07/12/2009 Diversity Research Grant. ALA 09 1
Cultural authenticity portrayed in picture books: A systematic approach toward diversity education for children
Eun-Young [email protected]
Pauletta [email protected]
North Carolina Central University
07/12/2009 Diversity Research Grant. ALA 09 2
Problem Statement
Examines the issue of cultural authenticity reflected in multicultural picture books in order to provide a new direction for diversity education for children.
Conducts a systematic and empirical analysis of picture books that represent four different ethnic groups including African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanic- Americans and Native-Americans.
Proposes cultural authenticity in multicultural picture books as a pedagogical construct.
07/12/2009 Diversity Research Grant. ALA 09 3
Objectives
To what extent do children’s picture books depict cultural authenticity via literary content and illustrations?
What are the differences and similarities of cultural authenticity, non-stereotyping, and cultural accuracy among ethnic groups?
Why does cultural authenticity matter? What are the implications of cultural authenticity analysis for librarians and educators?
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Method
Selection of Books Coders Coding Scheme & Content Analysis
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Selection of Books
15 picture books for each ethnic group African American Asian American Hispanic American Native American
Total: 60 picture books selected All published after 2000 All available from local public or academic libraries
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Selection of Books (cont.)
Selection tools NoveList
An electronic readers’ advisory resource for fiction for children and teens
A division of EBSCO host Search: subject search, limit publication year, sort by
popularity
CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center) Choices, 2000-2008
Understanding diversity through novels and picture books (Knowles & Smith, 2007)
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African-American List
Title Author Year
Dear Mr. Rosenwald Carole Boston Weatherford 2006
Hot city Barbara Joosse 2004
Hot day on Abbott Avenue Karen English 2004
Jackie's bat Marybeth Lorbiecki 2006
Mim's Christmas jam Andrea David Pinkney 2001
Night boat to freedom Margot Theis Raven 2006
One of the problems of Everett Anderson Lucille Clifton 2001
Squashed in the middle Elizabeth Winthrop 2005
Subway Anastasia Suen 2004
The escape of Oney Judge Emily Arnold McCully 2007
The hard-times jar Ethel Footman Smothers 2003
The journey of Oliver K. Woodman Darcy Pattison 2003
Visiting day Jacqueline Woodson 2002
Wind flyers Angela Johnson 2007
Yo, Jo! Rachel Isadora 2007
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Asian-American List Title Author Year
Apple pie 4th of July Janet S. Wong 2002
Bee-bim bop Linda Sue Park 2005
Behind the mask Yangsook Choi 2006
Bringing in the New Year Grace Lin 2008
Cooper's lesson Sun Yung Shin 2004
Every year on your birthday Rose Lewis 2007
Grandfather counts Andrea Cheng 2000
Just add one Chinese sister Patricia MacMahon 2005
Landed Milly Lee 2006
My mei mei Ed Young 2006
Red is a dragon Roseanne Thong 2001
Round is a mooncake Roseanne Thong 2000
Sixteen years in sixteen seconds Paula Yoo 2005
Uncle Peter's amazing Chinese wedding Lenore Look 2004
Yoko writes her name Rosemary Wells 2008
07/12/2009 Diversity Research Grant. ALA 09 9
Hispanic-American List Title Author Year
A box full of kittens Sonia Manzano 2007
Featherless Juan Felipe Herrera 2004
If the shoe fits Gary Soto 2002
Let's eat! Pat Mora 2008
Little mama forgets Robin Cruise 2006
My feet are laughing Lissette Norman 2006
My grandma Ginger Foglesong Guy 2007
My little car Gary Soto 2006
Nana's big surprise Amada Irma Perez 2007
No dogs allowed! Sonia Manzano 2004
Oh, brother! Nikki Grimes 2008
Quinito's neighborhood Ina Cumpiano 2005
Roberto Clemente Jonah Winter 2005
Sparky's bark Mimi Chapra 2006
The bakery lady Pat Mora 2001
07/12/2009 Diversity Research Grant. ALA 09 10
Native-American List Title Author Year
Bad River boys Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve 2005
Coyote Christmas S.D. Nelson 2007
First Salmon Roxane Beauclair Salonen 2005
Jingle dancer Cynthia L. Smith 2000
Kiki's journey Kristy Orona-Ramirez 2006
Malian's song Marge Bruchac 2006
Ribbon rescue Robert Munsch 2002
Sacagawea Lise Erdrich 2003
Sequoyah James Rumford 2004
Sky dancers Connie Ann Kirk 2004
Solomon's tree Andrea Spalding 2002
The frog princess: a Tlingit legend from Alaska Erick A. Kimmel 2006
The rattlesnake who went to school Craig Kee Strete 2004
The song within my heart David Bouchard 2002
Yetsa's sweater Sylvia Olsen 2006
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Coders : Selection Criteria
Two coders per ethnic group— Intercoder reliability
Insiders of the culture — Assessing cultural authenticity
Gender Professions
— Librarians— LIS students/graduates
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Data Collection : Scope of Coding
Major character Name, demographics (gender, age), social roles (occupation,
relationship with other characters) Minor character
Name, demographics (gender, age), social roles (occupation, relationship with other characters)
Setting Context, location, environment, place, etc.
