, especially when they’re troubling us. It’s hard. It’s
uncomfortable. It’s essential. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We who are in positions of
privilege we may not have asked for, but cannot deny exist—that is to say,
we White people—have to listen more than we speak; we have to be willing to
engage in difficult conversations and self-reflection, not defensive
positioning. Not if we expect to be believed when we say we are more than this.
Not if we expect to be believed when we say that we know that privilege needs
to be dismantled.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I want those kids in that video
to learn, and to understand. Because regardless of who started what and when,
what that scene reveals is that privilege and entitlement are weapons they
wield. I don’t know if they understand or care that they’re weapons that cause
damage, but we all need them to understand it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I hold the same hopes for the
field of children’s and young adult literature: I want us to learn and
understand, too. There is amazing work being done in our field. Amazing books.
Amazing criticism. And we need both. Because we are every great book by BIPOC
and every great effort to publish and promote those books, and so many other
wonderful books by authors and illustrators from every background, and we are
also every painful, damaging stereotype and hurtful image, in our past and in
our present.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Have you read Debbie Reese's<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">American Indians in Children's Literature </a>(AICL)?(Debbie also provides a great list of other <a href="https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/p/do-you-have-twitter-account-do-you.html" target="_blank">Native activists</a>
to follow on Twitter, to support our listening and learning about concerns both within and
beyond our field.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Do you know about <a href="https://indigosbookshelf.blogspot.com/2018/11/welcome-to-indigos-bookshelf.html" target="_blank">Indigo'sBookshelf</a>--Native, Latinx, queer, and disabled young adults writing with
knowledge and passion about books they read?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Do you visit the sites of the
"Kindred Spirits" we list here on our blog?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
Let's commit—or recommit—to reading, and listening, and learning from the
voices of those whose lived experiences can educate those of us trying to work
with good hearts and good intentions. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
Yes, we are this. And yes, we are more than this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /></div>
Megan Schliesmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014338325346040998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-30259830754216834042019-01-17T05:00:00.000-05:002019-01-17T13:08:57.509-05:00What About Shame?<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSfcub8KLQFKjbIZgcMspWFzhQ7GdItzoZzh_MHLFJnP1mCgRLNCvLNxWqAjPBWRZYJubtG8ba2Ji-hry-g42i0VDyZvKTNzN6yblXB1JvIsJvWuctW7vmB6X5WwB309RRtqi8HiG428/s1600/ninalindsay-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="946" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSfcub8KLQFKjbIZgcMspWFzhQ7GdItzoZzh_MHLFJnP1mCgRLNCvLNxWqAjPBWRZYJubtG8ba2Ji-hry-g42i0VDyZvKTNzN6yblXB1JvIsJvWuctW7vmB6X5WwB309RRtqi8HiG428/s320/ninalindsay-01.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This is a post in Reading While White’s <a href="https://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2018/12/introducing-our-end-of-year.html" style="color: #251a9c;" target="_blank">end-of-year retrospective series</a>.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year, I’ve heard a lot of mulling over how to handle “problematic classics” when reading them with children, or using an equity or de-colonizing lens while weeding library collections. This is hardly a new topic; b</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ut this year I heard a new question:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What about the the parent who wants to read one of these classics with their child; what about </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">their </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shame?” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I heard this question twice, on different occasions, enough to pique my interest, because I hadn’t heard it before. The context and phrasing was slightly different each time, but the use of the word “shame,” and the centering of this particular type of shame, was the same. In one case we were discussing a small library’s obligation to stock classics; in the other, the appropriateness of offering alternative reads in response to a requested classic. And the gist was a librarians’ discomfort at making a White parent feel discomfort by drawing attention to the racism in a classic children’s book. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what about shame? It’s critical to take a moment to understand that there are different kinds of shame. A layperson’s tour reminds us that </span><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-zesty-self/200905/what-we-get-wrong-about-shame" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">while painful, much shame is fleeting</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: an embarrassment at seeing one’s self differently, exposed, in front of others. This kind of shame </span><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intense-emotions-and-strong-feelings/201104/shame-concealed-contagious-and-dangerous-emotion" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">can be instructive</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> if the owner is open to it, or it can be dismissed. Shame can also be </span><a href="https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-toxic-shame/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">toxic</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, when it is chronically experienced through childhood, leading to damaging feelings of inferiority. Self-esteem and resilience are crucial coping mechanisms for shame.