When it comes to education, literature plays a critical role in shaping the perspectives, attitudes, and beliefs of students. Literature has the power to inspire, educate, and empower students, as well as challenge their worldview and broaden their understanding of the world around them. However, for years, literature taught in classrooms has been criticized for its lack of diversity.
The representation of diverse voices in the literary canon has been limited, and even more so in the classroom. This presents a significant problem as it limits the scope of understanding that students have about themselves and the world around them. Therefore, it is essential to introduce diverse literature in classrooms to help students appreciate different cultures and perspectives.
Literature reflects society, and by introducing diverse literature, we showcase the diversity of our society. By showcasing the diversity of our society, we allow students to understand that differences are an integral part of our communities. It helps them appreciate and celebrate differences, leading to a more inclusive and accepting society.
Also, introducing diverse literature helps students see similarities in different cultures and communities. They can find common threads that unite humanity and help connect and bridge gaps of misunderstanding. By this, students can learn to respect different groups of people and accept people for who they are, promoting compassion, tolerance, and understanding.
When students see characters that look like them in literature, it helps build their confidence and self-esteem. It brings them joy and pride, and they begin to feel like they are seen and heard. Representation matters, and students need to see themselves in the textbooks and novels they read. This is especially true for students from underrepresented groups, such as multicultural or LGBTQIA+ students.
Introducing diverse literature allows students to learn about history and various cultures. It is essential for African-American students to read about the civil rights movement, slavery, and the stories of their ancestors. They need to see heroes in their books who look like them, like Frederick Douglass or Harriet Tubman. Similarly, Hispanic students need to learn about their heritage and the contributions their ancestors made to society.
Additionally, students need to learn about cultures other than their own to become global citizens. They should know about the holidays, traditions, and customs of other cultures, to promote connectedness, respect, and understanding. When students learn about other cultures, it helps them appreciate and celebrate differences in people. It helps them develop a sense of empathy and understand how others feel and think.
Introducing literature from different countries, regions, and time periods broadens students’ perspectives and deepens their understanding of their environment. Students become exposed to different challenges, values, and beliefs that they would have never known about without proper infusions of diverse literature in classrooms.
Recently, there has been a surge of books and novels written that reflect the diverse lives and experiences of marginalized communities. Introducing these books in classrooms provides an opportunity for students to see past stereotypes and misconceptions about different communities. In doing so, they gain a deeper understanding and a more real perspective of the world that surrounds them. Students can be introduced to books like “The Hate You Give” by Angie Thomas, “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson, “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson and more, that are powerful literature that helps students appreciate different situations, perspectives, and problems that other students face.
These books have helped shape the perspective of students on emotional, historical, and cultural matters. Students get exposed to sensitive and secretive topics that are otherwise not discussed in detail. By reading literature from different angles, students generate the confidence to express themselves and share their stories without fear. They learn how to empathize with their peer’s struggles and understand problems that are faced by people outside of their immediate surroundings.
Furthermore, educators can use these diverse literature to develop critical thinking skills in students, creating opportunities for the analysis of different cultural, societal, and political issues. Diverse literature encourages critical thinking by offering a unique viewpoint, requiring a different understanding than what students are used to. It helps them appreciate the complexity of the world, encourages their imagination, and helps them see the world through different perspectives.
In conclusion, introducing diverse literature in classrooms is essential for promoting equity, representation, and understanding. It helps students appreciate and celebrate differences, fosters understanding and empathy for others of different race, religion, or ethnic heritage, and deepens their understanding of the world. It is the duty of educators to incorporate this literature into their curriculum to generate reflection, discussion, and exploration of all possible perspectives, enabling students access to different worlds growing within theirs. It’s imperative in the age of modern education, to promote inclusivity, multiculturalism, and social justice, also to use literature as an essential educational tool for the same.
