DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 128 523 UD 016 296 TITLE Language and . INSTITUTION Council on Interracial Books for Children, Inc., New York, N.Y. PUB DATE 76 NOTE 25p. JOURNAL CIT Interracial Books for Children Bulletin; v7 n5 p1-22 1976

EDPS PRICE MF-$0.83 Plus Postage. HC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS Bias; *Childrens Books; *Childrens Literature; Cultural Differences; *Language Role; *Language Usage; Minority Group Children; *Racism; *Sex Discrimination; Social Environment; Social Influences; Social Values ABSTRACT The first article is a condensation of an essay and lesson plan focusing on racism in the . All language transmits and reinforces societal values. Through a discussion of color symbolism, politics and terminology, "loaded" words and the syndrome of "blaming the victim", this article shows how subtle--and not so subtle--racism pervades the English language. The second article addresses a recent proposal enacted by the American Library Association for aggressive action in the library profession to counteract racism and sexism. The final article reviews the work of best selling children's author, Judy Blume. Blume's books are "in" and supposedly "daring," but this article suggests that the author can be faulted in many ways such as in the lack of feminism, emphasis on competition, unquestioned sex roles, choice of middle class suburban settings, and limited treatment of ethnic and racial issues. (Author/AM)

Documents acquired by ERIC include many informal unpublished * materials not available from other sources. ERIC makes every effort * * to obtain the best copy available. Nevertheless, items of marginal * * reproducibility are often encountered and this affects the quality * * of the microfiche and hardcopy reproductions ERIC makes available * via the ERIC Document Reproduction Service (EDRS). EDRS is not * responsible for the quality of the original document. Reproductions * * supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original. *********************************************************************** T3t. INTERRACIAL BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 1111IF

VOLUME 7 NUMBER 5, 1976 U S DEPARTMENT OF immimesiz MIME EDUCATION & WELFANE N 4/ f TOW, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ,../g.Y ,lH,I m:Tf ay MICRO :DUCAT ION T.,S DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO DCED E x.:CTL y AS RECEIVED P ROM racial Books for Children THE PP NSON OR ORGAN,ZATION ORGlN- A'HNO T PO1N TS OF vIEK, OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSAR1L Y RE PRE ,,ENT r ic:AL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF 1141 E.' EIPEEEI, EI k DCA TON POSITION OR P01 CV IEEE PE EIF

THIRD OVER-EXPLOITED SAVAGE XHOSALAN PRIMITIVE TRIBE MASSA,-;RE INDIAN-GIVER DENIGRATE 'S CHANCE DNATION SAN BLACKGUARD VICTORY .JUNGLE YELLOW-BELLIED NIGGARDLY

KAFFIRS NATIVE 0_-'1.!_AC cLIST ORIENTAL HUTSePAGAN HEATHEN 1 DARKEST AFRICA INSCRUTABLE WAi--1-LIKEli YELLOW PERIL FAIR BLACKEN UNDER-DEVELOTED BLACK SHEEP SLY THIRD WORLD SAVAGE XHOSA TRIBE MASSACRE.6 INDIAN-GIVER DENIGRATE CHINAMAN'S CHANCE DNATION SAN SQUAW BLACKGUARD VICTORY JUNGLE ...'YELLOW-BELEDLI NIGGARDLY KAFFIRS NATIVE BLACKLIST ORIENTAL HUTS PAGAN BARBARIAN HEATHEN DARKEST AFRICA INSCRUTABLE WAR-LIKE YELLOW PERIL FAIR BLACKEN UNDER-DEVELOPED ci BLACK SHEEP SLY Racism in the English Language gr..1 ALA Adopts CIBC Program Old Values Surface Blume Country 2in SEP7 r INTERRACIAL BOOKS FOR CHILDREN Council and Bulletin Staffs Charles Bible

Jean Carey Bond

Bradford Chambers

Ruth Charnes In Jeannie Chin Bur Sonia Chin

Lynn Edwards

VOLUME 7, NUMBER 5 1976 Lyla Holf man

Bettina Lande

Robert B. Moore

ARTICLES Elsa Velazquez Sein

Racism in the English Language 3 Virginia St.Driing All language transmits and reinforces societal values. This article shows how subtleand not so subtleracism prevades Byron WiAlams the English language.

ALA Enacts Proposal on R,lcism, Sexism 6 A CIBC-inspired resolution calling for aggressive action in the Editorial Advisory Board library profession to counteract racism and sexism is passed by Beryie Banfleir; ALA. General Assistance Center Teachers College, Columbsa University James Banks Old Values Surface in Blume Country 8 College of Education Blume's books are "in" and supposedly "daring," but a Council University of , Seattle reviewer raises some questions. Mary Lou Byler Association on American Indian Affairs Luis Nieves Falcen Sociology Department DEPARTMENTS University of Puerto Rico Franklin Odo Bookshelf 11 Asian American Studies Department State University. Long Beach Bulletin Board 16 Porfirio Sanchez Media Monitor 18 Department of Mexican Amarican Studies Illustrator's Showcase California State College, Dominguez Hills 20 Barbara A. Schram Letters 21 School of Education Northeastern University Information Exchange 22 Albert V. Schwartz Division of Educational Studies Richmond Colksge, CUNY

COVER The word montage features some of the value-laden terms one finds in books and hears in everyday speechoften without giving them a second thought.

COMING ATTRACTION: A special INTERRACIAL BOOKS FOR CHILDREN BULLETIN is published eight times a year by the issue on ageism will analyze the icil on Interracial Books for Children, 1841 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10023. (I, 1976 by images of old people in children's the Council on InterracialBooks for Children,Inc.Institutional and contributing books. Other articles will focus on subscriptions are $15 a year, individual subscriptions are $8 a year. A subscription form the myths and realities of being old appears on the back cover. in our society. Racism in the English Language

Agnew's widely reported "fat " remark and the "little Jap" comment A Short Play on "Black" and "White" Words of lawyer John Wilson during the Some may blackly accuse him of trying to blacken the English Watergatehearingsaresurface language Zo give it a black eye by wridng such black words. They indicators -of a deep-rooted Archie may Bunkerism. denigrate him by accusing him of being black-hearted, of havinga black outlook on life, of being a blackguard w'mch would certainly bea blackColor Symbolism mark against him. Some may black-brow him and hope thata black cat crosses in front of him because of this black deed. He may become a The symbolism of white as positive black sheep, who will be blackballed by being placed on a blacklist inan and black as negative is pervasive in attempt to blackmail him to retract his words. But attempts to blackjackour culture. The black/white words him will have a "Chinaman's chance" of success, for he is not used in the "short play" are but one of a "yellow-many aspects."Good guys" wear belliec" "Indian giver" of words, who will whitewasha black lie. Hewhite hats and ride white horses, challenges the purity and innocence (white) of the English language. He"bad guys" wear black hats and ride doesn't see things in black and white terms, for he is a whiteman if thereblack horses. Angels are white; devils ever was one. However, it would be a black day when he would not "call aare black. The definition of black spade a spade," even though some will suggest a v A!e man calling theincludes "without any moral lightor English language racist is like "the pot calling the ;,;(.:01s. black." Whilegoodness,evil,wicked,indicating many may be niggardly in their support, others w disgrace, sinful," while that of white :.e honest andincludes "morally pure, spotless, inno- decentand to them he says, that's very white of you. cent, f\-ee from evil intent." A children's TV cartoon program, Readers: We urge you to avoid using the words in bold type in the aboveCaptain Scarlet, is about an organi- tongue-in-cheek essay. zation called Spectrum, whose pur- pose is to save the world from an evil, extra-terrestrial force called the Mys- terons. Everyone in Spectrum has a Thisarticle is a condensation of awareness of the power of words tocolor nameCaptain Scarlet, Captain "Racisminthe English Lan- condition attitu&s. If we can at leastBlue, etc. The one Spectrum agent guage," an essay and lesson plan recognizetheunderpinningsofpre- who has been mysteriously takenover available from the CIBC Racism judice, we may be in a position to deal bytheMysterons and worksto and Sexism Resource Center for with the effects.' advance their evil aims is Captain Educators for $2.00. Perhaps the most obvious aspect ofBlack. The "good" person who heads racism in language are terms likeSpectrum is Colonel White. Language is a primary transmitter"," "spook," "," "." Three of the dictionary definitions of cultural perspectives, attitudes andWhile these may be facing increasingof white are "fairnec5 of complexion, biases. A Saturday Reuiew editorialsocial disdain, they certainly are notpurity, innocence." These definitions stated that language dead. Large numbers of Americansaffect the standards of beauty inour continue .. . has as much to do with the philo- toutilizetheseterms.culture, in which whiteness represents sophical and political conditioning of a"Chink,""" and"slant-eyes"the norm. "Blondes have more fun" society as geography or climate... . were in common use among U.S.and "Wouldn't you really rather bea people in Western cultures do not realizetroops in Vietnam. An NBC nightlyblond?" are sexist in their attitudes the extent to which their racial attitudesnews broadcast, in February 1972,tbward women generally,butare havebeenconditionedsinceearlyreported that the basketball team inracist white standards when applied childhood by the power of words toPekin, Illinois, was called the "Pekin ennoble or condemn, augment or detract, to Third World women. glorify or demean. Negative languageChinks." Even though this had been infects the subconscious of most Westernprotested by , thePolitics and Terminology people from the time they first learn toterm continued to be used because it speak. Prejudice is not merely impartedwas easy and "meant no harm." Spiro "Culturally depriven," "economical. or superimposed. It is metabolized in the ly disadvantaged" and "underdevel- bloodstream of society. What is needed is"'The Environment of Language," April 8,oped" are terms which mislead and not80much a change in language as an 1967. distort our awareness of reality. The 4 BULLETIN 3 to the reality of the Third World experience in U.S. society. Similarly, many nations of the Third World are described as "under- developed." These less industrialized nations are generally those which suffered under and neo- colonialism. The "developed" nations are those which exploited the Third World nations' resources and wealth. Therefore, rather than referring to these countries as "underdeveloped," a more appropriate and meaningful designationmightbe"over- exploited." Substitute this term next time you read about "underdeveloped nations"andnotethedifferent meaning that results. "Blaming the Victim" Terms suchas"culturally deprived,""economically disadvan- taged" and "underdeveloped" repre- sent a syndrome known as "blaming thevictim,"whichplacesre- sponsibility for poverty on the victims ofpoverty.Accordingly,thosein power who benefit from and perpetu- ate poverty are absolved. Still another example involves the use of "non-white," "minority" or "Third World." While people of color are a minority in the U.S., they are partof the vast majority of the world's population, in which are a distinct minoritya fact of some importance in the increasing and interconnected struggles of people of color inside and outside the U.S. To describe people of color as "non- white" isto use whiteness as the standard and norm against which to measure all others. Use of the term "Third World" to describe all people of color overcomes the inherent bias of "minority" and "non-white." More- over,itconnects the struggles of This illustration from Osceola, Seminole Leader (a 1976 book!) epitomizes bothThird World people in the U.S. with linguistic and visual racism. Labeled a "massacre," the picture reflects theinternational liberation struggles. "feathered, 1,..:inted, tomahawk-wielding Indian" myth and completes the The term "Third World" gained by showing a terrified white woman (blond, of course). Value-ladenincreasing usage after the 1955 Ban- adjectives commonly applied to Native Americans that are reinforced by thisdung Conference of "non-aligned" picture include blood-thirsty, cruel, menacing, terrifying and savage. nations, which represented a third force outside of the two world super- powers. The "first world" represents application of the term "culturallyenvironment. In his article, "Racismthe , Western Europe deprived" to Third World children inin Everyday Speech and Social Workand their sphere of influence. The this society reflects a value judgment.Jargon" (Social Work, July,1973), "second world" represents the Soviet It assumes that the dominant whitesDavid R. Burgest suggests that theUnion and itssphere. The "third are cultured and all others are withoutterm "culturally deprived" be replacedworld" represents, for the most part, culture. In fact, Third World childrenby "culturally dispossessed," and thatnations that used to be, or still are, are generally bicultural and many aretheterm"economicallydisadvan-controlled by the "first world" or bilingual,while most white youthtaged" be replaced by "economicallyWest. For the most part, these are have suffered deprivation by growingexploited." Both these terms imply annations of Africa, Asia and Latin up in a monocultural, monolingualentirely different frame of reference asAmerica.

