Multicultural literature is a way of increasing cultural awareness. Through multicultural books many young readers are able to make a connection with their own culture
or better yet, further explore another culture. Authors use different themes such as culture,
politics, and even personal barriers to show different cultures. At times though, this genre
will often reveal the “ugly roots for even the greatest literature” (Multicultural).
The phrase “ugly roots” emphasizes that what readers may not want to hear about a culture, including their own, will be told. Nothing is held back in this type of reading, everything is told- there are no secrets. The writing is a source of information that helps readers to better understand the world around them. Feminism is also a form of multicultural writing. This form of writing shows and stands up for women’s rights and how gender equality is important in our society today and even in the past (What). Julia Alvarez’s novel, How the Garcia Girls Lost
their Accents, is an excellent example of multicultural writing. Alvarez uses struggles
such as personal barriers, experiences of immigration, and culture shock to expose
multiculturalism and feminism.
Personal barriers cause people to stumble and fail to achieve their goals in life. In
Alvarez’s novel, the four sisters: Carla, Sandra, Yolanda, and Sofia, all experience
personal barriers that make it harder for them to know what their purpose is in life. Carla
is the eldest daughter and seeing her family’s struggle of identity, causes her to
become a psychologist. She begins to theorize that the reason she and her sisters have identification problems is due to their mother’s color code for each of them. “But the first girl b...
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...rls were no longer treated
respectfully. They too like their father were considered equal.
Sofia, the youngest daughter was a bit on the wild side. She really wanted to
adjust to the American life style and changed the most. She began to sneak out and go
hang out with boys. She even married a German man named "Otto" (Novles 179). One day after
her father, Papi, found out about her escapades and told her she was a disgrace to the
family Sofia ran away. Papi then disowned her for making him look bad in America and
showing no respect to him.
Multicultural literature is shown through Alvarez's writing. She incorporates
the struggles different cultures face and the traditions they celebrate. Alvarez expresses in
her writing how their lifestyles; such as their traditions and customs have diminished, but
have remained an integral part of their identity.
could never do anything on her own and that she was stupid, but as the story
Esperanza, the most liberated of the sisters, devoted her life to make other people’s lives better. She became a reporter and later on died while covering the Gulf Crisis. She returned home, to her family as a spirit. At first, she spoke through La Llorona, a messenger who informed La Loca that her sister has died. All her family members saw her. She appeared to her mother as a little girl who had a nightmare and went near to her mother for comfort. Caridad had conversations with her about politics and La Loca talked to her by the river behind their home.
The story “Woman Hollering Creek" by Sandra Cisneros describes the lives of Mexicans in a Chicago neighborhood. She depicts the life that women endure as Latino wives through her portrayal of the protagonist, Cleofilas. For Cisneros being a Mexican-American has given her a chance to see life from two different cultures. In addition, Cisneros has written the story from a woman’s perspective, illustrating the types of conflicts many women face as Latino wives. This unique paradigm allows the reader to examine the events and characters using a feminist critical perspective.
had to carry on working the family farm by herself. With the death of his
left China in 1944. Her mother was married to another man at the time and had two twin
raped and kidnapped by whom she thought was Butler. He has been falsely accused in many
From this she learned that it is ok to be different, but it might not be ok in the public’s eye. She
her and her ways. She wasn't strong enough to make the trip by herself, but
and her sisters ran a school in France, where she had an affair with an army
her and her ways. She wasn't strong enough to make the trip by herself, but
er then her abandoning the men. Even though these two men were quite opposite to each other, neither seemed to be the right choice for her.
To encourage readers to consider the cultural aspects in reading a literary text in order to increase their personal cultural awareness.
Culture is a very large part of the world’s past, present, and future history. Schools teach the history of the United States and of African American enslavement. They teach how the Trail of Tears was born which forced the migration of Indians from their homes. They are also teaching multicultural literature. With the inclusion of multicultural literature in education, some perspectives may be changed and create a better understanding towards others’ traditions and views.
...y elements of plot, characterization, style, theme, and point of view. Good multicultural books will also challenge stereotypes and promote a positive view of the lives of diverse groups of people. By providing children with accurate and positive representations of the many cultural groups that make up the community, society and the world in which they live, books can help children learn to identify stereotypes and biases when they encounter them (The Importance of Multiculturalism in Children’s Books). Children's literature serves as both a mirror to children and as a window to the world around them by showing people from diverse groups playing and working together, solving problems and overcoming obstacles. At its best, multicultural children's literature helps children understand that despite our many differences, all people share common feelings and aspirations.