Shout Out: A path to empathy and understanding
Promoting Diversity and Representation through the Bookshelf Diversity Project
Books have long been recognized as powerful tools for shaping young minds and fostering empathy and understanding. The Bookshelf Diversity Project, initiated by the Racial Unity Team, aims to enrich classrooms with literature that reflects the diverse cultures and experiences of our world.
By providing students with access to books featuring characters from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, the project seeks to broaden perspectives, cultivate empathy and promote inclusivity.
Research has shown that exposure to diverse literature not only validates the experiences of marginalized students but also fosters empathy and understanding among all children. Books with characters of different races and cultures serve as mirrors for minority students, affirming their identities and life experiences. Moreover, they offer windows into the lives of others, enabling white students to gain insight into the experiences of children of color.
Archer Miller, Nicholas Ellis and Zachary Procek (not pictured), English teachers at Concord High School, are among the latest recipients of Racial Unity Team’s Bookshelf Diversity Project.
The need for greater diversity in children’s literature is evident from historical data. In 1985, less than 1% of children’s books spotlighted Black characters, and by 2015, children were more likely to encounter talking trucks or dinosaurs than Hispanic characters. However, there has been progress in recent years, with over 12% of U.S.-published children’s books featuring Black characters by 2019, along with increased representation of Asian, Hispanic and Native American characters.
The Bookshelf Diversity Project was inspired by the Racial Unity Team’s Arts in Action initiative and provides students with opportunities to explore a variety of perspectives and voices. Originating from Exeter High School’s ninth-grade English teachers’ unit on justice, equity and social change, the project has expanded to multiple high schools. Recognized for its outstanding contributions to arts education, the Racial Unity Team has been honored with the 2023 NH Governor’s Arts Education Award.
Through quarterly book donations and grants, the Racial Unity Team aims to diversify classroom libraries and foster a culture of inclusivity and understanding. Each quarter teachers are chosen to receive book donations for their classroom libraries. Past schools have included those in Concord, Keene and Newmarket. By embracing the richness of diversity in literature, the Bookshelf Diversity Project offers a pathway to empathy, connection and a brighter future for all students.
This article is featured in the spring-summer 2024 issue of 603 Diversity.
603 Diversity’s mission is to educate readers of all backgrounds about the exciting accomplishments and cultural contributions of the state’s diverse communities, as well as the challenges faced and support needed by those communities to continue to grow and thrive in the Granite State.
