Multicultural literature is becoming a hot top topic lately. Bloggers, authors, agents and even editors are all speaking out about the need for multicultural stories and characters that reflect the diversity found in today’s population. Whether this was brought on by the recent backlash regarding the whitewashing of covers or by the simple fact that in a few years the majority of the U.S. population will be comprised of minorities, I’m not sure. The fact is that I’ve been hearing more and more about it from various sources and to that I say… HOORAY! Children need to be able to identify with the characters in the books they read and sometimes seeing someone from their same ethnic/racial group provides that immediate connection. The book then acts like a mirror validating their own experiences. And for those children who are not a part of that particular culture, the book can act as a window…giving them a glimpse of the world beyond what is familiar to them. Think of it as a two-way mirror where, depending on where you are standing, you either see your own reflection or you see what is happening in a different room.
Now, because of my Hispanic heritage, I am often asked the question whether these multicultural stories can (or should) be written by “outsiders” (people not born into that character’s particular culture). I understand the school of thought that says only insiders should write these stories because they are the ones who truly understand the intricacies of that particular group of people (and heaven knows we need more multicultural authors). However, I don’t really agree with this. In my humble opinion, I believe anyone can write about anything…as long as they get it right! This means understanding the nuances of the culture, doing your research, speaking to people similar to the characters you are writing about and getting their feedback about how you are portraying them. In short, doing your homework and portraying things as authentically as possible. This applies to all writers, except “insiders” do have it a little easier as they begin with a certain familiarity.
In the case of Latino characters, writers need to understand the vast differences between the different nationalities that speak Spanish which all fall under the “Hispanic” umbrella. There are great differences in food, music, political views and other facets of life. A Mexican is different from a Cuban who is different from an Argentine. Even the spelling of names can be different depending on where you are from (an example is my last name, Gonzalez, which can be spelled with a “z” or an “s”). An author, whether an insider or not, must be aware of the differences and nuances associated with each nationality before they start writing.
So, after all is said and done, what do I hope for? My wish is to see a wide variety of multicultural characters in books that cover a wide-range of genres. From picture books to young adult, from historical fiction to fantasy… it should be commonplace to see the diversity in all these books.
Christina Diaz Gonzalez was born in a small Southern town, but she was always very aware of her Cuban heritage (loving both grits and Cuban pastelitos). She is the author of the highly acclaimed children’s novel, THE RED UMBRELLA, which reviewers from publications such as The Washington Post, Publisher’s Weekly and School Library Journal have praised as being exceptional, compelling and inspirational. Ms. Gonzalez’s novel (the story of a 14 year old Cuban girl who is sent to the U.S. in 1961 in order to escape Castro’s communist revolution) showcases the generosity of the American spirit and highlights the pain of losing one’s homeland. Her second novel, A THUNDEROUS WHISPER, is to be released in Spring 2012.
You can learn more about Christina and her books at ChristinaGonzalez.com