OPINION: Diversity in books is necessary

Diversity within entertainment, as a whole, is just as important as accurate representations of the world in which we live. If entertainment doesn’t represent the intended audiences of our state, country, and world, it is unappealing to the population that is underrepresented. Popular stories throughout American history, especially prior to the twentieth century, only highlight a small minority of this country. Popular authors, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry David Thoreau and Jane Austin tell stories of white, class-variant, typically straight, neurotypical, cisgender American families and individuals while holding on to age-old traditions throughout the text. The majority of this country, however, is not reflective of the families and individuals of which are usually written. 

Diversity is specifically important within children’s books where young, bright faces explore fictional or nonfictional characters that look like them, talk like them, or act like them. According to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, out of all children’s books published in 2018, 50 percent of characters were white, 10 percent African American, 7 percent Asian American, 5 percent Latinix, and 1 percent Native American. The other 27 percent of characters were animals. Children of color in America are exposed to more characters that are animals than characters that look like them.

Not only does representation in books matter, purchasing and reading books written by people of color, queer people, disabled people, or any marginalized community is a way to support and uplift those silenced voices. To diversify the authors that you know and love is to listen to their stories, uplift their voices, support them, and educate yourself. Though some have more exposure than others, a diverse selection of books and authors is out there if you look for it. Make the extra effort to find those authors and books, recommend them to the people around you, and continue to support those who need and deserve it the most.