Critical Content Analyses: Explorations of Marginalized Populations and Languages in Literature for Children and Youth

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

It has been over fifty years since Nancy Larrick (1965) lamented how poorly books served those unlike the dominant social groups. Nearly thirty years ago, Sims Bishop (1990) added that books serve as mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors for readers to gain affirmation, knowledge, and motivation for action. Nearly thirty years after Bishop’s piece, literature still does not provide accurate, respectful, or authentic stories for all children. Thus, we respond to their call with this three paper symposium presenting critical analyses focused on colorism in visual character portrayals, immigration experiences, and English language hegemony over native languages. We do this in an effort to push for continuous and diversified evaluation of literature for children and youth.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Multicultural/Multiethnic Education: Theory, Research, and Practice

Chair

• Mary Adu-Gyamfi, University of Missouri - Columbia

Papers

• Troubling Whiteness in Children's Picture Books: Examining the Use of Skin Shade of Illustrated Characters - Mary Adu-Gyamfi, University of Missouri - Columbia; Christina King, University of Missouri - Columbia; Edwin Nii Bonney, Radford University

• "We Came to America": Exploring Contemporary Representations of Immigration Experience in Children's Picture Books - Christina King, University of Missouri - Columbia

• Where Ghanaian Languages Die: A Critical Content Analysis of Literature in Ghanaian Classrooms - Edwin Nii Bonney, Radford University

Discussant

• Angie Zapata, University of Missouri