4 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 5 "Loaded" Words and Native Americanspeoples such as the Ibo, Hausa and"natives" and "jungle." Instead, use Yoruba in Nigeria are often described"Africa,"'traditional,""traditional Many words leadto demeaningas "tribal warfare" while conflictsreligion" (or the name of the particu- characterizations of groups of people.between and Croats in Yugo-larreligionreferredto),"house," b'or instance, it is said that Columbusslavia, Scots and English in Great"people" or "inhabitants" and "sa- "discovered"America. To discoverBritain, Protestants and Catholics invanna" or "wooded savanna." something is"to find some existentIrelan' ortheBasques andthe To recognize the racism in language thing that was previously unknown."SoutheinSpaniardsinSpainare is an important first step. Conscious- Thus, a already inhabitednever described in such terms. If weness of the influence of language on bymillionsofpeople cannot becan ,inalyze the religions, cultural,our perceptions can help to negate "discovered." For history books toeconomic and/or politicalroots ofmuch of that influence. But it is not continuethisusagerepresentsaconli.,.ts among European peoples inenough to simply become aware of the Eurocentric(whiteEuropean)per . terms other than "tribal warfare,"effectsof racisminconditioning spective on world history and igr orescertainly we c do the same withattitudes. While we may not be able to the existence and the perspective ofAfricanpeop. includingcorrectchange the language, we can definite- Native Americans. referencetotheethnic groups orly change our usage of the language. Distortion of history by the choicenations invo! ed. For example, theWe canavoidusing words that of "loaded" words used to describeterms"Kaffirs,""Hottentot" or degradepeople. We can make a historical events is a common racist"Bushmen" r --names imposed byconscious effort to use terminology practice.Eurocentrismmi....lateswhite Europe The correct namesthat reflects a progressive perspective words like victory. conatw.q. massacreare always th y which a peopleas opposed to a distorting perspective. and defend todistort history andrefer to themselves. (In these instan- Itisimportantforeducatorsto justify Euro-American conquest of theces Xhosa, Khoi-Khoin and San areprovide students with opportunities to Native American . Nativecorrect.) explore racism in language and to Americanvictoriesareinvariably Other ethnocentric terms frequently increase their awareness of it, as well defined as "massacres," while theused in reference to Africa that shouldastolearnterminologythatis indiscriminate killing, exterminationbe avoidedinclude "darkestAfri- positiveandavoidsperpetuating and plunderof Native Americanca,""primitive,""pagan,""hut,"negative human values. nations by Euro-Americans is defined asvictory.Moreover, rather than portraying Native Americans as hu- man beings in highly defined and complex societies, cultures and civilizations, history books use ad- PROMOTE MULTICULTURALISM ! jectives such as "savages," "beasts," "primitive" and "backward." Another term which has question. able connotations is "tribe." Mortcl; Fried, writing on "The Myth of Tribi," (Natural History, April 1975), states that the word "did not become general term of reference to Ameriu-.-:. Indian society until the nineteenth century. Previously, the words com- monly used for Indian populations were 'nation' and 'people.'" Since "tribe" has assumed a connotation of primitiveness or backwardness, it is suggested that "nation" or "people" replace the term "tribe" whenever possible in referring to Native Ameri- This two-color poster 17 can peoples. x 22 inches, is ideal for classiroom or library "Loaded" Words and Africans display. Sent in a protective mailing tube, The term "tribe" invokes even more thepostersare$1.95 negative implications when used in eacA (minimum order: 2 reference to African peoples. As Eve- lyn Jones Rich has noted (in "Mind posters). YourLanguage,"Africa Report, Sept./Oct., 1974), the term is "almost Send check or purchase order to always used to refer to Third World people anditimplies a stage of The CIBC Racism and Sexism Center for Educat-rs development which is, in short, a put- 1841 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10023 down." Conflicts among diverse African

6 BULLETIN 5 ALA Enacts Proposal on Racism, Sexism

The recent American Library Asso- tyforcarryingout each of theamendmentsubsequentlypassed ciation centennial convention in Chi-proposal's far-ranging objectives.. that would hold all ALA units (not cago, attended by HMO librarians The rest of the week was spentjust one) responsible for developing from around the country, turne:1 outwriting and rewriting the r_solutionawareness programs. This librarian to be a momentous occasion for theand meeting with Third World andadded that his own consciousness had CIBC. In the course of the week-longfeminist organizations within ALA tobeen raised in a multicultural work- convention, the proposal for librarianask their input and endorsement. At 6shop about Third World cultures, and action against racism and sexism,AM July 22, it was docketed as itemthat he felt such workshops would be firstsetforthin our special ALA#4: The Racism and Sexism Aware-beneficial to all librarians. edition of the Bulletin (Vol. 7, No. 4),ness Resolution. evolved into a formal resolution that Originally,theproposal hadfo-A Right to Be Racist? WAS vote r. upon by the membershipcused on the role of childrer 's ar- and adopted as official policy by theians,buttheChildren'sServices Then came a bombshell. A member, ALA executive Council. (The resolu-Division Discussion Group on Sexismidentified by School Library Journal tion as passed appears on page 7.) in Library Materials objected. Why,reporters as "a Councilor from West Interestingly, what turned out to bethey asked, shouldn't adult librariansVirginia" stood up "to defend intellec- a major role for the CIBC at thealso be required to develop compe-tual freedom." He said: "I have the convention seemed, at first, to be notence in discerning racism and sexismright, just as my staff has the right, to role at all. For several years, CIBCin hooks? The wording of the proposalour personal belieN. We have a right representativeshadattendedthewas then broadened to put the fullto be racist or sexist." Pat Schuman, a annual event, conducting workshops,ALA membership on record as oppos-former School Library Journal editor providing speakers and panelists anding neutrality on racism and sexismand now a publisher, shot back: "Not distributinganti-racist.anti-sexistand mandating all ALA members toas a librarian paid by public funds, materials. This year for the first timedevelop expertise in this area as partyou and your staff don't have that we were not scheduled to participate.of their professional competence. right.It happens to be against the Sincethecontroversybetween On Friday, July 23, the final mem-law." A woman who identified herself ALA's Intellectual Freedom Commit-bership session of the convention wasasamember oftheIntellectual tee and CIBC had been well public-held, attended by 75() delegates. Freedom Committee stated that in the ized in the library journals during the past she had had reservations about preceding year, weand many21/2-Hour Debate Ebrarians taking anactive stand librariansbegan to wonder if ALA against racism and sexism but contin- did not want to confront the issues we Early inthe two-and-a-balf hourued, "I no longer believe this contra- had raised. debate on th IBC resolution, ALA .iictstheprincipleofintellectual Throughout the week-long conven-president Ci. Stantun Jones movedfreedom, and I am now in favor of tion, more than 5.000 copies of thethat the resolution's four points beALA undertaking this program." CIBC Bulletin, extending "A Centen-considered separately prior to a final The third point calls on librarians nial Challenge" to ALA, were distrib-vote on the entire resolution. Passageto assume an advocacy role by educat- uted among the delegates. The propos-of her motion was extremely fortu-ing "library users" to "the pressing al it contained"An Action Programnate. Considerable pains had beenproblem" of racism and sexism. As forALA"(seepage5oflasttakeninwriti,ig thf..% resobitionto Bulletin)sparked widespread inter-make it broad and yet specific enough est and people could be overheardso that the various ALA divisions and discussing it in hotel halls and lob-groups would know precisely what bies. they were being called upon to do. By breaking the resolution down into Input from Many Groups separatecomponents,thesetasks could be addressed at length. More- The firstofficial consideration ofover, asit turned out, a snowball the CIBC proposal for ALA actioneffect developed, in which favorable came from the Social Responsibilityaction or. :me point facilitated pas- Round Table Action Council on Mon-sage of the next point and greatly day, July 19. After voting to endorseenhanced the chances of the whole it, SRRT members made two impor-resolution. tant suggestions. Brooklyn College 'l'he hottest debate centered on the librarian Jackie Eubanks suggestedsecond point, which directs ALA to that the proposal be put in the form ofprepare a model in-service racism and a resolution and presented at the fullsexism awareness program. Cries of ALA membership meeting scheduled"censorship" went up, answered by for Friday; and Wilson Library Jour.charges that "censorship" mongering nal Assistant Editor Patrice Harperwas aimed at preventing ALA units suggested that specific ALA divisionsfrom getting involved with red issues.At ALA, nearly everybody was read- and units be assigned the responsibili-OneiibrariansuggestAaning the Bulletin.

6 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 5 7 already mentiiined, tlw original CIBCnot become binding until it is consi- Wr.1..F;17ZgairDAVARESSENNSCUMUMONXI proposal had singW out children'sdered by ALA's 100-member exectuive 1976ALA COUNCILDOCUMENT #83 librarians for this role, but now thisCouncil, and the Council %vie,. (lue to was broadened to encompass youngmeet that afternoon in Cnal session adult, reference, adult service, collegefor the year.In an unprecedented RESOLUTION ON RACISM & and research librarians. Passage ofmove, the ALA Council voted both to SEXISM AWARENESS this point laid to rest the notion thatsuspend a rule requiring the lapse of Adopted by the ALA Membership and librarians art,pa.-;sive custodians of24 hours before consideration of a Approved by Council In Meetings information. memberi;hip action and to give the Friday, July 23, 1976 The fourth and final point, directingCIBC resolution priority over an other business.The ALA Councilthen Whereas, during the last 200 years the ALA's Resources :Ind Technical Servi- United States has failed to equalize the ces Division to develop "a coordinatedvotedoverwhelminglyinfavor of adoption. status of racial minorities andofwomen, planforthe reform of cataloging and practices that now perpetuate racism Whereas,the Major Policy Shift AmericanLiiirary and sexism- was endorsedinits Association has professed belief in the original form. This point is essentially principle of equality yet has failed to formal remgnition of the innovative Without tpleiition, the action taken aggressively address the racism and cataloging practices initiated by San-atthe ALA meeting constitutes a sexismwithinits own profeonal ford Berman, ikad Ciitaloger of themajorpoiicyshiftwhichisfar- province; HennepinCounty(Minnesota)Li- reaching in its implications. For the Therefore, beItresolves],That the brary (see "Don't Imok in the Cata-first time, a large and important U.S. American Library Association actively log.- Vul. 7. No. 4) and -Joan Mar-institution has openly acknowledged commit its prestige and resources io a shall, Asswiate Professor at Brooklynthepervasivenessofracismand coordinated action program that will College, who is developing a thesau-sexism within its domain and has combat racism and sexism in the library rus on sexist subject headings. pledgedtotakeaggressivesteps profession and inlibrary service by The (febate was winding to a dosetowards their elimination. Needless to taking the following steps: when StephenFulehimo fromthesay, the pledge is only as good as its O The ALA will survey library schools to Medford (Massachusetts) Public Liimplementation, and the hard work of determine the extent to which racism brary made the following statement:concretizingtheprovisionsof the and sexism awareness training form a "The conservatives have been takingresolution hes ahead. StilL we Eire part of the curricula and urge that such a beating in this Association, and it'sencouraged by this initial sup and training be added to the curricula in time we strike back. This resolution isare proud to have played a role in every librarl school where it is not now another attempt to undermine tradi-bringing it about. included. tional American values. I hereby call Inthefuture,we hope ALA'sO The LibraryAdministration- on all conservatives in the ALA toprogramwinbestrengthenedto Personnel Administration Section will meet with nw in this room at the endrequire that library schools includedevelop a model in-service training of the meeting to make plansforracism and sexism awareness train- program providing racism and sexism counteractingtheradicalizationofingintheir curriculainorder to awareness training for library personnel. ALA..- His call fell on deaf ears. Thereceive accreditation.In the mean- O The Public Library Association, the fini-d vote, endorsing the entire resolu-time, we urge readers to send mes- sages to ALA lauding the organiza- American Association of School tion, was nearly unanimous. Librarians,theChildren'sServices Now, an action of membership doestionforitsnewstanceand encouraging implementation of the Division, the Young Adult Division, the anti-racism/anti-sexism program. We Reference and Adult Services Division, also urge readers who are not ALAand the Association of College and memEt rs to seriously consider joining Research Librarieswillbe urged to so they can actively participate in the develop a programtoraisethe implementation of the resolution. We awarenessoflibraryuserstothe think Bulletin readers win play a pressing problem of racism and sexism. major roleinachieving the basic O The Resources and Technical changes we are seeking. IA reminder: Services Division willdevelop a you do not need to he a librarian in coordinated planforthe reform of order .o join ALA.) cataloging practices that now Send congratulatory letters to: perpetuate racism and sexism. Be it further resolved, That the President Clara Stanton Jones, President and Executive Board assess the extent of American Library Association implementationofthesesteps and Detroit Public Library report on progress by the 1977 Annual 52-01 Woodward Ave. Conference. Detroit, Mich. 8202 This resolution was placed before the Membership and as MR#4.itwas subsequently amended and adopted in the above form. Original version was Robert Wedgeworth, Executive endorsedby:Asian American Caucus:Black Director Caucus: Board of Directors of REFORMA; Social ALA Fkadquarters Responsibilities Round Table ActionCouncil; WilliamBentow "We arefinally 50 East Huron St. SRRT Chicano Task Force. mouing with a little &liberate speed." Chicago, Ill. 60611

