Official Tumblr of We Need Diverse Books

Not long ago, I came across an article with the headline “Reading is a rapidly depleting form of entertainment,” which cited recent findings from Pew Research Center that 24% of Americans didn’t read a book in 2017. Now, what I saw was that 76% of Americans did read a book. The reality is that if 76% of any population is participating in a single activity then you are surrounded by people doing that very thing. The article said that books are dying; the research said—to me, at least—that we are a nation of readers. 

Well-Read Black Girl (WRBG) is a thriving community of 50,000+ passionate readers who will convene for the first time on September 9, 2017, at the inaugural Well-Read Black Girl Festival in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. 

“This list began with a mistake. I’d started collecting the titles of intriguing 2017 books: to read them, of course, but also because I hoped to review more prose in 2017. I soon noticed, though, that the writers I’d assembled in my private most-anticipated roll call bore an alarming resemblance in one respect to lists everywhere, not just the book-related kind (cf. editorial slates, boards of directors, tables of contents): the men outnumbered the women.“

“There is immense power in sharing stories and in relating to others with experiences similar to your own. There is comfort in a book’s power to remove you from the isolation that can often accompany a marginalized identity. Everyone deserves to feel like they belong. Reading stories that accurately portray individuals from underrepresented populations helps boost the voices of the marginalized. And given our country’s current social and political climate, this is of vital importance.“

Young people, especially teens, are constantly thinking about who they are. Everyday they are forging their identity and discovering how they fit into the world. Books and other media being consumed can play an instrumental role in the creation of an identity. For a young person, having an opportunity to see themselves reflected in the art they engage with is paramount. Whether the difference is a disability, immigration status, race, gender identity, or sexual orientation; having a mirror of their life and seeing others exploring those stories is incredibly powerful. This kind of representation can go a long way in helping young people feel understood and accepted. The importance of seeing someone who is like you being portrayed as a hero, a goofball, a star athlete, etc., cannot be underestimated. Seeing a character like you—who is complex, nuanced and smashing the stereotypes that you are fighting against—is nothing short of thrilling.

Author Matt de la Peña on how we consciously or unconsciously frame “diverse” stories when we read to our little ones.

“Maybe kids look to us (parents, teachers, librarians) before deciding how to frame a new book they’ve just encountered. If we make a big deal about the differences between the young reader and the characters in the story, isn’t the story more likely to be viewed as “other” in the child’s mind? If we focus on the narrative instead, and on the journey of the characters, maybe a young reader’s attention will remain here, too. At least in the short term.“

Matt de la Pena’s advice on how to talk (or not talk) about diversity when reading with kids can help them build a sense of their own understanding of the world and others as the character(s) go on their own journey.

In her inspired Young Adult debut, This Side of Home from bloomsburybooks, Renée Watson explores the experience of young African-American women navigating the traditions and expectations of their culture. Watson author of Harlem’s Little Black Bird: The Story of Florence Mills, will be in conversation with Jacqueline Woodson, author of Brown Girl Dreaming, winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.  

On March 18th authors jacquelinewoodson and Renee Watson will be in conversation at the Schomburg Center in New York City. You can RSVP (for free) at Eventbrite here.

Suggested reading material from Bank Street Library for recognition of Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King and the Civil Rights movement in America.