Post 184: The Impact of Multicultural Literature

The Positive Impact of Multicultural Literature

For me, it has always been a pleasure to teach Multicultural Literature and World Literature. I got to read about and teach the different kinds of literature from around the world and from many different cultures. I have taught African Literature, Native American Literature, African American Literature, Asian American Literature, Hispanic Literature, Middle Eastern Literature and others. I enjoy reading about the stories of humanity. I have learned through reading about all these cultures, that we are all more alike than we are different. Here is a list of the positive impact multicultural literature has had on students:

1. Students  gain a better understanding of their own culture. Students are able to compare their own culture to that of another culture, and become more self aware of their home culture.

2. Studying multicultural literature and having a multicultural curriculum creates a bond between the immigrant student and the native English speaking student.

3. The native English speaking student learns to appreciate, and understand other cultures while learning to get along with people outside of his hometown.

4. The native English speaking student and the immigrant student learn about each other and become life long friends as they learn to have empathy for each other.

5. Students can better relate and understand global events and apply how what happens around the world can also affect the US.

6. Students learn not to judge somebody who looks different or who has different customs or religions as the Other. As a result, students learn not to condescend and not look down on other cultures they are not familiar with.

7. Students become aware of the social practices, values, beliefs and systems of other cultures which promotes unity among different students of different cultures.

8. Students are able to identify with the characters in the books they read that depict other cultures and learn that we are all more alike than we are different.