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A clear provocation for children’s shame are </span><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shape-parenting/201801/the-coolest-monkey-in-the-jungle-children-pain-and-shame" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dehumanizing stereotypes</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, including those we find in children’s books. We know that no book is perfect, and that time shapes our understandings of our own humanity. So why should we expect classic children’s books </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to be complicated, or difficult? Yes, they are books with widely recognized merit or popularity; but we know we are likely to find racism in older children’s books, so we should expect to find them in our “beloved” classics, and expect that for some readers this will be unacceptable. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not to do so is to imply that some people’s shame is acceptable shame. This is what we do when we excuse a book as being “a product of its time,” or insist that we can separate out the “bad parts” and enjoy the rest without perpetuating racism. Racial slurs and stereotypes in classics that are not recognized or called out become dismissable, and therefore the shame that many readers take from them, acceptable. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is what I find so intriguing about the question “What about </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">their</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> shame?” That question suggests that we should accept the shame that we know many BIPOC children experience when reading racist classics, because the shame of the parent embarrassed at having the racism called out is unacceptable. There is a false equivalency at holding these two very different types of shame in comparison to each other, and also a fallacy that they are somehow in competition. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, since we seem to have a hard time with it, what </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">about</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the shame of a parent who can’t find a beloved-yet-racist classic at their small library branch? I certainly hope that the library would obtain it for them, if, at the end of the day, it is indeed what they want. But librarians know never to take a request at face value. There’s always more under the first question, right? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why do most parents or caregivers ask for a classic? It is most likely that 1) they remember reading it, fondly; or, 2) it showed up on a recommended list. Underneath either of those motivations is a desire for the caregiver to do the best for their child, either by creating for them an experience as powerful and positive as they themselves remember, or by following up on the advice of an expert. Those are important, relevant, and valuable motivations. And either of them can be addressed with a variety of recommended books, including the one they first asked for. By listening to the caregiver, we can help them unpack what they are looking for, and supply them with ample and informed possibilities, so that they can make an informed selection for their child. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In fact, being informed is one critical element for managing potential shame, for either child or caregiver. It this is indeed our concern--people’s shame, and building resilience to it (for everyone will experience it, and might as well in their public library as anywhere else)--then we need to focus on building broad, diverse, and evolving library collections and reading recommendations that provide for </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">all </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">children to develop self-esteem, rather than focussing on accepting one person’s shame over another’s. </span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Nina Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03363775984160309811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9160636034192691079.post-54226373040793305572019-01-15T05:00:00.000-05:002019-01-15T05:00:16.323-05:00What To Look For In Data About Diversity In Publishing?<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGz6L4z6ahOFhFxG9HcYwuYREKBPFq5zGuMI0B2TC1YVEguU7C5PwcPjyGnAJfBzgkSwI-USHcRj8gNdwYclYQoS7jg94XrZt8WIInl8KXCfCp9TIkJTQe9sbBeMnpBDwsYAGd0E1ZgRk/s1600/Guest+blogger+Amy+Koester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGz6L4z6ahOFhFxG9HcYwuYREKBPFq5zGuMI0B2TC1YVEguU7C5PwcPjyGnAJfBzgkSwI-USHcRj8gNdwYclYQoS7jg94XrZt8WIInl8KXCfCp9TIkJTQe9sbBeMnpBDwsYAGd0E1ZgRk/s320/Guest+blogger+Amy+Koester.jpg" width="256" /></a><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, Reading While White is pleased to welcome guest blogger Amy Koester for a discussion of the 2017 CCBC statistics. This post is part of our </span></span><a href="https://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2018/12/introducing-our-end-of-year.html" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">end-of-year retrospective series</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></i><br /><br />The beginning of a new calendar year is rife with end-of-year summaries, top ten lists, and other pieces meant to help us put the work and output of the previous year into context. This holds true for diversity in publishing, too, with the anticipated release of CCBC data on children’s books written by and about BIPOC in 2018. As we prepare to consider these newest statistics, we can take some time to consider changes we’ve seen over the course of previous years’ CCBC numbers as well some other pieces of data that can help us to see whether the publishing ecosystem is diversifying.</div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>What do the CCBC stats tell us?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Before anything else, it’s important to recognize that the CCBC does not receive every single book published for children in a given year--so the stats they share represent data about a significant sampling of children’s books, not the full roster of what's published. People looking at this data should keep this in mind throughout any perusal and analysis of the data. One must understand what sampling the data sets represent in order to truly learn anything from them. (For some additional context, the <a href="https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pcstats.asp">CCBC gives this further clarification</a> about what materials they receive and are counted in their data: most of the trade books published in the United States, some series and formula non-fiction books, and some books from Canadian publishers who distribute in the U.S.) That said, the CCBC data is the most comprehensive data set available about books published for children in a given year, and so this data is our closest proxy to all of publishing for children.