8 BULLETIN 7 Judy Blume gives sex the "now" treatment, but most traditional values go unchallenged Old Values Surface in Blume Country

Since the publication of Are You Known as Sheila the Great7 concern There, God? It's Me, Margaret' sibling rivalry (the latter also explores 1970, Judy Blume has been estab- childhoodfears);B.ubber concerns lishedasabest-selling children's brutalizationof children by other author. Quoting a member of F.A.O. children in school cliques, and the Schwarz'schildren'sbookdepart- hero of Then Again, Maybe I Won'ta ment, Publishers Weekly (Feb.24, must deal with tensions resulting 1975) reported: "The name of Judy from his poor family's sudden rise in Blume ona bookisvirtuallya class status. guars- tee of sales. She is the one The childreninBlume's novels, authc.most asked for by young generally from nine to fourteen years people." A ccording to PW, five of her of age, are often the hapless victims of eight novels were bestsellers in 1975. forcesparents, schools,societyin Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in generalwhich confuse, frighten and the early 1940's, Blume acknowledges overwhelm them. At the same time, drawing book material from her own they often serve as the voices of experiences as a child growing up in a reason and sensibility vis-A-vis the suburban community. Responding to bigotry, inationality and childishness a fan letter which asked "How do you of this same adult world. The message know all our secrets?", Blume has of most of the Blume books is, simply said: "I really do remember every- stated:Evenif your parents get thing that's happened to me from divorced, your sibling gets a lot of third grade on. I know just how I feltJudy Blume, children's book authorattention, you get scoliosis or you and exactly what I was thinking." No haven't gotten your period yet,it doubt this "in touchness" with thecupied with getting their menstrualdoesn't mean that your parents don't prevailing moods and concerns of soperiods.Significantly,the heroislove you, that you can't make it. many young readers, and the abilitythrilled when she finally gets hersLiving is a difficult task, but nothing to recreate them with considerablean unusual occurrence in a children'sis cut and dried; time heals much and accuracy,accountsformuchofbnok. One can assuredly argue thatyou can work through, overcome or Blume's popularity. Blume's mini-celebration of menstrua-learn to live with such difficulties. Other features of her writing whichtion and womanhood is a good anti- However,itisprecisely because appeal to children are humor and andotetothetraditionalimage ofBlume pretends to a socially con- opennessabout"sensitive"issuesmenstruation as "The Curse." Onlysciousperspectiveand wants her which, until recently, were excludedthe most prurient would deny thatcharacters to come to grips with life's from children's literature. Frank dis-thispositiveattitude,plusdetailsproblems, that most of her books are cussion of sexual matters occurs in allabout what it's like when you "get it,"disappointing. Too often she poses ofBlume's books. Interspersedare useful to girls and to most boysdifficult "problems" and then pro- throughout the books, creating a sortwho know little about the subject.ceeds to end her stories in confusion, of backdrop for the author's overall(Feminism, however, is notstrictlyambivalence and inadequate problem- approach,isa disarming down-to-speakingBlume's bag, as we willsolving (although it must be noted earthness. Kids(andsometimesdiscuss later.) In Deenie, the story of athat having the child's ambivalence adults) throw up from being car-sickseventh grader's adjustment, sexualbe the resolutionwhich Blume some- (It's Not the End of the Workl),2 fromand otherwise, to the onset of scoliosistimes doesis an OK approach as eating chocolate-covered ants(a spinal disease), the hero mastur-long as it does not leave the reader (Blubber)and from being mentallybates several times throughout theambivalent). traumatized(Iggie'sHouse).4 Theybook. Worrisome myths about mastur- In Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, pee in buses and on toilets, pick theirbation are cleared up nicely by a sexPeterlivesinthe shadow of his noses and fart (Blubber), and feel theyeducation teacher in Deenie's school.mischievous brother, Fudge, who gets have to pee when they're tiervous Sexual adjustment, while a favorite,mostof theirparents'time and (Deenie).5 is not the only "problem" in Blume'sattention. By focusing heavily on t6e In Are You There, God? It's Me,repertoire: Iggie's House deals withhumorous aspects of Fudge's bet Margaret, which despite its religiousracial integration of a white neighbor-ior, Blume neglects Peter. Thus, w,. sounding title is about eleven- andhood; It's Not the End of the WorldPeter'sparentsfinallygivehim twelve-year-oldgirls' cncuality,thetackles divorce;Tales of a Fourthoverdue attentionat book's end. protagonist and her friends are preoc-Grade Nothing6 an d Otherwisesufficient enough for Blumeit seems

8 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 5 9 to the reader like too little, too late. competitive,anti-sexist, loving chil- One senses that despite the author's dren, the writ& would not create such intentions, Peter will continue to feel mean characters withc.it somehow like a "nothing" way past the fourth making clear to readers chat competi- g ra de. tivenessi)destructive and 7inneetis- In Otherwise Known as Sheila the sary for survival. Not to do this seems Great, another book which is funny at irresponsible, giving children a go- times, we have a frightened ten-year- ahead to be smart-alecky and nasty. old girl whose insecurity manifests itself in chronic lying, boasting and competitiveness.Unfortunately,the Feminism Is Absent book never rises above being a chrcni- cle of Sheila's dissembling and ends Another area in which Blume must with the girl's unpleasant character befaultedconcernsfeminism,or virtually intact. One wonders what rather her lack of it.Despite her the point is, and the mind boggles to "timely" subjea matter and "progres- find a reviewer in Publishers Weekly sive"treatmentof sex and body calling Sheila an "absolute lark of a functions,inother respects Blume book- (Aug. 14, 1972). seems quite conventional o:d outdat- Blubber. the most poorly resolved ed. With the exception of Deenie, her story of thelot,also features an perspectiveseemstobevirtually obnoxious, nasty hero. This time it is untouched by the women's movement. fifth grade Jill E3renner who, along Although six of Blurne's eight main with her schoolfriends, guiltlessly characters are girls, not one fights the harasses and terrorizes a fat girl they feminist fightthat is, struggles con- have dubbed "Blubber." In the confus- sciously to change the second-class ing and unreal ending, Jill comes to status of her girlhood. Only in Deenie Blubber's defense only because anoth- is there any clear feminist sentiment, er harasser is threatening to dominate expressed (for example) in the hero's the group, not because harassment as unequivocal support of her tough girl suchisinhumane. The pack then friend who would rather "be on the turns on Jill, who glibly out-talks football team than cheer for it," and them, imparting the lesson that if you who intends to sue the school if not have a quicker lip than everyone else given the chance. In general, the girl you can survive and keep the pack off charac..ers are more or less1950's your back. If not, watch out. Most typescute, sometimestom-boyish, unsatisfactory reading. smart-alecky, precocious. They are not girls who are bent on changing the Competition Emphasized society in which they live, or who want to take new, assertive, out-front postures inlife. (The one exception In addition, these three stories offer IGGIE'S HOUSE by JIM,Blunle here is Winnie of Iggie's House, who a picture (present as well in some of single-handedly, albeit ineptly, tries the other books) of terrific competi- to fight racism in her neighborhood.) tivenessbetweenchildrenfriends, siblings,schoolmatesandsexes. While Blume undoubtedly wishes to Traditional Sex Roles tell-it-like-it-is and capture what she probably views as the reality of kids' Sex roles are rarely questioned. One competitive drives, something is way of the few instances occurs in Deertie, off. The implication is that competi- when the hero consciously rejects the tion and even are natural, housewife role and wishes, instead, to universal, even sort of "cute" child- be a doctor or lawyer. There is no hoodtraits. Many inour society question, for example, that the mother mistakenly assume that these forms rather than the father will keep the of behavior are universal "truths of kids after divorcing in It's Not the human nature." In fact, they are not End of the World; it is "cute" when necessarily basic to all children, and Peter Hatcher's father is totally inept it has been demonstrated that in some at caring for his kids while his wife is societiessuch behavior isactually away and "cuter" still when he plots considered zbnormal. While Blume to leave all the dishes for his wife's does, at times, present children asAbove are some best-selling Blumereturn. And Winnie's mother loving and supportive, a more politi-titles.Dell has 1.77.5,000 paperbackunchallengedbyauthor Blume callyconsciousorunderst-ndingcopies in print of seven Blume bookswon't take out the garbage because writer would have proceeded different-and receiues mail to the author at theit's a "man's job." Finally, despite ly. Bent on creating new kinds of anti-rate of 25 letters per week. Blume's frank h andling of sexuality,