Stereotypical features Whether stereotypical features are depicted in terms of text &
illustration; if yes, to what extent Cultural authenticity
To what extent the book portrays cultural authenticity of the ethnic group in terms of text & illustration
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Definition : Stereotype
A stereotype is a preconceived idea that attributes certain characteristics (in general) to all the members of class or set. The term is often used with a negative connotation when referring to an oversimplified, exaggerated, or demeaning assumption that a particular individual possesses the characteristics associated with the class due to his or her membership in it. Stereotypes can be used to deny individuals respect or legitimacy based on their membership in that group. (Wikipedia)
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Definition : Cultural Authenticity
Cultural authenticity is not just accuracy or the avoidance of stereotypes, but involves cultural values, facts, and attitudes that members of the culture as a whole consider worthy of acceptance and belief (Mo, W.
& Shen, W., 1997)
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Preliminary Findings
Profiles of major characters Settings Cultural authenticity Stereotypes, cultural authenticity & cultural accuracy
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Gender Age Social roles & others
African Americans
Girl (47%),
Boy (33 %)
Mostly school years/ preteens
Some names associated with the
culture Well described social roles
Asian Americans
Girl (47%),
Boy (33 %)
Mostly school years/ preteens
Mostly American names Well described social roles
Hispanic Americans
Girl (53%)
Boy (33%)
Mostly school years/ preteens, some adults
Mostly Hispanic names Countries identified (over 50%)
Native Americans
Girl (47%)
Boy (47%)
Children and adults, half and half
Mostly Native American names Tribes identified (over 50%)
Profiles of Major Characters
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SettingsAfrican Americans
Inner city/ urban (about 50%) Special places: jail, pro baseball locker room, slave
plantation, subway
Asian Americans
Mostly neighborhood (some Asian neighborhood) Special places: Asian grocery/ restaurant Special events: 4th of July, Halloween, Chinese
wedding, Chinese New Year
Hispanic Americans
Inner city/ urban (about 70%) Some in USA and countries of the culture (Country
names identified in some stories) Mostly current
Native Americans
Mostly in isolated places (Native reservation or inter-
tribal places) Names of cities or states identified (about 50%) Historic times/ events (about 50%)
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Cultural Authenticity : African American
Coders agree that most books depict the culture authentically although some are overlapping or conflicting with negative stereotypical features of the culture
Positive aspects: Importance of family & tradition Perseverance/ resilience Appearance in illustrations
Negative aspects: Singe family home “none of my business” mentality
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Cultural Authenticity : Asian American
Coders agree that majority of the books depicted the culture authentically, even though some cultural details (e.g., cooking process and wedding ceremony) lacked authentic descriptions.
Most books tried to portray important parts of Asian Americans’ culture such as inter generation conflicts/gaps, historical/cultural details (i.e, food, Chinese New Year, Chinese wedding), and immigrants’ adaptation process (i.e. languages, food, cultural differences).
Adoption stories (3 out of 15)
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Cultural Authenticity : Hispanic American
Coders agree that majority of the books depicted the culture authentically.
Positive aspects: Correct translation of Spanish words Extended family; Family closeness Hard working Hispanics Family-centered business Use of bright colors in illustrations Diverse Hispanic descents
Negative aspects: Incorrect translation of Spanish words Single parent home
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Cultural Authenticity : Native American
Coders agree that majority of the books depicted the culture authentically, but they also mentioned that stories/illustrations were rather contemporary than traditional in order to avoid stereotypical features of the culture.
Problems: lack of accuracy in some books (e.g., The frog princess, Solomon’s tree).
A few books were too universal, and not depicted Native culture specifically.
One of the coders studied whether authors/illustrators were Natives. If not, how they got to create the work of the culture.
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Stereotypes, Cultural Authenticity and Cultural Accuracy
Cultural authenticity = Non stereotyping (?)Cultural authenticity = Cultural accuracy (?)
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Stereotypes, Cultural Authenticity and Cultural Accuracy
Presence of some types stereotypical features via text and images in books of all groups.
Presence of inaccuracy in some historic stories and cultural issues in Asian Americans and Native Americans.
Need to examine how presence of stereotypical features and inaccuracy affect the overall cultural authenticity of the story.
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Excerpts from coding: Visiting Day (African American)
Stereotypical features: Criminal, Dysfunctional family, Poor “The main character’s father is in prison…”
Cultural authenticity: “Family Loyalty: I do not agree that this is a stereotypical
attribute within African American culture. The significance of family and the unspoken belief that no matter what happens the family must remain together and strong are elements that appear in this story that are authentic to African American culture.”
Additional comments: “Although Visiting Day revolves around a story of a father who is
incarcerated and his daughter and grandma who visit him regularly, I do not feel that the story attempts to portray all African Americans as criminals.”
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Excerpts from coding: Bad River Boys: A Meeting… (Native American)
Stereotypical features: Wearing feathers, headless with arms, etc. Indian style broken English
“The illustrations are historical, depicting the people wearing what is now considered stereotypical clothes and living in tee-pees.”
Cultural authenticity: “The text seems to be based on the journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Though the story is supposed to show the incident through the eyes the Indian boys, the text is a mixture of “Indian talk” (short sentences), contemporary American talk, and facts pulled from the journals of the expedition. There is probably very little, if not nothing, to dispute about the authenticity of this event.” “Illustrations: Again, this is a historical story and portrays this Plains tribe wearing clothing of the era.”
Additional comments: “The author is a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and grew up on their
reservation. The illustrator is not Native American but enjoys doing extensive research on his subjects (according to a note on the book jacket).”
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Future Plan
Further analyses on cultural authenticity in multicultural picture books beyond nonstereotypes or cultural accuracy.
Information on to what extent the multicultural picture books that have widely been selected and read by librarians, educators and readers depict cultural authenticity of four different ethnic groups.
Implications for authors, illustrators, librarians, educators, parents, readers and researchers on multicultural picture books as a pedagogical construct for our rapidly changing diverse education.
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