The Importance of Multicultural Literature

The article that Yu Ren Dong wrote explained the importance of multicultural literature in the world that we live in today. In United States especially there is a wide blend of cultures that are in constant contact with one another. This article shows that it is important to respect and understand the differences among cultures, and that teachers can instill these values in their adolescents through literature. If students learn to understand the cultural differences of a character in a book then they can start to understand cultural differences that are found in everyday life. When people begin to understand cultural differences they learn to respect others people as unique individuals.

Both of the novels Copper Sun and Esperanza Rising that we read in class would work well as beginner novels for adolescents. These novels could easily be included in the English curriculums of middle schools in order to create and generate multicultural awareness. Neither of the novels is difficult to read or so boring that it could not capture the attention of middle schoolers. At the same time both depict important cultural values, traditions, and history that would help educate students on African American and hispanic cultures.

It is vitally important for the teachers of multicultural literature to know how to teach this type of literature in order to help students get rid of cultural biases. The teacher must be able to effectively generate discussion groups where the students question the differences in cultures and see how a character from a different culture is affected differently than they would be. As Dong's article insinuates it is essential for the students to learn to get past their own cultural experiences and analyze the characters based on the characters' cultures. In doing so and attempting to look at the novel and its circumstances through the characters' eyes and cultures the students are making their first step towards multicultural awareness.

Being aware and respecting other cultures is very important in the diverse would that we live in today. Racism is all to apparent in many parts of our society, and it could be possible to decrease racial tension through better education on multicultural values.

"But, Is It Good Enough to Teach?"

After reading the chapter written by Foster I have mixed feelings about the books that we have read so far in class. I believe that all three of them were a good choice to read and discuss in our class about adolescent literature, but I don't think that they should all be taught to adolescents. Harry Potter and Twilight are two of the most popular books on the shelf right now, and so it is important to discuss them in class because of their appeal to adolescents. On the other hand Copper Sun could greatly benefit young readers if it was taught in schools.

I would not like it if Harry Potter and Twilight were taught in schools because I think that it would ruin those books for the young readers. I believe that these books are already serving their great purpose by inspiring many kids to read, and even motivating them about reading long time consuming books. These books are meant to entertain and inspire children's imagination. It would greatly take away from the plot, the characters, and the magic that these books give children if they were taught in schools. Without analyzing these books in school kids will still be able to pick up on the themes of hope, never giving up, the power of love, and the great importance of friendship. I can only hope that these two influential books will continue to keep young kids reading and inspired.

Copper Sun is different than the other two books in many ways. First of all Copper Sun is not even half as popular as either of the other books, and most young readers if not all have probably never heard of this book. This book should be taught in school because it has great educational value. This book tells of the terrible events of slavery, and the point of view that the book is told in helps to open the eyes of the reader forcing him or her to sympathize with the characters. This book has the potential to educate adolescents on slave tales, the many atrocities that occurred, and contains essential themes associated with african american literature.

All three of these books that we have ready were important to discuss in a class about adolescent literature. They all are novels that have the potential to benefit young adolescent readers. Personally I see Copper Sun as a more educational novel, but I do believe that the other two are vitally important due to their power to inspire children's imagination and get them excited about reading.

Personal Reaction to Copper Sun

Copper Sun was the kind of book the grabbed my attention in the very first couple of chapters. Amari faced many struggles in the very beginning of the book. Through the use of vivid imagery the author was able to clearly depict the atrocities that took place to the African tribes. As a reader I was able to sympathize with Amari and feel her pain as unthinkable events continued to befall her and her fellow Africans.

I had never before read a slave tale before, and I think that this book is great for teens. As we discussed in class the historical fiction was accurate especially when referring to how the whites treated their slaves. The horrific images of slavery and torture were astonishing and even opened my eyes as I read the novel. I do not believe that at any point the novel gets too graphic for teens, but I am sure that anyone who reads this will be at least a little surprised about how terrible the slave trade and slave life on a plantation really were. This is a great multicultural novel for adolescents because it not only reveals the atrocities of slavery, but it also presents a theme of hope that is a common theme in slave tales.

I consider myself a well educated individual, but after reading this novel I feel that I have learned significantly more about what life was like for each individual person. Putting slavery into the perspective of a protagonist helps the reader to sympathize with that character and gain a better understanding of that character's experiences. This novel could help many adolescents see the seriousness of what slavery was, and why it is not something to be taken lightly.

Our class discussions on the historical context of the book made me think more of the book and its Sharon Draper. At times that events that befall Amari and her people seem so extreme that they could be exaggerated, but after finding that all of this happened it adds merit to the novel. I had never before heard that slave babies were used as gator bait. I found this particular tragedy very terrifying and atrocious. This part of the novel completely epitomized the helplessness of the slaves and their terrible situation. It is events like this that many people, especially teenagers, don't know about and could benefit greatly by reading the book Copper Sun, but also by discussing its historical and multicultural significance.