10 BULLETIN 9 even this seems dated. Girl characterstions. The popularity of her books are into such things as shaving theirattests to the fact that, overall, she legs ane cosmetics (It's Not the Endhas caught the tempo of contempo- EIGHTH of the 4orld) or are obsessed withrtry pre-teen attitudes and behavior. bras and developing breasts lil.e thoseHowever, while a first reading of her of Playboy bunnies (Are You There.Looksis,in many cases, a "fun" ANNUAL God? It's Me, Margaret), experience', questionable hidden mes- sages become perceptible the second CONTEST Contusion on Racism timearound. We must,therefore, regretfullyconcludethatnotwith- Blume's treatment of ethnic andstanding her writing skill, keen wit FOR racial issues is equally wanting andandeffectivehandlingof sexual limited in scope. The Miglione familymaterial, her social conscio sness is THIRD WORLD .9fThen Again, Maybe I Won't islargely underdeveloped. (A ch "Ic. of 32 Italian, arid the Garbers who movereviews of B!ume's books in sources into Iggie's House are Black, but thesuch as Kiri:us Reviews, Publishers WRITERS only other ethnic representations areWeekly, Library Journal and the New half-Jewish Margaret, Deenie's Jew-YorkTintesBook Review reveals ish girl friend and the Chinese Ameri-mixed feelings on the part of other can girl friend in Blubber. adult reviewers as well. Of the 32 In Iggie's House, Blume makes herreviews, 17 are favorable, 6 mixed and 5 one and only attempt at an anti-racist9 negativethe latter are negative for PRIZES OF 3tatement by having Winnie start adifferent reasons than this reviewer one-girl crusade against her neighbor-would have chosen.) hood's racist reaction to new Black Increasingly, books for juveniles $500 neiabors. However, a confused pic-like Blume's and those of many other EACH ture is presented as to what is racistauthorsinclude subjectmatterof and what isn't. Winnie's parents, forsocialrelevance.But even though example, are very racist and spend aauthors' treatment of such subject large portion of the book trying tomatter is frequently inadequate by "make up their minds" whether or notour standardsas inthe case of For African American, to sign a petition against the BlackBlumetheir books can be used in the American Indian, family.Althoughtheyareneverclassroom to stimulate discussion. We Asian 'imerican, Chicano seriously forced to confront and dealview the educational usefulness of and Puerto Rican with their own racism, Blume never-such discussions as being three-fold: thelessportrays them as likeable,1) they may serve to expose the likes, writers who are positivepeople.When Winnie,adislikes and values children already unpublished in confused "liberal" herself on the racepossess and bring to bear on their the children's book field issue, defers to her family in the finalreading experiences; 2) they may aid scene, readers might easily deducethedevelopmentofhealthyself- that the parents' racist positioniscriticism; and 3) they may aid the really OK afterall.Moreover, thedevelopmentofchildren'scritical Minority writers are invited to Black viewpoint, though representPdfaculties vis-a-vis the content of all to some extent through the charactermedia. submitmanuscriptsfcrchil- of a Black boy, is not strong enough dren's books. Any literary form to provide real illumination of the except plays is acceptablepic- issues for readers. Books Discussed In This Ak.ticle ture book, story, poetry, fiction or non-fictionas long as itis Middle-Class Settings 'Are You There God? It's Me. Mar- free of racist and sexi,t stereo- garet, Bradbury,I 970; Dell (paper), The class s-tting of Blume's books 1970. types and is relevant to minority is usually middle and mostly subur-qt's Notthe End ofth,.World, struggles for liberation. For con- ban. Only Deenie's family and theDutton, 1972. test rules, please send a Migliones in Then Again, Maybe I:Blubber, Bradbury, 1974; Dell (pa- stamped, self-addressed enve- Won't, are working class, and the p417.4), ,i(1,ps76 lope to the Contest Committee, latteristhe only Blume bookto ouse, Bradbury, 1970; Dell Council on Interracial Books for discuss ciass issues. While the author(paper), 1976. shows that a rise in class status can5fleenie. Bradbury, 1973; DeH Children, 1841 Broadway, New mean a lowering of humanitarian York, N.Y. 10023. impulses,onequestions why the 11'79'a7:/les of a Fourth G;-(zde Nothing. author chose a working-class familyBradbury, 1972; Deli (paper), 1976. of Italian descent to make her point.70therwise Known asSheilathe Judy Blume is obviously concerned(;reat.1)utton,1972;Dell(paper), CONTEST ENDS DEC. 31, 1976 about focusing, in her work, on the 1976. real interests, needs and experiences 77wn Again. Maybe I Won't, Brad- of children in reality-oriented situa-bury, 1971; Dell (paper), 1973.

10 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 5 11 Bilingual children's books are still rare enough tomerit review even when their quality is undistinguished. Itis good for Chica6o children to halm books about people with whom they can identify to some degree. Such books represent an important first step, after years of subjection to Dick and Jane. The following two books are written in Spanish and English, with both texts on the same page.

iPerico Bonito! (Pretty Parrot!) by Monica Gunning, illustrated by Suzanne Plummer. Prism Press (Blaine Ethridge Books), 1976, $4.95, 50 pages, gracks p.s.3 Setiora Pepino and Her Bad Luck Cats by Esther de Michael Cervantes and Alex Cervantes, Ass illustrated by Alex Cervantes. childr Prism Press (Blaine Ethridge Books),sic" 1976, $4.95, 50 pages, grades 1-5 (whicl iPerico Bonito!, an animal story set on useful the small farm of a poor Mexican usual family, concerns a parrot who creates story. confusion by imitating all the ani- mals and humans onthefarm. Señor Banished from the house, the parrotCats finally wins everyone's respect whenthe hi he saves the young daughter from speak drowning in a pond by imitating her place. cries for help. home This book does little, directly, forthat c the self-images of Chicano or Mexican mese children and is even slightly racist in ceed its repetition of that old siesta image.variou We've had enough sleeping Mexicans! the ki Material trar pings sur:h as clothespunist fInd touches )f household routine pro-they k vide the ;:nly other "cultural" con-a fire. tent. Pepin( Fema: images suffer in the story's Sia me depictionof aforcefulfather andand al activesonsjuxtaposedwitha peace. housewife-mother and helpless daugh- Whil ter. And, as in Señora Pepino (seeous en review below), an accident is the keysage: ( to the parrot's salvation. kitten' A positive feature of the book is that redeerr itexplores soundsina fun wayencour through the parrot's imitations, and which the written sounds are particularlyheroic enjoyable because of the bilingualism.accept( The storyis also well written and Othe illustrat?cl. does I

.'"'71)37x.17742721MTAZEMEZIEM= eLlasudilinwszarinal Spanish-speaking child's self-image especiallyifthatchildisagirl. SeñoraPepinoisportrayed asa helpless, not-too-bright, frantic house- keeper. Although the story's sexism is not of the most offensive kind since the woman's main role is that of a foil for the conflict of the cats, it is present nevertheless. There is no (hicano or Mexican cultural content to speak of. La3tly, the advanced Spanish vocabu- lary does not seem .?.ppropriate for 1310, an elementary s',ory. On thepositiveside,the story demonstrates the Jestructivcness of jealousy and encourages cooperation ratherthancompetitiveness.The writing is interesting and suspenseful, and the drawings are lively. lEliza- beth Martinez)

Yagua Days mc as-by Cruz Martel, ereillustrated by Jerry Pinkney. isDial Press, 1976, the$5.95, unpaged, grades k-4 n'sYagua Days tells the story of a Puerto Rican boy, born in New York, who lives on the Lower East Side w:-Iere ickhisparentsoperateahodega(a in vegetable and grocery store). sh- Since school has just closed for the iedsummer, Aden is anxious to play in igs ngthe pa,.kbut it's raining. Complain- ia- ro- ng ch ,Yagua Days as nt, by Cruz Martel picaires bylenypinkney rts Ta ry in

he 30 be !le ar f 0.I.14 Is; be I 441VAId..!:- )k 4(1.

9,-tatf 4 -%.07

BULLETIN 11 ing to the local mailman who notices the first nation t('legislate equality Adan's long face, he is told that rainy My Street's between women and men in house- days an. marvelous: They are "yagua hold matters.) days." A Morning Cool Street But aside from this information, the A subsequent trip to Puerto Rico by by lanthe Thomas book is boringly written and contains Adan and his parents confirms the Pictures by Emily A. McCully numerous mistakes in Spanish, as mailman's statement: When it rains well as in English punctuation and and the grass on the mountain near grammar. It is also pedantic and full the home of Adan's relatives becomes of travelogue-type comments such as slick, everyone dons a bathing suit "I was fortunate enough to . . . and and bellyflops down the mountain "I am indeedgratefulfor . . .." into the river below on a yaguaa lr,!;,abeth Martinez huge palm leaf. Cruz Martel has written an enjoya- ble story, beautifully illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, that is rich in authen- The Creoles of Color of tic cultu.-al content. Adan's relatives in Puerto Rico are a variety of colors New Orleans in keeping with the racial diversity of by James Haskins, Hispanic cu`tures. The foods cited and illustrated by Don Miller. the reminisc t. nets of Adan's elders, as T.Y. Crowell, 1975, they ride thrcugh the countryside in a $5.95, 128 pages, grades 5-up jeep, cony t he beaw.y aad timeless- ness of "geass roots" life. women in a wider variety of roles without altering the basic theme ofThis non-fiction work describes the In manuscript form, Yagua Days past and present of Louisiana's so- was a winner in the CIBC Contest forthe story. The simple language and animatedcalled free men of color, better known Third World writers in 1972. [Carmen as Creolesa conglomeration of octo- Figueroa pictures can be used in the classroom as mini-studies. Children could dis-roons,quadroonsandmulattoes cuss why the butcher is annoyed withwhose origins date back to the found- the meat delivery man, or why theing of the territory. Section I traces the origins of this My Street's man is carrying his baby into a bar. Other questions to raise might be whyracially mixed group whose members a Morning Cool Street (1()es the man in the large green hatarethedescendantsofAfrican, by Ianthe Thomas, appear so mysterious? Does the whiteFrench, Spanish and West Indian illustrated by Emily McCully. man buying the book in the Afro-peoples. Harper & Row, 1976, American bookstore live in the com- The slaves who were brought to the $4.95, unpaged, grades cre k-3 munity? Perhaps the essence of thisFrench settlement of New Orleans in story lies not in what is said, but inthe early eighteenth century were not, On his way to school, a little boywhat is left unsaid. [Emily R. Moore]according tothis study, treated as celebratesthe happenings onhis harshly as were slaves in other parts street. A dog chases a cat, the fruit of the U.S.since their labor was man rolls his wagon through a cloud wanted solely for building the city of flies and neighbor Roberta's hop- and not for plantation maintenance. scotch markings get washed away byCuba Today (Does that make their status as slaves the sanitation truck. less onerous?) Although the Code Noir Although there are no lessons toby Lee Chadwick, (Black Code), a set of laws formulated learn or morals to consider in thisillustrated with photos. by the French to regulate relations story, it is a pleasant one enhanced byLawrenceHill & Co. f Westport, between Blacks and whites, forbade expressive three-color drawings whichConnd, 1976, interracial marriages, a later revision helps attune young children's senses7.95, 22(i pages, grades 7.up grantedtofreedslavesthe same to what is going on in their environ-This book is a report on the author'srights and pri deges as those enjoyed ments and to the diversity of humanfOur months of' travel in Cuba duringby whites. It was this edict which activity. Unfortunately, however, it 1971ar.d1975,Childrenand themade possible the emergence of the also communicates to children thatfamily were the focus of her visits, so"free men of color"a distinct cultu- men dominate community life. Exceptthe book contains some informationral group within U.S. society. for a woman selling a newspaper to a(though not a great deal) on such However, it was not until Louisiana nurse, all of the other women depictedtopicsastheRevolution's philosocame under Spanish rule that the in the drawings have home-related,phies of child care and children'sCreoles were able ta exercise their child-caringroles. The author andliterature and :he recently adoptedrights and privileges. At that time, illustratormight have representedFamily Code. (The latter makes Cubathey began to own property, accumu-