<br /><br />When I’m looking at CCBC stats, I usually use 2015 as my starting place--that’s the first full year for which We Need Diverse Books was in existence, and it’s also the year we got the first set of data about diversity in the publishing field (more on that below). If 2015 could be considered a year in which diversity across the children’s publishing ecosystem became a high profile priority, how do current practices compare? Until the 2018 CCBC data is available, we’ve got <a href="https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pcstats.asp">the 2017 numbers for comparison</a>.<br /><br /><i>Books Created by BIPOC</i></span></div>
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Comparing BIPOC-created books in 2015 and 2017, we see (in order of greatest to least gross increase in titles):<br /><ul>
<li>There were 98 more Asian American-created books in 2017 than in 2015; Asian American-created books for youth increased 56% from 2015 to 2017, from 176 titles to 274</li>
<li>There were 56 more Latinx-created books in 2017 than in 2015; Latinx-created books for youth increased 93% from 2015 to 2017, from 60 titles to 116 titles</li>
<li>There were 19 more First Nations-created books in 2017 than in 2015; First Nations-created books for youth increased 100% from 2015 to 2017, from 19 titles to 38</li>
<li>There were 14 more Black-created books in 2017 than in 2015; Black-created books for youth increased 13% from 2015 to 2017, from 108 titles to 122</li>
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Across all BIPOC-created books, this is a net increase of 52%, or 187 more titles in 2017 than were created in 2015.<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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What questions do these data about BIPOC-created books raise? Questions for further consideration and research include:<br /><ul>
<li>How many individual BIPOC authors and illustrators are there in a year of publishing? That is to say, how many BIPOC authors are given opportunity to publish, and similarly how many BIPOC illustrators? How many of the books by Black creators in any given recent year are by Jason Reynolds, for example? If a small handful of BIPOC creators publish multiple books, that implies that the overall number of BIPOC creators is not as large as even these relatively dismal data suggest. (And the goal is not to simply increase the number of creators at the expense of individuals creating multiple books; rather, we should look beyond the idea of more books by BIPOC and think more of supporting more careers for BIPOC creators.)</li>
<li>What would an ideal distribution of BIPOC creators even look like? What should be our metrics for achieving greater equity in creation of books for youth? Despite the fact that there was a 100% increase in titles by First Nations creators between 2015 and 2017, there were still only 38 such titles counted in 2017--which amounts to a measly 1% of all counted books created in that year. Data can look impressive--the number of First Nations creators doubled, after all!--while still identifying systemic issues.</li>
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<i>Books About BIPOC</i></div>
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<i><br /></i>Comparing books about BIPOC characters and experiences in 2015 and 2017, we see (in order of greatest to least comparative disparity to U.S. population):</div>
<ul>
<li>Books about Latinx characters and experiences increased 154%, from 85 to 216 titles, from 2015 to 2017, and represented 5.84% of books for youth in 2017 (This is compared to 17.6% of the American population being Hispanic, <a href="https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_DP05&src=pt">according to 2017 data</a>)</li>
<li>Books about Black characters and experiences increased 26% from 2015 to 2017, from 270 to 340 titles, and represented 9.19% of books for youth in 2017 (This is compared to 13.9% of the American population being Black or African American, <a href="https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_DP05&src=pt">according to 2017 data</a>)</li>
<li>Books about First Nations characters and experiences increased 71% from 2015 to 2017, from 42 to 72 titles, and represented 1.95% of books for youth in 2017 (This is compared to 2.1% of the American population being American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander, <a href="https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_DP05&src=pt">according to 2017 data</a>)</li>
<li>Books about Asian-American characters and experiences increased 174% from 2015 to 2017, from 113 to 310 titles, and represented 8.38% of books for youth in 2017 (This is compared to 6.3% of the American population being Asian, <a href="https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_DP05&src=pt">according to 2017 data</a>)</li>
</ul>
In total, 25% of all books published for children and counted by the CCBC in 2017 were about BIPOC characters or experiences; this is compared to 15% of all titles in 2015. Across all books about BIPOC characters in experiences, this is a net increase of 84%, or 428 more titles in 2017 than were published in 2015.<br />
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It’s imperative to remember two other things in considering these CCBC data:<br /><ul>
<li>Comparing representation of BIPOC in children’s books to representation across United States population demographics does not imply that if and when literary representation meets population demographics, diversity will be “achieved”--rather, considering the abysmally underrepresented status of Latinx, First Nations, and Black people in children’s books now, the population benchmarks provide a framework for measuring progress, not for determining success.</li>
