Yesterday's quick discussion on different groups of underrepresented books sparked my memory of a "controversial" topic back when I was in second or third grade.
The news was reporting on a "controversial" new book that was coming out, called My Two Dad's [or something to that effect] and it was all over the news that these books were coming out and being from grand rapids, people were completely up in arms about the idea of a book about a homosexual couple raising a child, and it was banned at all schools, there were even protests at our local public library about banning the book. Basically, people found it awful that a group within the LBGT[Q] umbrella group was being represented in a book for children. At the time of course I didn't really understand it or what it was about, but that memory and a vivid picture of one of the pages stuck out in my mind, even to this day, because in conservative GR, things like that weren't talked about during that time. I now realize how hurtful and prejudiced such actions like that are, and I don't think if that book came out now there would be the same uproar as there was 12ish years ago, but it just reminds me how hard it is for underrepresented groups to try and break into the 'mainstream' when it is so easy for the 'mainstream' to ban and discount them.
I realize how important it is to try and represent all groups possible in my personal library because I'm sure that book is very relatable for many kids and having that available may help a student going through a tough time and they may be able to find validation in something as simple as me having books representing different kinds of families available for them to be able to read about.
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2 comments:
Interesting post Catie. I had a very similar experience similar experience in high school. In my freshman year English class, we were the novel Jack by A.M. Homes. It is interesting how much I remember about this novel, perhaps because it was shrouded in such controversy; the narrator is a 15 year old boy whose parents are in the midst of a divorce when his father comes out to him. A few students’ parents were up in arms after hearing the subject matter of this book. Some even sent their children back to school with entire passages blacked out with sharpie marker. At the time I remember wondering if these outraged parents had taken the time to actually read the book. In my opinion, the message of the novel was focused far more on the dangers of intolerance rather than making any attempt to indoctrinate readers with certain beliefs about homosexuality.
Seven years later, it would be interesting to track that book down and reread it with the insights of TE 448 fresh in my mind. Maybe when things slow down a little I will…
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