..ZENIZZINESEIM. azzazazarasearmagrasoF,T

12 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 5 1 3 igigftra&OltkAlaVigrAMa.1-3.,at-zzemazgualim-arz2:1:4,111.A,M7,11121,1Z2rMCD=Vaplifgellilla

late wealth and even acquire slaves.grow up to become a strong Blackagainst segregationinthe private They rejected class or racial identifi-man. sector. In the same decision the Civil cationwithBlacks and emulated Phrases like "hip hip/wish i may/Rights Act of1875 was declared whites; yet whites lumped them withwho say/black today/... hip hip/unconstitutional. Blacksand discriminatedagainstwish i might/i say black tonight" or Unfortunately,Stevens'non- them accordingly. "a b/c ok/a b/i'm smart today" seemcommittal portrayal of segregation In this first section and throughoutvery contrived, while other lines suchleaves judgments such as that in the the book, the author openly discussesas "big sister says that I'm black/sheGee case unchallenged. The serious- the prejudice and snobbery of thetries to keep me right on track" areness of thisflaw inthe author's Creolestheir alienation from Blackstrite. Nor do they reflect the realapproach is particularly evident in his andtheirprideinliaisonswithtexture of an urban Black child'sdiscussionofPlessyv.Ferguson whitesas a point of distinction andspeech (the illustrations show a Black(1896). In making their plaintiffs case pride. Yet, he does not pursue theseboy in an urban setting). againstsocialdiscriminationon matters in a context that would help Even after four readings, the bookstreetcars, the young white attorneys readers place the Creoles' self-hatingseems not to communicate "valuableargued that states had no right to and elitist values in the proper per-lessons of self-love and survival" or"label one citizen white and another spective. Such a framework is neces-any of the other well-meaning con-"andthatPlessy'slarge sary to foster understanding of thecepts mentioned on its jacket. percentage of white blood was valua- Creoles' value system as the product Merely "telling"childrenthey'reble property deserving of constitution- of a racist environment. Black, smart, strong or proud is notal protection. Not only were Jim Crow Instead,the author presents thecommunication. The illustrations con- laws preposterous, so were many of Creoles' negative opinions and beliefsvey more than the verses. Priced atthe arguments used against them and about Blacks, Native Americans and$4.95, Big Sister Tells Me That TniStevens should have made that point. others with little interpretive commen-Blackissomethingof arip-off. What comes through loud and clear tary, which has the effect of extolling[Patricia Spence! in the hook is that the legislative and thevirtues of the Creoles at the judicial system itself supported and expense of others. legitimizedsegregationthroughout By the time readers reach Section II, the entire countrynot just south of which focuses (again, out of context) the Mason-Dixon line. on the family life, occupations, educa-Equal! The Case of Furthermore, Stevens does not lead tion and religionof contemporaryIntegration vs. Jim Crow his readers to believe that Jim Crow Creoles,theywouldprobablybe died with the Supreme Court decision turnedoff. And the finalsection,By Leonard A. Stevens. which discusses the Creoles' contribu-Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1976, tions to U.S. society, would no doubt 157 pages, grades 7-up elicit total disinterest following as itEqual! is an account of 's does 107 pages of racist, elitist, andstruggle to secure the civil and human conformist drivel. rightswhichhavesystematically EQUAL! Although the mediocre black-and-been denied to them since the end of Me( 'ase of huegradon vs..11m Crow whiteillustrationsarecompatibleslaverythroughtheveryjudicial with the text, they do not enhanceprocessthatisallegedto support by leonard A. Simms it.[Patricia Spence] those rights. Stevens uses a dramatic (butnon-committed)you-are-there approach to expose the life and times of"JimCrow"fromthemid- f nineteenth century up to and includ- e,r4,1! Big Sister Tells Me ing the 1970's. That I'm Black Stevenswritesthatindividuals began to challenge segregation laws toom by Arnold Adoff, soon after emancipation. Example, illustrated by Lorenzo Lyncy. In 1879, William R. Davis attempted Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1976, to enter the Grand Opera House in $4.95, 19 pages, grades pre k-3 New York City but was turned away Arnold Adoffs latest illustrated poem-by the doorman; his case went to the story is difficult to describe becauseSupreme Court but was lost. In 1883, there's so little substance to it. What itthe case of Bird Gee who had been amounts to is a little boy singing therefused service in a hotel dining room lessons he learns from his older sisterwas lost when the Supreme Court f who tells him things like he's Black,justices declared that the Fourteenth 1 No. proud and smart and one day willAmendment did not protect Blacks

aSigiagairtaNOW:e :2: ....P1a.,:t.:7:'±'!girz-A11)-2:11:01111M-'"41111611

BULLETIN 13 1 4 111EMEDIMS5511U.WIYa-fiV11.41'.7:10.7!>;MZ4liZ.;: N.

in Brown v. Board of Education (1954)now. It's time for the European toed descriptions of the author are not striking down the separate but equalmove over."Also,Ms.Dinneen'sapparent intheillustrations. The doctrine. His text clearly reveals thatportraits of animals and of human-black-and-whitedrawingsarenot Jim Crow has struggled more violent-animal relationships is sensitive, andonly devoid of color but also detail, ly to stay alive since that time. the relationship of the children to theand the facelessness of the Africans is A careful reading of this boot: willenvironment, equally so. In addition,racially insensitive and wholly inex- provideyoungpeoplewithsomethe finely crafted story is culturallycusable. [Nikki Grimes] insight into the scope of the unendinginformative about the Masai people. struggle for equality. However, its use Unfortunately,Lion Yellowis in the classroom should &finitely beplaguedwithsexism.Robinand supplemented with :.1cmerous otherDavid are gross . With materials. [Emily Mowel Tarzan as his idol, David calls him- self "Lion Boy," and is strong, daring and fearless. He is usually occupied rescuing sister Robin or coaxing away hertears.Robin, who is"small, Lion Yellow bright-eyed, and curious," "chirped by Betty Dinneen, her own small tune," "wrinkled her illustrated by Charles Robinson. smallnose,"andisrelegatedto Henry Z. Walck, 1975, "small," passive tasks. The mother's $6.95, 169 pages, grades 7-up positive portrayal (she is a profession- al photographer) is overwhelmed with Lion Yellow is a beautifully writtenthe "boys are special" statement this tale about a British family who arestory makes. The line that takes the wardens ona game preserveinprize for sexism is: "But Lion Boy Kenya, and a lion family living onnever cried." that preserve. Their stories are inter- The Africancharacters,though tv 'ned. Soldani, the head of the lionpresent, are nearly invisible and are pride, is challenged by Black Prince, aoftencast as big playmate or as strange, formidable lion that sudden-chauffeur to the children. Only Mr. ly appears from unknown parts. AtLikimani ac!,ieves some distinction the same time, the wardenship of Bendue to his decision-making power. Thorne and his family over Mbuyu A study in symbolism, the story Game Park is questioned, when aclearly establishes a parallel between neighboring people claim the land bythe invading lion and Mr. Likimani. ancestralbirthright.The KenyanThe one is an obvious contender forAround and AroundLove governmentmustdecidewhetherleader over the park lions; the other these people should graze their cattlecould be considered a contender forby Betty Miles, on the park land or whether the parkrule over the park land. The one isillustrated with photographs. should remain a haven for animalsblack-maned, and the other is black-Knopf, 1975, and tourists. skinned. Both _.:re finally overcome.$2.50, 42 pages, grades p.s.-3 Anticipation grows as the family(The wild scavenger dogs are alsoConsisting of 42 pages full of twice as awaits a visitruin Mr. Likimani, theblack, with "fierce black faces.") many beautiful black-and-white pho- government man from Nairobi. Mean- A disturbing undertone of elitHmtos, plus a minimal text, this book is a while, the author heaps adventureand Eurocentrism also mars the story.bargain at $2.50. Love"When you upon adventure. The children, RobinThe Thornes are aristocrats of thefeel it and know it, tell it and show it." and David, meet up with a rampagingbush, protecting it from insensitiveLove"It's hard to tell about, easy to rhino, wild dogs, cackling hyenas,"others." The name of the claim-show." scavenger jackals and lions, keepingmaking people is noteworthy on this This is a warm, life-affirming little a reader in page-turning suspense. account. "Wageni"isthe Swahilibook. Love is shown as being valid all Predictably,Soldanidefeatstheword for "strangers"a curious labelways: Between people of all ages and invading lion and we can presumefor Africans in Africa. And, while fewallraces, people who are friends, that Mr. Likimani will decide in favoryoungreaderscantranslatethepeople who are parents, people who of keeping the game reserve. frequent Swahili terms (there is nocare about other people and people The pluses in this book are many.glossary), innumerable references bywho care about pets. What a happy With the importance of wildlife con-theEuropeancharactersto"ourbooktohave aroundthehouse! servation as its major statement, theland," "our park," "our home," etc.,Children will want to look through it book also seeks to express the validityand allusions to the Wageni people astime and time again. It can also serve of the land claim. In this regard, Benoutsiders occur inprecise Englishas a springboard for many child-adult Thorne's statement tohissonisthroughout. discussionsor even as a preface to commendable: "Kenya's African-run Lastly, the bright and rainbow-tint-hugging. [Lyla Hoffman]

a150103711111111111 15 1 4 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 5 African Adventure sor Ratigan, the Crown Prince of by Marian Hostetler. Crime in mousedom. Herald Press (Scottdale, Pa.), 1976, This is the kind of children's book $3.50 (hardcover), $2.50 (kivar), that delights adultsa clever, imagin- ative and well-illustrated adaptation 124 pages, grades 4-9 of the original Sherlock and his entire What a shame that a church-affiliatedstyle, from deer.stalker cap to clipped, publishing house (in this case, thesardonic speech. But one wonders Mennonite Church) would issue suchwhat children unfamiliar with Sher- an example of hardcore racism aslock and the milieu of paintings and African Adventure. museums would make of it. One must Sprinkled throughout this accountalso question the creation of a totally of a white Illinois family's sojourn ashuman world among mice. Children leaders of an agricultural workers'will learn nothing about animals or team in the north central Africanabout the relationship,f humans to republic of Chad are descriptions ofthe rest of nature from this book. It is African children as "dirty-looking ,"a clever replica, period. Two Sides of the River the initially challenged but finally Detective Basil is very much the accepted appellation "boy" to describeupper-class gentlemouse, just as elitistby David Crippen, male domestics, and insinuations thatasthe original Holmes. When heillustrated by David Scott Brown. Muslim Africans must be Christian-learns that the thief is actually theAbingdon, 1976, ized in order to be "saved." museum curator, an incurably ill old$4.25, 27 pages, grades k-up The story, told by a pre-teenage girl,man who just wants to have theTwo Sides of the River is the story of fails -..ompletely to place the hunger,Mousa Lisa in his home to brightentwo groups of Kenyan children whose disease, illiteracy and underdevelop-his last days, the compassionate Basilfami!ies have carried on a feud for ment encountered by the family inkeeps the thief's identity a secret andgenerations. Each day when Makok. their proper contextcolonialism andsimply announces that the paintingha and his brother, Wnaga, drive imperialism. Rather, they are treatedhas been mysteriously returned. Aftertheir father's cattle to the water to as natura' phenomena to be overcomeso much talk about the Mexicandrink they exchange insults across throughreligiousfaith and whitepPople's love for the painting, thisthe river with Otaha and his brothers leadership. g has a somewhat paternalisticin a ritual of family enmity. One day "Lighter-skinned" people are por- . "We, the brilliant detective andOtaha's youngest brother is acciden- trayed as the protagonist's friendsthL erudite curator, will deal with thetally left behind and begins to drown andprotectors,whileBlackrebelproblem. No need to tell the people."in a switch current. Since Otaha is out soldiers (causes of the rebel activity(In fact, the people don't even knowof earshot, Makokha quickly decides are virtually unidentified) arc: villain-the painting has been stolen; a copy isthat family feuds have no place in ous and threatening. Same old im-hung in its place immediately follow-such life-death situations; he dives in ages. This one is a real no-no. [Zalam-ing the theft.) In keeping with hisand rescues the young boy. aqhawe] autocratic style, Basil never consults Regaining consciousness after his anyone. near-drowning,Otaha'sbrotheris Basil is also a sexist, although in speechless before his rescuer, but the this book he does get reprimanded byheavy silence is weighted with possi- Basil in Mexico a"liberated"femalemouse.Butbilities that didn't exist before. by Eve Titus, sexism taints the total effect of the David Crippen has created a story illustrated by Paul Galdone. book nevertheless: No female mousewhich lauds brotherhood and sug- McGraw-Hill, 1976, does anything daring or clever, andgests that the positive action of a $5.95, 96 pages, grades 3-up the mystery is entirely solved by malesingle personisthe beginning of miceincluding seven street youths. meaningful change. Detective Basil, a mouse who emu- For the most part,the Mexican Althoughithas saccharine "Do lates Sherlock Holmesthe master ofsetting is handled in a non-racist way,unto others" overtones and repeats, the house h- lives inhas apparentlybut there are some stereotypes. Whenagain, the overworked cliché of Afri- become a popular figure in children'sBasil disguises himself as a Mexicancan tribal conflict, the story effective- literature. In this, the author's fourthvendor of roasted corn, he becomesly imparts a good lesson. The illustra- book about Basil, the hero is invited"sleepy-eyed" (miraculously, he doestions are beautiful. [Nikki Grimes] to Mexico to solve a crime of nationalnot take a siesta). El Bruto, who seeks proportions: the theft of the belovedto overthrow the mouse government Mousa Lisa painting from the stateof Mexico, is the classical sly, cruel, museum. He solves the mystery inLatin-American dictator. Apparently, In the BOOKSHELF, a regular Bulletin typical Holmes style and then hasThird World peoples have a monopolyfeature, all books that relate to minority another adventure when his sidekick,onsly,crueldictators.[Elizabeth themes are evaluated by members of the Dr. Dawson, is kidnapped by Profes-Martinez] minority group depicted.Editors.

