Look to the Literature: Diversify Your Lens

There are numerous systemic flaws from colonialism and white supremacy in the national and global climates. One issue that is not talked about enough is the lack of diversity in the publishing industry, in both the U.S. and globally. This topic was recently discussed in my Global Studies class, and I found it both interesting and shocking so I wanted to look deeper into the issue.  

I believe it is common knowledge at this point that there is a lack of diversity in children’s books in the United States. Books are not the only forms of cultural representation that commonly lack diversity (toys, games, film, etc), but are arguably the most harmful. Unfortunately, many children of color grow up in the United States surrounded by stories portraying white characters. Children who are unable to relate to characters in mainstream media that have such a big presence in their young lives may begin to feel like they are different. Being made aware of their difference by the stories that they read may lead to an identity crisis and confusion about where they fit in. The lack of representation children of color receive may even lead them to question their own worth. The United States has been slowly improving on representation of diversity, but why has it taken until well into the twenty-first century to promote a change in this issue?  

The lack of diversity in the publishing industry is not only a relevant issue in the United States, however. In many countries who were victims of colonization, the citizens grow up reading American or European literature. Children in India, for example, should not have to read mainly British stories. These children form a sort of fantasy of how life could be and is for the people that they read about, and how it differs from their life. If they mainly read about white people, how will they ever learn about themselves? How will they feel accepted in society when everything they read does not portray people who look like them?  

A well-known Nigerian writer named Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie gave a lecture on TED called “Danger of a Single Story.” She talked about how she grew up middle-class in Nigeria and had a pretty stable and happy upbringing, but when she came to the United States for college, she was pitied for being “African.” She says this is a result of a “single story” or not enough information present in the media about her country. When only one stereotype or idea about a person or place is constantly being ingrained into society, that is the only way people will perceive the topic at hand.  

Adichie also experienced growing up with little to no representation in the literature that she was given. Nigeria was a British colony not too long ago. A lot of their pop culture is British, and their official language still remains English. Britain undoubtedly had a lot of influence on the countries which they colonized, but I think it may be too much influence. As a young girl, Adichie constantly read and wrote stories about people who did not look like her and did not relate to her in a lot of cultural aspects. She says that all she knew was white people being expressed in literature and did not think someone like her could be written about. It is extremely unfortunate that this is many children’s reality. Children worldwide are given western literature to learn how to read, which is very harmful. Children who are underrepresented will begin to recognize this and feel inferior in society.  

I believe it’s essential to diversify literature and the publishing industry. When children begin to hear stories, they are still in their early developmental stages. It is crucial to present all children with characters that they feel like they can fully relate to. We can do this by encouraging people of power in the publishing and media industries to diversify their stories, not only in the United States, but also in all the countries that still face the effects of colonization in terms of media. We must stop making white western culture the norm in societies who are/were victims of white rule.