Comments on: Color Me Perplexed

By: Evelyn N. Alfred

Evelyn N. Alfred — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:56:27 +0000

What a lovely post. I hope the message is received by many people. I like using Bronx Masquerade during my poetry unit with my middle schoolers.

By: Virginia DeBerry

Virginia DeBerry — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:36:57 +0000

Amen. And Amen! We have been railing against this kind of reading blindness in adults–and of course it starts in childhood. In fact just blogged about the subject last week on Freshfiction.com. I had a conversation with another writer yesterday who wants to help promote “multicultural” reading–I asserted that whites read Chinese, Japanese, East Indian, Native American, Mexican, Iraqui narratives regularly–how else do these books make the best seller lists? They do read multi-culturally. Sadly, this is an issue that’s far more black and white than we’re comfortable talking about.

By: J. Patrick Lewis

J. Patrick Lewis — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:55:54 +0000

Hi, Nikki,

Brava, m’dear. Your rich clarion call cannot be shouted too loudly or too often. Literature abolishes the color spectrum–or it should. Your article ought to be a vade mecum for every school librarian and teacher in the land.

By: Liz

Liz — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 16:08:28 +0000

How incredibly sad it was to read that thoughtless librarian ‘s quote. As a first grade teacher in a predominantly white village, I do my best to have my children explore other cultures through literature, art, penpals, etc. And how unenriched my daughter’s and my life would have been without reading The Watsons Go To Birmingham:1963 over and over again. Thank you for your inspiring piece!

By: Debi

Debi — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 14:42:02 +0000

This makes me sad, it tells me that we still have a long way to go. As a reading teacher I believe all students need to be exposed to quality literature. Keep writing, you have a talent that can’t be replicated.

By: Janet

Janet — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 12:07:27 +0000

Thank YOU! Life’s stories are just that. It is sad enough that there are people in the general public that may have outdated understandings of the richness literature brings to us but to have educators and librarians exhibiting shallow mindedness is absurd. Again thank YOU for keeping the concept of reading across cultural lines a reality. Literature is what binds us as the human race. If you don’t mind I would like to borrow your ” a book is a book is a book” because our stories are our stories are ALL of our stories. You continue to be an inspiration- a blessing. Thank YOU!

By: Bev Humphrey

Bev Humphrey — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 12:04:52 +0000

Brilliantly well put. As a school librarian turned consultant I was embarrassed to read your post, it’s not a nice thought that any of my worldwide colleagues could be this backward and dense. I don’t think the colour of an author’s skin should have anything to do with book choice and I’m relieved to say I have not come across this attitude in the UK. Thank you for writing such an eloquent and thought provoking piece ;0)