1 6 BULLETIN 15 CIBC Publishzs Landmark Donnerae MacCann. Dr. Poussaint, Instrument fir Rating Associate Professor of Psychiatry at HarvardMedicalSchoolandco- Children's klzyJks author of Black Child Care, has called A pioneer publication of the CIBC the book "one of the most important has just been released: Human (and and challenging volumes in a de- Anti-Human)ValuesinChildren's cade. . . . If used widely, it will help Books is the first volume on record raise a new generation of children free which offersreviews of children's of many of the destructive values in books based on criteria that focus our society." Ms. MacCann, a librar- primarily on content and only sec- ianand co-authorofThe Black ondarily:n literary and artistic ele- American in Books for Children, Tlw ments ',he criteria, developed by the Child's First Book and of ":Ilustra- Counci. over a ten-year period, are set tionsinChildren's Bwks" (inthe forth ii. the 280-page book's introduc- Arbuthnot Anthology of ('hildren's tionai.dexpressedinaunique Literature), has de-n:i the book "an content-I lting instrument designed to historic event. . . splendidly compre- help parents, librarians and teachers hensive . . . authoritative . . .illumi- detectthe "hidden messages" and nating." In addition, The Feminist implied values in children's literature Press has said that the book "clarifies (see box). the political nature of children's books Analyzing 235 books published in and should be used in every children's 1975, the multiracial Council team of literature course in the country." 44reviewerswas concernedwith Council director Bradford signs of ageism, conformism, escap- Chambers has expressedthe hope ism,elitismandmaterialism,inIf we believed that human beings arethatthebookwill"substantially addition to racism and sexism. Thedoomedtocontinue :rippling andimpact on the publishing of children's reviewersalsocomment,intheirdestroying each oth:T without ond,books in the U.S." evaluations, on cultural authenticitythere would be no point at all. But we Human (and Anti-Human) Values and other factors which readers aredo not; we firmlbelieve that whenin Children's Books is available in encouraged to draw upon in develop-the cultural err. ironment is changed,hardcover andpaperback,costing ing their own guidelines. people will change. We reject that$14.95 and $7.95 respectively. Copies The highest ratings for the yearvision of the future which portrays canbe purchased from the CIBC were given to 14 titles, and 20 otherhuman beings as oxen forever yoked offices,1841 Broadway, Room MO, books were considered to be "note-tothe painful weight of so-calledNew York, N.Y. 10023. worthy." A list of these titles, catego-'human nature.' We reject it for the The following books were singled rized by age level, follows this item.sake of our own lives and, above all,out for praise: Detailing the book's concept, thefor the generations of children now introduction states: "If we did notand tomorrow." HIGHEST RATING believe that most 'human nature' is in Among the prominent figures whoYOUNGEST BOOKS fact cultural conditioning, there wouldhaverespondedfavorablytotheAround and AroundLoue by Betty be little point in publishing this book.publication are Alvin Poussaint andMiles, illustrated with photographs. Knopf. Hooray For M. by Remy Charlip and

ARTWORDS Lillian Moore, illustrated by Vera B. ART WORDS ARTWORDSN.A. Williams. Parents' Magazine Press. omission anti-Racist non-Racist Racist commission MIDDLE BOOKS anti-Sexist nonSexist Sexist New Life: New Room by June Jordan, anti-Elitist non-Elitist Elitist illustrated by Ray Cruz. T.Y. Crowell. anti-Materialist non-Materialist Materialist anti-Individualist non-Individualist Individualist Paul Robeson by Eloise Greenfield, anti.Ageist non-Asprist Ageist illustrated by George Ford. T.Y. Cro- anti-Conformist non-Conformist Conformist well. ant,-Escapist non-Escapist Escapist Sing to the Dawn by MinfongHO, Builds positive Builds nege,ive illustrated by Kwoncjon Ho. Lothro,,. image of females/ image of females/ 1 ExcellentGoodFairPoor minorities minorities Lee & Shepard. Literary quality Inspires action Cutturally Song of theTrees by Mildred D. vs. oppression authentic Art quality Taylor, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Dial. VALUES RATING CHECKLIST: Deciding whether a book is sexist (reinfore,s OLDER BOOKS sexism), nonsexist (neutral), antisexist (challenges sexism.racist, non-racist or anti-racist, etc. forces a reader to analyze the value messages contained in aDragonw.;ngsby La wrenceYep. book. Unfortunately, uery few books exist which challenge negatiue humanHarper & Row. ualues, "inspire action against oppression" and also are of "excellent" literaryFast Sam, Cool Clyde & Stuff by and artistic quality. 1 7 Walter Dean Myers. Viking.

16 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 5 Founding Mothers by Linda Grant DeThe Meat in the Sandwich by Alicetributed by the steering committee. Pauw. Houghton Mifflin. Bach. Harper & Row. Includedn the nine.point proposal Garden of Broiwn Glass by EmilyWinter Wheat by Jeanne Williams.arecategoriesonunity,self. Cheney Neville. Delacorte. G.P. Putnam's Sons. determinaCon, collectivity, characteri- Let Me Be a Free Man by Jane B.Women Who Win by Francene Sabin.zationandlanguage. Katz. Lerner. Random H.,use. Although some members of the au- Long Man's Song by Joyce Rockwood. dience felt the proposal should be Holt, Rinehart & Winston. more specific and others called for its Making Our Way by William Loren expansion, the consensus was that Katz and Jacqueline Hunt Katz. Dial. guidel:nesof thiskindwouldbe A Question of Courage by MarjorieGuidelines for Writing helpful to writers. Da rk e. T. Y. C rowel I. Black Children's Books Playwrightandauthor Oyamo Discussed at Conference made a special presentation in which he described his successful efforts to NOTEWORTHY The development ofcriteriaforpublish and distribute two of his own YOUNGEST BOOKS writingand illustrating Black-worksa children's story called The orientedchildren's books was theStar That Could Not Play and Hillbil- Amy and the Cloud Basket by Ellenmain topic of a conference on July 31 Pratt,illustratedbyLisaRussell. ly Liberation, a collection of plays. at The TeachersIncorporatedin Forfurtherinformation,contact Lollipop Power. Manhattan. Members of the confer- Becky and the Bear by Dorothy Vanence steering committee were An-Ernest Gregg at (212) 595.3223 or 34. Woerkom.illustrated by Margotdaiye, a lecturer at Queens College; Tomes. G.P. Putnam's Sons. Tom Feelings, a leading children's The Girl Who Would Rather Climbbook illustrator; Ernest Gregg, authorCalendar of Trees by Miriam Schlein, illustratedof And the Sun God Said That's Hip, by Judith Gwyn Brown. Harcourt,and Aishah S. Abdullah, 1974 winner CIBC Workshops Brace. Jovanovich. in the African American category ofMidwest: September-October The Quitting Deal by Tobi Tobias,the Council on Interracial Books forRacism and Sexism in Instructional illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman.Childrencontestfor Third World Materials.A series of CIBC workshops Viking. writers. initiated this summer will be contin- MIDDLE BOOKS During the last ten years, publish- uedinthe fallin Indiana school ers took advantage of the availabilitydistricts. For dates, contact Lethenius ArthurMitchellbyTobiTobias.of money for book purchases in theIrons, Assistant Director, EEO, De- illustrated by Carole Byard. T.Y. Cro-Black community which resulted frompartment of Public Instruction, Str .e well. the passage of the Secondary and House, Indianapolis, Ind. 46204. Contributions of Women: EducationElementary Education Act. With the by Mary Burgess. Dillon Press. onset of the recession, cutbacks haveNew : September-October An Birthday by Tom D.been made, and "conscience money"ThreeRacism Awareness Workshops Robinson, illustrated by Gl() Coalson.has ceased to trickle into the Blackhavebeenconductedduringthe Dodd, Mead. community. Publishers are now reluc-summer in Burlington, Vt. with fac- Last NightI Saw Andromeda bytant to issue Black books unless the ulty and administrators of the Univer- Charlotte Anker, illustrated by Ingridwriters and/or illustrators are eithersity of Vermont, teachers and staff of Fetz. Henry Z. Walck. established or their works arere- theChittenden South Supervisory OLDER BOOKS garded as commercially viable. SchoolDistrict, and parents from The conference planners hoped tolocal communities. For information After the Wedding by Hilo Colman.stimulate a dialog about the problems onfollowthroughandadditional Morrow. faced by Black children's book writ-workshops duringthefall,write The Cigarette Sellers of Thny Crossesers,leadingtothe creationof aMarvinFishman,Departmentof Square oy Joseph Ziemian, translatedcooperativeof writers,illustrators,Sociology, University of Vermont, 31 by Janina David. Lerner. editors, librarians, parents and otherS. Prospect, Burlington, Vt. 05401. Dust of the Earth by Vera and Billconcerned people. Cleaver. J.B. Lippincott. A panel discussion, moderated byWashington, D.C: October 10-12 The Girl with Spunk by Judith St.Andaiye, provided the core of thecimt National Conference on Non- George, illustrated by Charles Robin-conference which was attended 1:13 **E.-xist EarlyChildhoodEducation, son. G.P. Putnam's Sons. over one hundred people. The pan. .riee House Conference Center, Air- The Glad Man by Gloria Gonzalez.2lists included Barbara Walker,;..1 lee, Va. (outside Washington, D.C.). Kilopf. editor at Franklin Watts PublishersCIBC will conduct sessions on anti- I Cry When the Sun Goes Down by(and former CIBC staffer); Ms. Abdul- sexist, anti-racist readers and trade Jean Horton Berg, illustrated withlah; Elton Fax, one of the first Blackbooks for children. photographs. Westminster Press. illustrators of children's books; Mr. Julius Nyerere: Teacher of Africa byGregg; Jane Kerina, writer and lectur-Lake Placid, New York: October 16 Shirley Graham. Messner. er at Brooklyn College; Mr. Feelin"What Should Youth Be Allowed to Ludell by Brenda Wilkinson. Harperand librarian Vivian Grice. Know? A ConversationinDichoto- & Row. The discussion (with audience par- mies."A CIBC presentation before the A Man Ain't Nothin But a Man byticipation) focused in part on a list ofIntellectual Freedom Committee of John Oliver Killens. Little, Brown. proposed criteria drawn up and dis-the New York Library Association

