Literary Blackface: The Case for Diverse Authors in the Classroom

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By Nina Simone Grotch

COVERS OF THE “DIVERSE EDITIONS” (CREDIT: TBWA\Chiat\Day VIA NPR)

COVERS OF THE “DIVERSE EDITIONS” (CREDIT: TBWA\Chiat\Day VIA NPR)

To celebrate Black History Month, Barnes and Noble, in partnership with Penguin Random House (PRH), announced their plan to reissue copies of classic novels with covers featuring people of color.  Publishers Weekly reported,

“PRH had planned to publish a dozen classic books under the Diverse Editions name, with each book bearing new covers featuring characters from the books rendered to appear ethnically diverse. The program had included an edition of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley showing the monster depicted with black skin. A new edition of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick portrayed Ahab as an African-American, and a new edition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson offered what appears to be a Sikh character in a turban on the cover.”[1]

The “Diverse Editions“ campaign was met with criticism and skepticism. Voices on social and traditional media described the campaign as a cynical ploy to publicly “promote diversity” without actually highlighting or celebrating writing by authors of color. The majority of these books were not written by Black authors nor do they prominently feature non-white characters. Many critics likened this to “literary blackface,” a gross caricature of Black people created for the entertainment of white audiences. Like many failed diversity initiatives, this campaign was a superficial answer to the complicated problem of lack of diversity in the canon.

EDUCATION AS A HUMAN RIGHT

Human Rights Education strives to provide opportunities for all students to flourish and succeed.  Article 26, Section 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts that:

Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

Representation in the classroom is crucial. Materials created by and for non-white readers are important in strengthening identity and building self-esteem. Seeing a fuller spectrum of identities in varying roles helps to break down stereotypes. Students should be able to read books by, for, and about their communities.

James Baldwin once wrote, “You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.”[2] Reading literature is one important way to build empathy in our students. Literature can provide both a window and a mirror for our students. The window allows readers to see into characters and worlds different than their own. The mirror allows readers to see themselves reflected back in ways that affirm their identities and bolster self-esteem.

Instead of a superficial makeover such as the “Diverse Editions” campaign, how can educators critically look at their curricula and reading lists?

CLASSROOM STRATEGIES

  • Hold a debate about the “Diverse Editions.” Ask students to discuss the possible positive and negative aspects of this campaign. This might include a discussion about the history of blackface and its uses to support racist ideology. (This is not limited to caricatures of Black people. You may also teach students about the racist depictions of Japanese during WWII, for example. Additionally, you may choose to examine other areas, such as the phenomenon of thin actors wearing fat suits in film and television, which some have also likened to blackface.)

  • Try to be as inclusive as possible in all aspects of your classroom. Are Black authors only assigned in Black History Month? Are multiracial authors read? Are authors chosen with an eye toward intersectionality?

  • There is no shortage of powerful literature to explore and many resources to help educators find new works for students and for their own professional development.

NOTES 

[1] Ed Nowotka, “B&N, PRH Cancel Diverse Editions Promotion,” Publishers Weekly, February 5, 2020, https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/82335-b-n-prh-cancel-diverse-editions-promotion.html (accessed February 22, 2020).

[2] James Baldwin, quoted in Maria Popova, “The Doom and Glory of Knowing Who You Are: James Baldwin on the Empathic Rewards of Reading and What It Means to Be an Artist,” BrainPickings.org, https://www.brainpickings.org/2017/05/24/james-baldwin-life-magazine-1963/ (accessed February 26, 2020).