Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

For Young Latino Readers, an Image Is Missing
New York Times ^ | December 4, 2012 | MOTOKO RICH

Posted on 12/05/2012 6:51:16 PM PST by ConservativeStatement

PHILADELPHIA — Like many of his third-grade classmates, Mario Cortez-Pacheco likes reading the “Magic Tree House” series, about a brother and a sister who take adventurous trips back in time. He also loves the popular “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” graphic novels.

But Mario, 8, has noticed something about these and many of the other books he encounters in his classroom at Bayard Taylor Elementary here: most of the main characters are white. “I see a lot of people that don’t have a lot of color,” he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: books; childrensliterature; education; hispanics; latinos; multiculturalism; reading; ya; yas; youngadults
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-51 last
To: ConservativeStatement

But Mario, 8, has noticed something about these and many of the other books he encounters in his classroom at Bayard Taylor Elementary here: most of the main characters are white

Well yes. You are in America. Not Africa or Mexico. Then factor in that most of the writers are white and well....


41 posted on 12/06/2012 2:46:20 AM PST by SECURE AMERICA (Where can I sign up for the New American Revolution and the Crusades 2012?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OneWingedShark

Let’s not forget the Battle of Gonzales. One of the best flags in American history!


42 posted on 12/06/2012 2:57:40 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: OneWingedShark
The tail of Santa Ana?

I thought the Texicans took his LEG?

Or perhaps you meant tale, LOL!

43 posted on 12/06/2012 4:04:13 AM PST by Alas Babylon!
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Psycho_Bunny
That's was my first thought. Kids don't notice the color of people in books unless they're taught to. This kid is a set up.

Unfortunately there IS an image missing in all readers that the schools buy and that is a family ie husband and wife raising their kids.

44 posted on 12/06/2012 4:29:27 AM PST by Varda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeStatement

Maybe the future gang member doesn’t understand that the reason “white” people are in the majority of what he is reading is for the fact that this country was founded by “white” people and that most of the inventions we enjoy in today’s society were invented by “white” people.

As a matter of fact, “white” people used to be the majority in this country before his “brown” people invaded us from the south.

Just sayin’


45 posted on 12/06/2012 4:33:03 AM PST by DH (Once the tainted finger of government touches anything the rot begins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DH

You are in part wrong.

I would advise you to read up on the founding of Texas. There were many Mexicans involved in the revolution that gained freedom from Mexico. When you visit the shines of the Republic of Texas founding, there are old line Mexican Spanish families that played a significant role in the founding.

The same is true in New Mexico and California. If you recall, Zorro, a semimythical character was actually of Spanish heritage. California was founded by Spanish


46 posted on 12/06/2012 4:40:41 AM PST by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 .....The fairest Deduction to be reduced is the Standard Deduction)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeStatement

Maybe the problem is that today’s school libraries engage in censorship. In the 1960s (when I was in elementary school) I read books like:

And Now Miguel?
Call It Courage
The King’s X
Paddle to The Sea.

Lots of books about kids of color — Asian, Hispanic, Native American, African, Pacific Islander. Good reads, if not necessarily hewing to the political correct mores of today. Wonder what happened to them?


47 posted on 12/06/2012 4:50:13 AM PST by No Truce With Kings (Ten years on FreeRepublic and counting.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: No Truce With Kings

.......Paddle to The Sea.......

And don’t forget “The Tree In The Trail”

Sometime back actually I visited the starting point of Paddle to the Sea and traced the route as far as lake Michigan.

I purchased a used copy of Paddle to the Sea on Amazon for my grandson and it is in the library I am making for him.


48 posted on 12/06/2012 4:57:06 AM PST by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 .....The fairest Deduction to be reduced is the Standard Deduction)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

> The tail of Santa Ana?
> I thought the Texicans took his LEG?
> Or perhaps you meant tale, LOL!

Good catch.
This should teach me mot to post with a kitty begging for attention on my lap!
(Get your tail out of my face!)


49 posted on 12/06/2012 6:12:24 AM PST by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: bert

Your argument fails once people realize Spain is in...wait for it...Europe...and just chock full of White people.

So to be an “old line” Spanish family is to be a family of White people.


50 posted on 12/06/2012 6:24:43 AM PST by Freeeedooomm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: bert

First of all, I am a native South Texan and well aware of the “revised” history of Texas.

Second, you stated “there are old line Mexican Spanish families that played a significant role in the founding.”

There was a HUGE different between the Spanish and Mexicans.

Texas was settled by SPANISH land grants....not Mexican land grants.


51 posted on 12/06/2012 7:10:24 AM PST by DH (Once the tainted finger of government touches anything the rot begins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-51 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson