Understanding the need to write diverse books mindfully… for the audience you are intended.

I edit children’s books, specifically multicultural ones telling a unique own voice story. I just edited a children’s book about diversity that had a references to Indian culture, and yet most misspelled or wrongly used contextually

Something everyone should keep in mind, Is that representation for the sake of diversity is not enough. Adding characters of color to call your book diverse is in fact, borderline offensive.

Diverse books may include the various facets of gender, cultural, and societal groups. Whether characters in the books reflect who they are, and what is most important is connecting with them in ways that help us understand who we are today.

Reading Diversity is different. This model promotes a multi-dimensional approach to text selection that prioritizes critical literacy, cultural responsiveness and complexity.

I love the show Kims Convenience. But I just read how hard it was for the cast to work with lack of representation within the writing team and production house. So many nuances lost. They are even now doing a spin off of the show with the only white character on it.

To the many people I know who write about diversity and another culture, I REQUEST all, please don’t write what YOU think you know.

I just edited a children’s book about diversity that had a lot of references to Indian culture, and yet most misspelled or wrongly used contextually or explained in an borderline offensive way.

• Do the research.
• Ask the questions.
• And get feedback about your book before putting out content that is possibly inaccurate or hurtful.
• Don’t “represent “ or add a character for ticking off your boxes.
• And most importantly don’t use another culture to make a point without being empathetic to everyone’s cultural norms.

ASK YOURSELF THE BELOW QUESTIONS

– Do you think you are the best person to represent the story in mind?
-Will you be able to get over your own internalized stereotypes?
-Will you be able to take feedback from people of that goes against your experience of that culture?
-Is there a way this story can be told more effectively without using another culture’s POC?
-Are you capable of diving deep into the culture and not just keeping this superficial?

And remember, when you represent a culture in your books “profiting from it” , so it speak, make sure YOU DO stand up for the very diversity when times call for it.

Please be responsible in your story creation and development process.