Thoughts on Situating Race and the Lack of Representation

Through our section of Ethnic readings we are asked to think about several different ideas from the view of varied ethnic writers. The ideas of  power, immigration, exclusion, linguistic difference, and finding identity within a marginalized culture. The role of gender roles in these ethnicities. The different ideas examined in these writing are what construct the identity of someone from an ethnic background.

In the foreword of Situating Race (959-961) there is mention of even more writers, Mary Helen Washington, Leslie Marmon Silko, Amy Tan and Helen Maria Viramontes.  I can easily say these writers are not part of the cannon. I have had the luck to read Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, while in high school. The chances I have had to read Native American writers were only brought about through my own interest in a Native American literature class while in college. The lack of diversity in the cannon is very frustrating. I can easily say that Amy Tan is one of my favorite writers. The poems and snarky style Sherman Alexie is something that I cannot get enough of.

The lack of representation is not something that is a problem in only the literary world. There are countless instances of blatant racism in Hollywood. It seems hard for white Americans to accept the work or even existence of other beings. This idea is not only so troubling because of the lack of culture but the damage it can inflict on ethnic youth and their perception of self.

The lack of color in popular media and school reading curriculum can make ethnic youth feel as though they have little to identify with and even question their own identity. Ethnic youth have an overall lack of positive media representation to feed off of therefore they have often have lower self esteem.

Representation is such an important idea that seems to be catching a little speed. While I was able to read a few novels written by people of color, while in high school I think the exposure for ethnic media needs to be increased. I think there are so many hidden histories of people from different ethnic backgrounds that could be taught in school. I am not saying that Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye is not an amazing coming of age story but why not give students the chance to read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Sherman Alexie’s novel is also all about growing up while being different but the main character is a lot less affluent and Native American. There are so many different coming of age stories that have been put in novel form. I think including stories that have a variety of people will be a lot more relatable for today’s students.

Basically I think there are books written by people other than white men that could not only teach youth but be so much more inclusive. The cannon needs to be made larger and there needs to be a more opportunity for people of ethnicity to see a great variety of people in popular media.