Insider/Outsider Debate

I am having a difficult time stating a definite opinion regarding the insider/outsider debate because I don't believe anyone can believe one is better or worse in every given situation. What I am sure about is that in order to write a piece of literature that addresses issues within a particular culture, the author must be fully aware of ALL aspects of the culture and be conscious of any statements or depictions that could be interpreted as being stereotypical. In order to do this, the author must emerse themselves within that culture. This does not a mean the writer should interview a few "insiders" of the community and visit a couple cultural landmarks. It means that the author must spend a significant amount of time interacting and become involved in that particular culture. An immense amount of research must be done in order to give an accurate portrayl of the culture. It may be obvious that the best person to take on this task would be an "insider" themselves, but I think it is also possible for "outsiders" to create an accurate piece of literature as long as they take the time to be positive that they are doing it correctly and their work will not offend anyone else. At the same time, I think it is very beneficial for authors from underprivileged cultures to have their own voice heard. Many may struggle to achieve this goal, but when literature is available from a variety of sources, perspectives, and voices, it can serve the purpose of informing and developing discussion around the issues that arise from a diverse array of cultures.

Thoughts after reading The Heart of a Chief

For this weeks class, I read the assigned articles prior to reading the novel The Heart of a Chief by Joseph Bruchac. I'm glad I did my readings this way because I was able to connect so much of the book to the topics covered in the articles. The first thing I noticed was the way the author chose to discuss the issue of stereotyping through the thoughts of his protagonist. The quote that appears on the very first page, and again on page 24, addresses stereotypes that many people may have about Native Americans without bluntly stating that purpose.

"... We know what kind of Indian we are. The kind of Indian you don't see in Hollywood movies. No noble savages. No horses or headdresses. No tipis and no buffalo. No Tonto (which means "idiot" in Spanish) to the Lone Ranger ..."

This quote reminds me of the autobiographical poem we read in class from Stories I Ain't Told Nobody Yet by Jo Carson. The narrator of the novel addresses the misconceptions that people have of Native Americans. The stereotypes that are identified in this quote are also similar to those that Debbie Reese discusses in her article Native Americans in Children's Literature. Through her writing, the reader can see the potential dangers of leaving these stereotypes unaddressed. A novel like The Heart of a Chief is a great resource to begin a discussion that can broaden the perspectives of young readers.

I feel that the author addresses the touchy issues related to the Native American culture very well as he describes the issues with gambling and alcoholism. I believe he was very smart when he chose to set the story in a fictional land rather than focus on a specific place, which could have led to controversy with his novel.

After reading the book I feel as though I gained insight about the lifestyle of this particular Native American tribe through an interesting and engaging story.

Diversity in Literature

My name is Emily Lewalski and I am a senior at Michigan State University majoring in Elementary Education with a concentration in Language Arts. I believe that providing diverse literature for students in extremely important for their development in today's world. Many children are not exposed to the vast diversity that exists, and it is essential that they see accurate and nonstereotypical depictions of cultures that may differ from those that they most directly experience. I am really looking forward to exploring the texts in TE 448 and broadening my own perspective as I prepare to enter the teaching world. Previous to this course, I have not really concentrated on books in relation to their cultural characteristics (except for those that are written specifially to address issues of a particular culture) and I am excited to develop a new lens for reading and interpreting texts.