<li>These CCBC data tell us only the number of books by and about BIPOC in a given year--they do not speak to the accuracy or integrity of the books and the stories they tell. Dr. Debbie Reese makes this point in her expansion of Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s metaphor of books as windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors: that <a href="https://twitter.com/debreese/status/928585749867483136">many of these mirrors may distort the appearance of BIPOC like “fun house mirrors.”</a> We do well to keep in mind that numerical increases in representation among creators and story characters <a href="http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-benefits-limits-of-diversity-audits.html">is not necessarily reflective of better representation</a>.</li>
</ul>
What questions do these data about books about BIPOC raise? These questions are areas in need of further consideration and exploration:<br /><ul>
<li>What are we to make of the reality that while both the number of books by BIPOC and the number of books about BIPOC have increased, the number of books about has grown more significantly? This is to say, what are we to make of the reality that, in all likelihood, a significant proportion of these new books about BIPOC are by White creators who inherently do not have an #ownvoices perspective of the content about which they write? What does it say about the publishing ecosystem that this “diversity trend” seems to prioritize stories about BIPOC, for which there is ever-increasing demand, without necessarily proportionately fostering support and empowerment of BIPOC creators?</li>
<li>What does it mean that books about Asian characters and experiences are the only demographic group besides White to have a higher percentage of stories about their experiences than their percentage of the national population? To what degree do stereotypes come into play here, in particular the myth of the “model minority”? Given the trends evident in the CCBC data, it’s worth revisiting <a href="http://www.zettaelliott.com/race-representation-in-asian-american-kid-lit/">this 2015 roundtable conversation</a> that was hosted by Zetta Elliott and featured Sarah Park Dahlen, Shveta Thakrar, Mike Jung, Katie Yamasaki, and Sona Charaipotra.</li>
<li>Conversely, what does it mean that the proportion of books about Latinx characters and experiences is particularly mismatched with population data? To what extent do stereotypes and White supremacy factor into the landscape that has resulted in this discrepancy?</li>
</ul>
If we were to break down the about data even further, what would we find in terms of the types of stories being published about BIPOC? For example, what proportion of books about Black characters and experiences are stories of slavery or the civic rights era versus contemporary stories that normalize, not historicize, Black experiences? Similarly, what proportion of books about First Nations characters and experiences take place in modern settings as opposed to historical accounts of First Nations peoples? (To be sure, there’s nothing inherently wrong with historical stories about BIPOC; it is problematic, however, when the majority of stories portray BIPOC as groups relevant only at particular moments in history and/or without presence in today’s increasingly diverse reality.)<br /><br /><b>Considering diversity in the publishing industry</b><div>
<b><br /></b>The number of books published by and about BIPOC is only a piece of the larger children’s publishing ecosystem--to truly transform publishing and ensure that great books by and about BIPOC can get into libraries and the hands of kids, representation among publishing professionals is important to consider, too. In 2015, <a href="https://blog.leeandlow.com/2016/01/26/where-is-the-diversity-in-publishing-the-2015-diversity-baseline-survey-results/">Lee & Low conducted a Diversity Baseline study to capture demographic data about those employed in the publishing industry</a> at that time. It’s interesting data to look at, and it’ll be the basis for comparison when, <a href="https://blog.leeandlow.com/2018/12/07/calling-all-publishers-and-agents-join-us-for-diversity-baseline-survey-2-0/">later this year, they’ll issue the second survey</a> to capture what the industry looks like four years later. Until we have that comparison data, we’re left with more anecdotal and subjective descriptors of the publishing industry. One such example is this recent article from <a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/78680-how-i-landed-in-children-s-books.html">Publishers Weekly that compiles the stories of how various publishing industry folks got into children’s books</a>--and the folks sharing their stories are overwhelmingly White. Regardless of whether the forthcoming Lee & Low data indicate a publishing landscape dominated by White professionals, articles like this serve to reinforce a narrative of publishing as a White field. That impacts how we think about the larger publishing ecosystem as it relates to diverse books for children.<br /><br />Thinking about publishing as an ecosystem also calls into question the role of librarians and those involved in youth librarianship. What does it say about youth librarianship when we look for changes in publishing--<a href="https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2016/03/what-kinds-of-programs-do-alsc-members-want-at-ala-annual-2017/?fbclid=IwAR0hExuH5XOcvTJT3PVgM35ZkT2tlr_TZjkmzP0FmdE4PDg5tnTnYC257eE">we want to see more and learn more about diversity in children’s literature</a>--but do not necessarily look for changes in our own practice and how we contribute to this landscape? What can and should we, as library practitioners, be doing to demand and support more systemic change?<br /><br />As we head into a new year of publishing, the ALA Midwinter Meeting and all the publishing promotion that happens there, and the anticipation of the second round of data on diversity in publishing from Lee & Low, we should all be intentional about considering the different data we’re seeing and what stories they can tell about whether and how we’re moving the needle toward a more diverse ecosystem of publishing books for young people.<br /><br /><i>-Amy Koester works at Skokie Public Library as the manager of the Learning Experiences Department. She is currently wrapping up her term on the board of directors of the Association for Library Service to Children. She is a member of the editorial board of <a href="http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/">In the Library with the Lead Pipe</a>, an open access, open peer reviewed journal on librarianship.</i></div>
Reading While Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07807138877345669931noreply@blogger.com0