Multicultural Literature

1. Multicultural Literature By: Ms. Kampner

2. What is multicultural literature? • Includes three kinds • World literature: nonwestern countries outside of the U.S. • Cross-cultural literature: about relations between cultural groups or by authors writing about a cultural group other than their own • Minority literature: written by members of a parallel culture that represents their unique experiences as members of that culture

3. Different Cultures • African American • Japanese

4. African American • We read two books in class • Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth • Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles

5. Japanese • We read two books in class • Makoto, The Smallest Boy by Yoshiko Uchida • The Birthday Visitor by Yoshiko Uchida

6. General Information • African American literature was the first multicultural literature present in children’s literature. This is because of the Civil Rights movement in the 60’s and caused for an uproar in pushing equality. Most African American stories are based on slavery and the struggles they faced through the Civil Rights Movement. In many African American stories you will find that they are constantly being stereotyped as poor, living in bad neighborhoods, kids are always in trouble, parents are bad influences, and they seem to never get ahead in society. • Most Japanese writings are historical and revolve around Hiroshima and the bombings of Pearl Harbor. A typical theme is how Japanese people are learning to appreciate their cultural heritage while adjusting to life in America.

7. Differences & Similarities • In your groups, create a Venn Diagram of the similarities and differences among the two cultures and the books we have read