Why do you read? For companionship? for inspiration? to
stimulate your imagination? for growth? We all have different reasons why we
read. Some enjoy one specific genre: romance, suspense, fantasy, self-help;
others thrive on variety. One might prefer first person narratives while others
like to get into the minds of all the characters. Some visualize the characters
and setting; others do not. We are quite a kaleidoscope when it comes down to
our individual preferences.
Let me ask you this: Do you ever read with diversity in
mind? Diversity, for most of us, brings to mind different races but that is
just a part of diversity. Diversity can be a different culture, a different
lifestyle, a different religion, etc. Reading a novel about New York City is
diversity if you live in small-town America, because everyday life can be quite
different for a big-city dweller versus one in a small town. Picking up a novel
with characters of another race is diversity. Some books are culturally
generic. They might have a cast of diverse characters, but the plot does not
differ regardless of who the characters may be. Other books are culturally
specific and the plot reflects diversity.
It is a challenge to me at times to read a culturally
specific book because I don’t see myself in the story; however, I read on
outside my comfort zone because I know these books expose me to a larger world
and open my mind. I see that people that are different than me have many of the
same thoughts and feelings I do but also it fosters understanding for our
differences. For this reason, I push on
and try new titles. In the past few years, reading The Hate U Give
provided many insights into concerns African American mothers have for their
teenage sons that I never had for my two boys when they were teens and Every
Falling Star opened my heart to the plight of the average citizen in North
Korea. Recently, I watched a TED Talk entitled “The Danger of a Single Story.” The
speech by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is less than 20 minutes and I would
encourage you to watch it if you are on the fence about diversity in
literature.
Give it a try. Find a novel by a foreign author or with a
plot that is different than your world. Encourage your children to read about
different cultures and races. Acceptance comes with understanding and what a
better place we would live in if we viewed our differences with an open mind.
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