18 BULLETIN 17 "Gone With the Wind" Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Under. Comes Back to Haunt Us ground Railway by Ann l'etri. T.V. Cro- We are distressedto report that well, 1955. "Gone With the Wind," a movie which Life and Tirm,s of Frederick Douglass by FrederickDouglass.Uollier-Macmilbm, did so much to perpetuate stereotypes 1962. 30 years ago, will be televised nation- Remnstruction After the Civil War by ally by NBC during prime time on 411111a..-- John Hope Franklin. University of Chica- October 28 and 29. The movie is a go Press, 1961. spectacular melodrama with an all- To lk a Slave by Julius Lester. illustrated star cast (Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, by Toni Feelings, I'ress, 1968. etal.) and, yes,it is technically a The Trouble They Seen: Bloch People Tell superb production; but it also perpetu- tlw Story of Renmstructioneditedby ates white supremacist myths of the Dorothy Sterling. Doubkday. 1976. "gracious" old South and the "cor- rupt" Reconstruction era. The Fight Against Sexism We wishtoalertteachers and librarianstothe showing andto Begins at Home suggest that it be used to stimulate As noted on page 6, the Americtin consciousness-raisingclassdiscus- lAbrary Association has just adopted sion, teach-ins, and, hopefully, protest a resolution calling for the elimina- actionsinschoolsandlibraries tion of sexism and racism from the throughoutthe country. The very library profession. One place to begin popularity of the movie makes it an would s(etntobe the Al A's own ideal teaching tool to raise people's inedia campaign. Speaking for the awareness of racism and sexism. Al.A, Rodney Dangerlield says: "Hi. Here are the most noxious stereo- ThisisRodneyI )angerfield. tion campaign which is planned flir You types: (1) The happy slave, passive know me. I don't get no respect. . . uncomplaining,wellcaredfor;(2) the telecast of "Gone With the Wind"want to give respect to a lot of very white southerners as valiant cavali-will surely stimulate demands for thespecial people. They'ri. the people at ers, struggling to defend a benevolentbook in libraries across the countrymy neighborhood library. They did (Avon paperbacksis white aristocracy; (3) northerners as reissuing thesomethin I couldn't do for years. corrupt, power hungry invaders, cruelbook in a "deluxe trade edition"). ThisThey kept my wife quiet for three and rapacious: (4) whites generally asis an opportune time for librarians tohours. My wife went in tlwre lookin' superiorandBlacksasinferiorimplement the anti-racist, anti-sexistfor infrrmation on :;(inieflower or beingsexamples,thestupidandresolution recently adopted by theplant or sornethuilik that. The troublesome Prissie; the shuffling andAmerican Library Association. librarianfoundherbooks onit, helpless Porkie; the strong and devot- We suggestsetting up abookpictures on it, slides on it She even ed Sam; the gullible and forever-loyalexhibit of slavery, Civil War andfound her a popular song with the Mammy. Blacks are shown only inReconstruction era materials whichname of the plant in the title.tell ya' their relationship with whites, neveraccurately represent these periods.my wifr was speechless. Librarian, for in relation to each other. (See titles listed in the footnote below.)this I thank you. Note to Teachers: The following Plan a discussion of "Gone With The message ends with tlw words, are preliminary suggestions, and ifthe Wind" and invite representatives"A public service message on behalf our readers indicate interest, we willof Third World and feminist organiza-id the AmericanLibrary Associa- amplify on these in future issues. tions to participate. tm." Assign reading materials that will Ask your local newspaper to run aid students in developing criticalarticles analyzing the stereotypes and awareness of the film's racist anddistortions in the film. Dissent Challenged sexist content. Refer to the suggested Suggested Reading We were outraged to learn of the reading in the footnote below. American Slave Revolts by Herbert U.S. Department of Justice's order Instruct students to watch "GoneAptheker. International PublisheN, 1952. Black Reconstruction in America. 1860. that the New York-based Tricontinen- With the Wind" in preparation for 1880 by W.E.B. DuBois. Atheneum, 1962. tal Film Center register as a "foreign discussions after the showing. Black Women in White America: A Dom. agent." Tricontinentalis an educa- Have students write critiques of thementary History edited by Gerda Lerner.tional distributor of films from the film, identifying as many stereotypes Vintage, 1973. Third World, including the critically and historical distortions as they canCaptain of thc Planter by Domthy Ster- acclaimed Cuban films "Lucia" and find. Students who are tet chers-to-beling: illustrated by Ernest Crichlow. Dou- "MemoriesofUnderdevelopment." should prepare sample lesson plans bleday, 1958. Under thetermsofthe FlighttoFreedom.The Story of the Foreign indicating how they will teach their AgentsRegistrationActof1938, students to spot stereotypes and dis- Underground Railroad by Henrietta Buck- master. T.V. Crowell, 1958. Tricontinental would have to label its tortions. Freedom Road by Howard Fast. Bantam, film catalog and all other printed Write us about your experiences 1969. materials as foreign propaganda. with the classroom discussions so we Great Gittin' up Morning: A Biography of The JusticeDepartment's action may share these with other teachers. IknmarkVesey by John0.Killens. clearly challenges the public's right of Note to Librarians: The promo- Doubleday, 1972. freeaccesstoint'ormation andis 1 9 11; VOLUME 7, NUMBER 5 andOscar Mayer productswere Readers will be interested in an up-among those associated with the least coming "Firing Line with William F.amount of violence. The survey also Buckley, Jr." which features poet-writerindicated that of the ten prime time NOTE: SUBSCRIPT/ON June Jordan representing the CIBC andshows containing the least amount of RATE INCREASE! civil liberties lawyer Harriet F. Pilpelviolence, five are on CBS, while NBCBecause of rising costs, we are discussing the First Amendment inranked foremost among the networks featuring shows containing the mostforcedtoincrease the cost of relation to racism and sexism in books. individualsubscriptionstothe The program is scheduled to be shownviolence. nationally on PBS, on RKO-TV (Los Particularly significant, accordingBULLETIN. It is no longer possible Angeles, Boston, Memphis) and in theto Johnson, was the survey's illumi-to maintain the currei It rate of $8 per New York area in early September;nation of the fact that "most of theyearandveryreluctantlywe check local listings. ten least violent programs are suc-must incraase this price to $10. The cessful network offerings with high 11111111119211=19162=1.1t11MV9921 subscription coupon on the back ratingscontrarytothe commonpage reflects the increased rates. assertionthattelevision programs obviously aimed at curtailing dissentcan't ataact lavge audiences unlessHowever, we areoffering new in the U.S. they have excemive violence readers and current subscribers the Inresponsetoan appeal from The computerizedsurvey, which opportunity to subscribe or renew at Tricontinental, the CIBC, along w).thinvolved the gathering of masses ofthe old rate. Orders postmarked by hundreds of other organizations anddata, was financed by a $10,000 grantSept. 30th will be entered at the individuals, promptly forwarded let-to NCCI.3 '..-rorn the Laras Fund and previous rates: $13 per year, $14 for ters to the Attorney General protest-was structured by RI Associates, atwo years, $18 for three years. ing the Department's action. Thefirm v. Li1 ,,4 in the monitor- impact of this deluge of mail wasing of tekvisic.n s. Brief, general (These rates apply to individual apparently great. In reply totl-wir reports of ..he:!_trvey results will be subscriptions only and must be paid inquiries, Tricontinental's attorn,,ys to the pubiic at no charge, for with a personal check or money were told by Justice officials that tilehilt, more detitid and specific areas order which must accompany the order had been placed under reviewof data will be provided on request for order.) Take advantage of this offer although it has not been rescinded. a :.r.w advertisers or their agents. now by completing the coupon on The review process, as of this writing, rfurtherinformation,contact has been going on for three months.Ted Carpenter, (202) 466-8407 or writethe back page and sending it with We strongly urge Bulletin readers toNationalCitizensCommitteefor you:* check for the amount specified send letters or telegrams of protestbroadcasting, 1028Connecticut above! calling for withdrawal of the registra.Avenue N.W., Room 402, Washington,

tion order to the Justice Department. D.C. 20036. fM111119199911819912919991191191 Recent press disclosures of illicit and illegalgovernment actions against progressive people and organizations confirmthenecessityof vigorous response on the part of all citizens to threatsagainstourconstitutional rights of dissent. Address your pro- EVERY LITTLE tests to Edward Levi, Attorney Gener. GI RL NEEDS HERBARBIE. al, U.S. Department of Justice, Wash- ington, D.C. 20530.

TV Sponsors and Violence The results of a major study of advertiser sponsorship of violence in TV programming were announced by Nicholas Johnson, chairperson of the Washington-based National Citizons Committee for Broadcasting (NCCB) at a press conference in New York on July 29. Based on the monitoring of prime time programming (8:00 to 11:00 P.M.) over a six-week period ending on July 23, the survey showed that Tegrin Shampoo and Burger King headed the list of sponsors associated with the most violence during the monitoring Do tdok kave a cical -Ka+playshive 8111;4 -kat", period and that IBM. Lipton products lAce. Plarearth Pleack speak3 0,44- like- 'Barbara 30,-daul-2

20 BULLETIN 19 This department brings the work of minority a illustrators to the attention of art directors and book and magazine editors. Artists are invited to submit their portfolios for consid- eration.

4. i

Robert M. Waring, who studied at Pratt, the Brooklyn iuseumArtSchoolarilthe Sc...ioolof Industrial Arts,is a free-lance a:list. Mr. Waring can be reached at 201 Clinton Ave .Brooklyn, N.Y. 11205: (212) 624-1457 "HAE1310155ZSET801i

Tina Yvonne Utsey, a graduate of Parsons, isa free-lance artist.Ms. Utsey can be reached at 1085 Nelson Ave., #1E, Bronx, N.Y. 10452; (212) 538-3021.

IBINEMSAMIAM2. . _32112121160115

eari,

Crystal McKenzie, a graduate of Cooper Union, is a free-lance artist and designer. Ms. McKenzie can be reached at 263 Eastern Parkway, Apt. 6G, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11238; (212) 857- 7195.

