The All-White World of Publishing and Books

 Diversity in literature is extremely important to me. I recommend a book or a piece of media to a friend at my job. I think about it when I purchase a book from the bookstore. Reading diversely is an active choice, which is extremely rewarding and beneficial for me as a librarian and a reader. Despite this, finding books with diverse perspectives is difficult. Publishing is overwhelmingly white, cis, and straight, and this can make it difficult for marginalized authors to succeed in the publishing world. We see this in children's literature as well. 

Diversity in Children's Books
 

I remember reading Nancy Larrick's article on young adult literature for Dr. Janice's class. Despite its focus primarily on children's literature, it profoundly impacted me. Larrick's article was written in 1965, but these issues of representation still impact children's literature today. How can we encourage literacy when the books we have don't represent our patrons? It's a constant question I have when I try to recommend a book to someone. 

According to Dr Rudine Sims Bishop, when children "cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part" (1990). Not seeing yourself in a story impacts you. It can make you believe that you are other than 'the norm'. Librarians must provide books and stories where all children are represented, not just white children. Larrick's article puts our biases on blast; it shows how a lack of representation can impact children. 

As librarians, we should continue to encourage diversity in publishing. That way, our patrons will be represented in the books they read.  


Comments

  1. Jen CMay 13, 2025 at 7:36 AM

    Things are changing, but the change is slow. All you can do is make the best choices for the community you serve. Acknowledging that it's an issue and your desire to focus on positive representation are steps in the right direction.

    ReplyDelete

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