[LM_NET] GEN: re: "Damned if we do and damned if we don't"

[Elizabeth Fox <keokuk@CASCO.NET>]

It's that same old "cultural authenticity" argument.   Can a person who is
not of that minority write about that minority and have it be culturally
accurate and authentic?   And the argument goes further: does a minority
author have a duty to write a culturally authentic book about their
minority?  Should books about minorities only be written by minorities?
If you research this topic, you will see the arguments are endless.

As librarians, we are responsible for bringing culturally authentic and
culturally sensitive materials to our patrons and screening out those works
that portray a culture in a demeaning way.  This doesn't mean we throw out
Gone with the Wind, Education of Little Tree, or Uncle Tom's Cabin, but that
we provide works that counter these stereotypes.  It's important that we
find tools that help us and book reviews don't always address the issue of
cultural authenticity.  I'd be interested in seeing what resources others
have that have helped them with this topic.

Thanks,
Liz
Elizabeth Fox, Technology Instructor
Newport High School, Newport, OR
keokuk@casco.net (pm)
Liz.fox@lincoln.k12.or.us (schooldays only)
http://ta.gd/nhsmedia

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