20 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 5 2 1 DearAsianAmericanChildren's such as Little Black and The Book Project: Five Chinese Brothers. All that I can I am tremendously impressed with offer are some personal observations: your survey of children's books on 1. Relegating such books to a His- AsianAmericans [ Vol. 7. Nos. torical Interest Shelf does provide a 2 & 31.. . . It is the best compilation solution short of censorship. What are of book reviewschildren's or adult we to do, however, with all the other, that I have ever seen. I am particular- lessfamous,titlesinour library lyappreciativeof your advanced collections which are equally offen- political 'historicalperspective, and sive? No Historical Interest Shelf is the very clear manner in which you large enough to contain all the books express it. that qualify for placement there. Five years ago during the infancy ^A/W% 2. When the racism of Mary Pop- of Asian American studies for the 01\01r. pins was first revealed in the Bulletin elementary schools, we here in Berke- [see Vol. 5, No. 3] many of us were ley attempted to review books bei shocked and dismayed, and imme- usedinthelocalpublicschools. diately shared our new perceptions of Today, I am rather embarrassed by this classic with teachers and chil- our lack of political sophistication dren. Not wanting to practice censor- (especially r(garding sexism), and if I ship, we left the book on the shelves, were to re-write those reviews now, I but took care to make children aware would condemn some of the books I of the offensive stereotypes it con- praised in 1971. . . . tained. In the short time that has I noted a few very minor technical passed since then, another "genera- errors in your survey, which in no tion" of third and fourth graders is way detracts from the excellence of reading Mary Poppins. How many of your work, but Ilist them herein for us continue to take the time and effort your pursuance: but they were granted only to persons with 1/16 or less Japanese ancestry,to talk to these new readers about the Page 3(" .. another about a raciststereotypes which the book Japanese boy's experience in a Cana-or persons with white fathers (thus with European surname) who hadcontains? Do we simply assume that, dian prison camp . . ."):I assume by now, everyone is aware of the you are referring to A Child in Prison passed," i.e., lived totally as a white person.I book's shortcomings and that, there- Camp, in which case you should know do not understand howfore, no introductory word of caution that Shizuye Takashima is a Japa-Noguchi or his biographer thoughtneed be given? nese Canadian woman, and the bookhis entry into the concentration camp was in any way voluntary. This, it seems to me, is the crux of is about her childhood experience in a thematter:If we don't want to concentrationcampforJapanese Raymond Okamura Berkeley, Cal. practice censorship by removing of- Canadians. fensivebooks fromthelibrary Page 19 ("All Japanese American shelves, then we must take responsi. soldiers were sent to the European bility for pointing out the racism and front.") and pai ;e 20 (".. . Nisei menDear CIBC: sexism of books in general, and those ... in Burma during World War II.The Bulletin on Asian Americansbooks in particular, on an annual Based on fact..."): The reviews for [Vol.7, Nos. 2&3] is just terrific.Ibasis to every new group of students Tradition and Burma Rifles contra- and teachers with whom we work. dict each other. Actually, over 3,700inhaled it immediately, for the benefit of myself, my children (I must confessThis solution is not entirely satisfac- Japanese American soldiers did serveto a number of racist gut reactionstory, either, because it sets up the in the Asia/Pacific Theater, mostly asand would like for my kids to belibrarian as a self-appointed interpre- interpreters, but engaging in combatrelatively free of same)r nd will passter of the truth, without whose guid- when necessity required. An almostthe issue on to our school librarian,ance it is dangerous or even wrong for equal number of Japanese Americans childrentoread. And who isto servedin who has found the publication invalu- Asia/Pacific as Europe/able in judging and ordering books fordetermine that the librarian's person- Africa (approximately 4,000 each), but al perceptions are without flaw? nearly the children of our school. allthe attention has been You really perform such a valuable Freedom of the press and freedom to focused on the more glamorous 442ndservice to us anti-racism racists whoread are precious to each of us, and Regiment. are stumbling along trying to over-must be maintained. At the same Page 20 ("Originally, because of hiscome years of being conditioned totime, in my daily work, I see children half-white status, Noguchi was notracism and accepting it. Hugs andpicking up copies of Mary Poppins forcedto go into a camp."): Thishurrahs to you! and Pippi Longstocking and know statementneedsclarification. The Dianne Spurgeon that, despite my efforts to make them "Civilian Exclusion Order" applied to Golden, Col. aware of racism and sexism, they are allpersonsof Japanese ancestry, not really prepared for what they will however slight. Even orphan children find inside. of part Japanese ancestry living in I consider this matter of censorship orphanages were shipped off to con-Dear CIBC: vs. book selection and weedinr; to be centration camps. A few exemptions Iwish thatIhad the wisdom tothe most important issue in library -were granted upon formal application,suggest a strategy for handling bookswork today. I am continually ponder-

BULLETIN 21 22 ing it, and am still perplexed by its includes an index of past issues. Write complexities. Resources, Box 134, Harvard Square, Judith Sloane Hoberman Cambridge, Mass. 02138, Librarian Spaulding School Newton, Mass. The "Revista Chicano-Riquefia" is a bilingual journal of poems, short stories, plays, folklore and literary Dear CIBC: criticism by Chicanos and Puerto Help! Help! The Little Black Sambo Ricans. Published quarterly for the controversy still rages. Several of my last four years, the journal is availa- fellow librarians are strenuously ob- ble from Indiana University North- west,3400 Broadway, Gary,Ind. jecting to my decision to remove our 46408at the annual subscription rate copies from the picture book area and to place them in the "case" (mostly of $5. historicalmaterialofinterestto children's literature students, not the The National Children's Directo- childrenthemselves. This material ry now being compiled by Urban circulates, but needs to be requested, Information Interpreters, Inc. will list not just casually picked up while local, state and national organiza- browsing). I thought such a measure tions active in the area of children's reasonable, andatleastpartially rights and welfare. The directory will satisfying to both sides. Unfortunate- include all groups sec ing to bring ly, I found that I was really trampling about change in such areas as chil- on the toes of those who revere it as a dren's media, day care, public schools Holy of Holies, a classic, not to be and legal rights of children. Organiza- tampered with at any cost. Therefore, tions should send details of their will you please send me any sugges-La Confluencia is a bilingual jour-activities for inclusion in the directory tions or current information you havenal publishing essays, fiction, poetry,to UIII, P.O. Box AH, College Park, that would defend my positionto case studies and book reviews on all Md. 20740. remove Little Black Sambo from ourfacets of southwestern culture in the picture book section. U.S. Each issue includes "notes from Also, can you suggest any "accepta-teachers" involved in a bilingual/bi-A neweditionof theannotated ble" versions? cultural classroom in the Southwest.bibliographyof women writers, Heather Hall Subscriptions to the quarterly are $8Women and Literature, will appear Children's Librarian ($6 for students and teachers, $20 forin September. The editor at the Sense Pikes Peak Regional Library institutions). The address is125 E.and Sensibility Collective informs us District Santa Fe Ave.. Santa Fe, N.M. 87501.that this edition will include many Colorado Springs, Col. more Black writers and works for young readers than earlier editions. The Feminist Press has published aWritetotheCollective, Box 441, We share Ms. Hall's concern about LittlevolumeofHighSchool FeministCambridge, Mass. 02138. Black Sambo. We do not feel that there isStudies. Over 20 curricula for classes an "acceptable" version (including Littlein history, literature and the social GoldenBooks' 1976edition)and sciences have been contributed byMost of the publications from Shame- suggest that librarians (1) place the bookteachers from around the country. lessHussy Press are by women on a non-circulating reference shelf, (2) Write for the Press' catalog to Boxwriters, both past and contempo- reclassify it from "juvenile" to "adult," (3);334, Old Westbury, N.Y. 11568. rary. One of their newest listings is do not purchase it or replace lost or torn Ntozake Shange's for colored girls copies and/or (4) consider "weeding" it who have considered suicide/when from their collection as the name "Sam-The most recent issue of Edcentric, athe rainbow is enuf, a play that is bo" is, in itself, insulting. We welcomejournal of change (438) is an educa-currently an off-Broadway hit (paper- suggestions from librarians and othertional resource directory. It listsback, $ .85). Write the Press at Box concerned readers. A fuller discussiongroups,publications,films,etc.in424, San Lorenzo, Cal. 94580. of LBS is presented in"Little Blackareas of anti-sexism, Third World, Sambo": A Closer Look, available fromhealth and others. Single issues, $1; the CIBC Racism and Sexism Resourcesix-issuesubscriptionsare$6for"Young Athlete"isa newbi- Center for $2.50.Editors. individuals, $10 for institutions. Writemonthly magazine that seeks to cover Edcentric, P.O. Box 10085, Eugene,the gamut of sports and recreation for Or. 97401. youngsters in a manner "free of racial or sexual biases." (Its editorial guide- lines note that "hero worship and a We welcome letters for publication in the"Resources" is a newsletter listing'winning at any cost' philosophy" are Bulletin, and unless advised to thealternative products, services, publica-to be avoided.) Subscriptions are $6 a contrary, we assume that all letters to the tions, organizations, ideas and events.year from Young Athlete, P.O. Box CIBC or Bulletin may be published. Subscriptions are $5 for 12 issues, and246, Mount Morris, Ill. 61054.

22 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 5 23 1: NOSESIMEIVINEMMERMEEStrlarieffrl FROM RACISM TO PLURALISM: A Racism Awareness Training Kit

From Racism to Pluralism, an 18-minute sound and color 120-frame filmstrip with trainingkit and discussion guide, is available with cassette or record. This groupprocess curriculum kit is suitable for pre-service and in- service human relations workshops, secondary schooi and college classes,church or community groups confronting racial issues.

"Highly recommended" by The Booklist, the publication of the American Library Association, which said:

"A sensitive personal narrative of a school superintendent accompanied by a racial-awareness curriculum kit that may be used with individuals or groups in one 45-to-90-minute session or in workshops for educators on institutionalized racism and

how it can be overcome. . . .

Strong in its presentation of such concepts as pluralism, in its clear definition of problems of prejudice and racism, and its insight into the effect of attitudes on the possible solution of problems. . . Training materials created by Dr. Patricia M.Bidol,former Superintendentof Although the kit treats its timely subject from a white adult's point Schools, Baldwin, Mich. Dr. Bidol has of view, it is highly relevant for senior high students in black conducted workshops for educators in 30 states. She is author of a curriculum, New studies courses or in classes treating values. Teachers will find Perspectives on Race, for secondary excellent directions for use, rationales, and time allotments for students. the activities for high school students; the "school checklist for cultural pluralism" will be valuable for use with adults. . . . this unique kit is highly recommended for classroom use, and was From Racism to Pluralism includes: found to stimulate discussion, provide background facts, and Filmstrip with cassette or record clarify important concepts. Grades 9-12 and adult." [Jan. 15, DiscussionGuidewithuseful 1976] suggestions for leader Annotated list of reading materials and bibliography for leaderthree booklets plusreprints and an 8-page school checklist The Racism Awareness Training Kit ;ncludes three warm-up Participants' materials for group of 30 activities to whet the interest and insure the participation of all. SupplementaryTrainingorteaching The follow-up activities are structured so that the participants can designs for 10 class periods or 6 to 8 learn how to turn from racism towards pluralism. hours of workshops

To order, send check or purchase order for $32.50 to The CIBC Racism and Sexism Resource Center for Educators 1841 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10023

111111S1010122423631=112332=1231 vedlawarera

24 BULLETIN 23 1841 Broadway NUN-FRUHT OM. THEorganizationTheFOR COUNCILCouncil CHILDREN: founded on Interracial ON in 1966, AINTERRACIAL BRIEF Booksis dedicated forLOOK Children, to promoting BOOKS anti-racist a non-profit ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED New York, N.Y. 10023 NEWPEWIT YORK, No. N.Y. 5090U.S. POSTAGE PAID awarenesssexism;literature;yearlytheand following anti-sexist contest 4) 3) by training byways: providing conductingfor literature unpublished1) to by educationalconsultants publishing and clinics instructional minorityand this andinstitutions; workshops Bulletin; resource materialswriters 2)onand specialistsof by forracism children's 5)running children by and es- in a in andwhichtablishingracism audio-visual publishes and the Racismsexism annual materials andand reference SUBSCRIBEtoSexism designeddevelop books, Resource pluralism to monographs, help Center teachersin education. TO for lesson Educators, eliminateTHE plans BULLETIN! C1 SUBSCRIBERSWill you help PLEASE us save the expense NOTE! of renewal mailings? It is really very easy. Numbersubscription.theaddressUnlike volume many 1.label, (first periodicals Thus, ours number) isif thesimple. which andnumber Thethe have issueissingle long,71, number yournumber puzzling subscription (second near codes your number) on ends name the firstwith thatindicates line Volume ends of both 7, your patient;presentnowrenewal before mailingthenotice nextreceiving islabel onealready mayYouwill. a reminder innotare the yetnow mail. reflect fromreading If your theus. Volumechange label shows of7, expirationNumber 76 or 77,5. date. Ifplease your Please mailing be label shows 75, If you renewed very recently, your renew a