In a country with a rich history of people of different races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and religions, it is upsetting to see that diversified culture being underrepresented in our everyday school literature. As students, we have grown to learn that so many of the “classics” involve that of white males and their protagonists, typically also white males. Out of the 30 books in the high school English curriculum, an overwhelming 20 of them are written by white males, making up 66% of the books we read in class. In a society where that demographic is truly not the case, why should students in English classes be shown only one, mainly naive, perspective? By looking through only one type of perspective in literature, it is directly influencing our growth and judgment. However, a simple change can be done in order to incorporate a new point of view, revealing a mirror, sliding glass door, or even a window that was never seen before.
As replacements or additions, here are three different books that can be incorporated into the curriculum in order to learn more about people’s lives outside of the character type we are so used to seeing.
The first is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Published in 1868, the story focuses on the March sisters and their maturity into adulthood during a time when feminism was not commonly seen. As a female author, Alcott can break down long-lasting traditions and societal norms through the female perspective. This includes the strong theme of the struggle between the fantasy of ambition and the reality of familial duties.
The second book is Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, a black man born in Washington D.C.. Recently released in 2017, this book follows Will, a fifteen-year-old boy who recently lost his brother in a murder. The story, written in verse, takes place through an elevator ride as Will is accompanied by his friends and family who have all passed away due to gun violence. As a young teenager living in an unsafe neighborhood, Will teaches readers about guilt, regret, revenge, and a cycle of brutality that many are unaware of.
Last and certainly not least, The Color Purple by Alice Walker is a story that follows a young African American Woman Celie, and her story living in a very rural part of Georgia in the early 1900’s. Published in the late 1900’s, the story of Celie is written through letters to God, capturing messages of trauma, determination, and putting oneself first. Walker is also the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for this novel and the National Book Award for fiction.
As students at Glen Rock High School where a white perspective is the overwhelming majority, it is important to open up a new mindset in order to learn from others. By learning new points of view and putting ourselves in other people’s shoes, we will not only be able to grow for ourselves but also learn the ability to sympathize or empathize with others. As Dr. Rudin Sims Bishop who popularly coined the phrase that books are mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors, also states “When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part.”
