For several years I have heard people refer to books as windows, mirrors and doors. I assumed that I used picture books in ways that were empowering to children. But, as I've reflected over the past few weeks, I have realized that there is so much more to be done to ensure that children really SEE themselves at school. We have been on a journey of social justice. We have been engaged in book discussions and actively trying to be inclusive, equitable and anti-racist. We will never fully arrive because as we know, education is a journey without a destination. However, each day, each week, each month we move forward on the journey and we are better because of it. A few days ago I stumbled upon Molly's Facebook post. I was instantly touched after I read it. Then I started to wonder why it's taken us so long to read books with black characters in school. I wondered if we all felt like we needed permission. But, then I noticed the hashtag that Molly added to the end-- "#hope". And, I realized that what has really happened here at JW is that we have HOPE! We have hope that we can make tomorrow better than today and today better than yesterday. We have hope for the futures of our students and our eyes have been opened to THEIR realities.
This place isn't about US, it's about the CHILDREN. We are blessed to be a school with children who can see themselves in books about black people, Latinx people, Arab people and many other kinds of people. But WE the educators are the ones with the power to bring the stories that reflect our students to life in the classroom. Think about that for a minute! We truly have the power to shape how our students SEE themselves and their futures. We cannot waste this opportunity. As you can see from the infographic above, we are going to have to actively seek out books in which our students can SEE themselves. In 2018, 50% of picture books had main characters who were white as opposed to just 10% depicting characters who were black. No wonder we haven't been reading books with diverse characters to our students! We have to actively look for them! But, now our eyes have been opened. I don't think we will look at pictures books the same way ever again.
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