Multicultural literature includes literature about people who are underrepresented in mainstream society and have been marginalized in some way, including Asian-American, African-American, and Chicano-American literature. For the most part, high school curriculum for English courses revolve around teaching the classics, but should more diverse literature be taught in high schools?
Yes, multicultural literature should be taught in schools
Students can gain affirmation about themselves and their culture.
Students will see themselves reflected in literature
The literature will empower students, who identify with the culture, identity, and race of the characters within the literature, to read more.
Embracing multicultural texts as part of the curriculum in education gives students from varying backgrounds opportunities to be educated on issues surrounding race and to gain a fully rounded understanding of why racism is rightly frowned upon.
By including multicultural literature in school curriculums, students will be able to more easily see the what many books that are typically taught fail to show you, intentionally or not. Including different points of view allows for a more rounded and less biased understanding of literature.
Multicultural Literature Teaches Students About Their World
Multicultural literature teaches students how to live in their world. The stories and poems they learn teach them about other cultures.
Proponents
Jill Anderson, Harvard University; Kaavonia Hinton and Gail K. Dickinson, who wrote "Integrating Multicultural Literature in Libraries and Classrooms in Secondary Schools.
