[OYAN] Reading While White Blog & Related Discussion on Libs-Or

Thu Sep 24 11:29:20 PDT 2015

I thought some of you following the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign might be interested in this post on Libs-Or from Max Macias. He mentioned a new blog called Reading While White, and that has sparked a discussion on Libs-Or. To see if more posts are added to the Libs-Or thread, check the archives.

            http://weneeddiversebooks.org/
            http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/
            http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/pipermail/libs-or/
            http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/pipermail/libs-or/2015-September/thread.html#start (scroll towards bottom)

FYI,
Jen

Jennifer Maurer
School Library Consultant
Oregon State Library
250 Winter Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
503.378.5011
jennifer.maurer at state.or.us<mailto:jennifer.maurer at state.or.us>

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From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Mario Bencastro
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2015 11:13 AM
To: REFORMANet at googlegroups.com<mailto:REFORMANet at googlegroups.com>; 'Max Macias'
Cc: 'uwmosaic at u.washington.edu'; 'libs-or'; reforma_or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:reforma_or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] [REFORMANET] RE: Fwd: Reading While White

Hi Martin and Max:

Thanks for bringing up these very crucial  issues:
 – “Racism is embedded, permeated, in a minority of the planet’s population; racism is the tool of the privileged to perpetuate power. Of course, this is reflected in our education and what it is published (in the media as a whole).”
– “It’s almost impossible to find books written by Latino authors and illustrators (only 2% of what is printed is relevant to the Latino culture).”

To that point, I will add that most of what is presented to our community as Latino culture is just regular consumer products with Spanish names, and in many cases the so call “Latino heroes” do not even understand Spanish, or are some famous sports or Hollywood millionaires far removed from our Latino reality.
– Specifically on Latino culture publications: In most libraries in the United States the “Spanish” section –if there is any-- contains non Latino author books in Spanish. This will increase even more now that Penguin has bought Alfaguara.
– Librarians always tell you that they can’t buy your book because you are an “Independent” writer. I thought that was the highest honor that an artist could aspire to. Not when it comes to having your books at the library. It seems that libraries in general are tied to a system where they can only buy products from the “official” and “traditional” industry, which is run of course by the big media empire. Sadly, our so called “Latino culture”, image and products are established by this big machine; for them “Latino culture” is just a commercial opportunity.
– To that respect, it will be interesting to ask our community what makes them Latinos, and if they ever read a book by a Latino author -- asking them if they read a book in Spanish will be perhaps expecting too much.

BUT libraries and librarians are still key players in these difficult issues; they may not resolve them but they can keep them alive on the discussion table.
Thank you REFORMA, I have faith in you.

Mario Bencastro

www.MarioBencastro.org<http://www.MarioBencastro.org>

________________________________
From: REFORMANet at googlegroups.com<mailto:REFORMANet at googlegroups.com> [mailto:REFORMANet at googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Marti´n Blasco
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2015 12:04 PM
To: 'Max Macias'; REFORMANet at googlegroups.com<mailto:REFORMANet at googlegroups.com>
Cc: uwmosaic at u.washington.edu<mailto:uwmosaic at u.washington.edu>; libs-or; reforma_or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:reforma_or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: [REFORMANET] RE: [Libs-Or] Fwd: Reading While White

Hi Max:
This is a very important, crucial issue to bring on the table. As librarians working with the Latino and Spanish speaking community, we always have to be aware of our “core beliefs” and don’t be afraid of making a point. Racism is embedded, permeated, in a minority of the planet’s population (yes, white people, including myself, even when I’m Latino). Racism is the tool of the privileged to perpetuate power. Of course, this is reflected in our education and what it is published (in the media as a whole).
We are trying to select books for the Mock Pura Belpré Award, and it’s like doing an archeological work. It’s almost impossible to find books written by Latino authors and illustrators (only 2% of what is printed is relevant to the Latino culture).
Our presenter for the Mock Pura Belpré Award in Oregon is going to touch this issue. A good space to have a discussion.
Thank you so much for sharing the article in the blog,

Martín
Chair REFORMA Oregon Chapter.

From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Max Macias
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2015 6:58 AM
To: REFORMANet at googlegroups.com<mailto:REFORMANet at googlegroups.com>
Cc: uwmosaic at u.washington.edu<mailto:uwmosaic at u.washington.edu>; libs-or; reforma_or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:reforma_or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: [Libs-Or] Fwd: Reading While White

New Blog worth checking out:

http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: nancy snyder <tf-edi at lists.ala.org<mailto:tf-edi at lists.ala.org>>
Date: Thu, Sep 24, 2015 at 5:12 AM
Subject: Reading While White
To: Julie Todaro <jtodaro at austincc.edu<mailto:jtodaro at austincc.edu>>, Martin Garnar <mgarnar at uccs.edu<mailto:mgarnar at uccs.edu>>
Cc: "tf-edi at lists.ala.org<mailto:tf-edi at lists.ala.org>" <tf-edi at lists.ala.org<mailto:tf-edi at lists.ala.org>>
You may not have heard of this new blog...the posts of the creators have already initiated engaging and honest conversation.

http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/

--

The ideas expressed in these emails in no way represent any organization's viewpoints, or opinions.  The opinions, ideas and reflections are my own personal intellectual property.

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