Weighing in on the Insider/Outsider Debate

Multicultural literature is a frequently debated topic among literary scholars. Everything from the legitimacy of multicultural literature in general, to the validity of studying multicultural literature in school is discussed, argued and deliberated. To this I say: in today's society one cannot escape the reality of multiculturalism. We are multicultural society. From food to television to magazine ads, multicultural images saturate our society, ignoring this reality by not including multicultural studies in today's school system does a gross disservice to our students.

Determining what constitutes quality multicultural literature has caused much debate as well. Knowing the background of the author is helpful in determining the validity of the text. An insider will be able to provide an accurate depiction of their experiences, where as an outsider may not have the same connection to the community they are representing. Following suit with Rudine Sims Bishop, “[an author has] to know a culture intimately if you are going to reflect it accurately in [their] fiction.” To contribute an authentic piece of literature of benefit to the culture it is to represent, one would need to have intimate and authentic experience with that culture. The writing source is very important when considering good multicultural literature, equally as important as the quality of the writing itself.

Focusing solely on the source of the writing may discount quality pieces. I feel it would be inappropriate to exclude certain voices from the multicultural literature available to students, based only on whether or not they are considered an “insider” of the culture. The beauty of fiction writing is in its diversity, and the ability of the author to open the reader up to a new world and perspective. Many readers find reading literature to be a wonderful way to escape and get a new perspective. Literature should first be judged on the quality of writing and other aspects of the writing may follow suit.