Insider/Outsider Debate

To me this issue of the insider outsider debate is tricky. I don’t feel that just because someone isn’t actually from a particular culture that they do not have the right to write about that culture. However, if an outsider is to write about a culture in which they are not a part of, it must reflect accuracy. A great deal of research would need to be done and proof that the author is credible to be writing on particular topics should be noted. I don’t think it is true that outsiders cannot write correct and accurate pieces of multicultural literature just the same as I disagree that any insider can and should write about their own culture. Insiders of a particular culture can be just as bias in their writing if they are taking in to account only their own immediate experiences and surroundings. One insider cannot speak for all of that particular group and therefore it is just as important that they be educated and accurate about the culture when representing it as a whole as the outsider should do. I can see the arguments of both sides of the authors in the articles for this week. I think that because both sides are valid, the debate is complicated. If both insiders and outsiders could work together and take into account both and all perspectives then that would be ideal for the creation of multicultural literature.

In class video - January 23rd

I found that the video we watched in class informed me as well as evoked emotion within me. The Native American woman who spoke in the video allowed me to see how much the use of Native American sports team names and mascots really affected her. Hearing her point of view and the challenges she has gone through with this issue really made me sympathize with her.
When she went to the Illinois football game and saw all of the people dressed as chiefs and ‘playing Native American’ she felt as though she was being mocked. She had said that while they were there she watched her daughter "try to make herself invisible" and her son "try to laugh it off." This comment really stuck out to me. Because everything she has taught her children to respect about their culture was being made fun of she felt she needed to do something. It really was amazing that her main drive in what she was fighting for was her children and wanting them to not have to feel the need to be embarrassed of who they are and where they are from. To me this was really moving.
Lastly, I was shocked at how horribly she was treated throughout her journey. People called her horrible names, spit on her, threw things at her and basically treated her as less than human. I thought it was admirable how brave she was to stand out with signs on the street protesting against using Native American related sport team names. At times she was all alone and had the majority against her but she did not give up. I think this is true courage in standing up for something you believe in.

I am a senior majoring in child development here at MSU. I have experience with children of all ages and have a special passion for young children in the preschool and early elementary grades. I will be student teaching next year in Grand Rapids.

Throughout this course I hope to gain further knowledge as to how I can critically examine diverse literature. My goal is to learn what types of questions I need to be asking about the text to help decide if it is a good piece of multi cultural literature and whether or not it is truly representative of a culture, life style, religion, etc.