Professional Resource

The text Teaching Multicultural Literature in Grades K-8, edited by Violet Harris (1992) was a great resource of information on multicultural literature. Rudine Sims-Bishop discusses the concept of authenticity in the authorship of multicultural text. Her most poignant regarding good quality multicultural literature was her attention to the cultural background of the author and their abilities to discuss the elements of their own culture displaying the common human elements, but also describing the differences in language, religious beliefs, family dynamics, social values all while being careful not to alienate the outside reader (pg. 44). Sims-Bishop believes in order for multicultural literature to be most authentic, it should be written by and insider of the culture and she gives some excellent criteria on how to identify quality multicultural pieces.

Sims-Bishop noted these criteria for determining quality multicultural fiction literature:

1. be well written
2. tell a good story
3. have strong characterizations
4. offer a worthwhile theme (or themes) students can understand
5. accurate
6. well-presented.
(pg. 47-48)

Sims-Bishop also goes on to say that a good author can address these criteria to the benefit of all readers (both within and outside of their personal culture. I felt this was appropriate to include and focus on the quality of the literature, which I feel sometimes gets sacrificed for the sake of having an inside voice. I agree with Sims-Bishop’s belief that those who are intimately connected to the culture have the ability to be more accurate in their depictions of the culture; however there are no guarantees, and looking at the quality of the literature will help address this issue.