The Fine Line Between Culture and Stereotypes
Throughout history African Americans have been portrayed by stereotypes in everyday media and literature. Sandra Hughes-Hassell speaks on the topic of diversifying literature in “Multicultural Young Adult Literature as a Form of Counter-storytelling.” In doing this Hughes-Hassell explains the significance and need for diversity now than ever in media. Hughes- Hassell also voices her opinion on counter-storytelling. Instead of depicting a minority as the usual felon, make the minority a police officer protecting their town.To this day the controversial topic still thrives on the basis of placing minorites in media whos character is stereotypical.A specific stereotype is one that identifies a black …show more content…
She also speaks on the technique of counterstory-telling. In this, a minority or individual is depicted outside of their categorized stereotypes. Though media and literature is somewhat improving concerning racial diversity, the counterstory-telling aspect is still a relevant issue. Many writers, when writing about a certain minority personify that character with relevant stereotypes. Many writers do this, some may say, to identify and relate to a designated audience that the writer is writing to. The writer may identify a certain stereotype with that race’s culture, and in that, may decide to identify that character with those specific stereotypes. However, in this day and age many minorities have proved these stereotypes wrong and have broken outside of the categorization of these stereotypes. In this, writers should work on identifying characters outside of these stereotypes. Hughes-Hassell states that, “Multicultural literature that acts as a counter story gives voices to those who have been taught to hide their emotions.”(Hughes-Hassell pg.122) Though diversity is still growing within literature and media, the issue of using stereotypes to depict minority characters still
Throughout history African Americans have been portrayed by stereotypes in everyday media and literature. Sandra Hughes-Hassell speaks on the topic of diversifying literature in “Multicultural Young Adult Literature as a Form of Counter-storytelling.” In doing this Hughes-Hassell explains the significance and need for diversity now than ever in media. Hughes- Hassell also voices her opinion on counter-storytelling. Instead of depicting a minority as the usual felon, make the minority a police officer protecting their town.To this day the controversial topic still thrives on the basis of placing minorites in media whos character is stereotypical.A specific stereotype is one that identifies a black …show more content…
She also speaks on the technique of counterstory-telling. In this, a minority or individual is depicted outside of their categorized stereotypes. Though media and literature is somewhat improving concerning racial diversity, the counterstory-telling aspect is still a relevant issue. Many writers, when writing about a certain minority personify that character with relevant stereotypes. Many writers do this, some may say, to identify and relate to a designated audience that the writer is writing to. The writer may identify a certain stereotype with that race’s culture, and in that, may decide to identify that character with those specific stereotypes. However, in this day and age many minorities have proved these stereotypes wrong and have broken outside of the categorization of these stereotypes. In this, writers should work on identifying characters outside of these stereotypes. Hughes-Hassell states that, “Multicultural literature that acts as a counter story gives voices to those who have been taught to hide their emotions.”(Hughes-Hassell pg.122) Though diversity is still growing within literature and media, the issue of using stereotypes to depict minority characters still