Mirrors and Windows: BookGive Values Diverse Books

Imagine for a moment, you’re a duck. A duck who likes to read. You arrive at your local independent bookstore or library to find lots of books. On every cover is a picture of a crocodile.

Crocodile westerns: Snaggletooth Rides Again
Crocodile romance: Love at First Bite
Crocodile cookbooks: Eat Big Then Nap
Crocodile mystery: Scales and Secrets
Crocodile self-help: Ten Ways to Soften Up

Then, on one little shelf toward the back, you spot it. A book with a duck on the cover. Not only that, it’s written by a DUCK! You flip through and capture a scene that speaks directly to you:

“You said you loved me,” Gregory pleaded ungracefully.
“Yes, I did.” She replied matter-of-factly, staring solemnly into the water. Gregory honked into his hanky and waited.
“And I meant it, but only for this season.”

Forgive our silliness introducing the not-at-all silly topic of diverse books. In many aspects of life, we enjoy seeing ourselves reflected in the world around us, indicating we belong. Yet, in literature this privilege is not equally enjoyed. When it comes to finding authors and characters like ourselves in books, many of us are well-read ducks who have had to look really hard.

I am not a crocodile, a duck nor an author. I am the executive director of BookGive and a white woman, facts that are important to disclose in a blog post about diverse books. Comments are welcome below.

It is true that white writers take up most of America’s bookshelf space. Even though there is more diversity in literature today than ever before, percentages of diverse books do not match, let alone exceed, the percentages of diverse voices in this country. In a 2018 compilation of Census Bureau stats, Data USA reported that 81.3% of American authors and writers were white (considerably exceeding their 70-ish percent of the population) and only ~11% were people of color.*

Graphic from Data USA

With all BIPOC groups squeezing into that eleven percent, that means for all non-white readers, there might be one in ten books written by someone who mirrors them. Maybe.

In all seriousness, that’s not okay.

What do we mean by “diverse books?”

The term “diverse books” as used by those in the book world – librarians, booksellers, publishers, and writers – refers to books written by authors and with main and secondary characters identifying with one or more marginalized groups including but not limited to people who are LGBTQIA; people of color; indigenous people; people of all gender identification and expression; people with all classifications of disabilities; people who are immigrants and refugees; people incarcerated; people of ethnic, cultural and religious minorities; and people not conforming to other societal norms such as mental health status, body type and education level.

Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, whose concept of books as “mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors” inspired the title of this blog post, notes that literature is a way to comprehend the world. “Reading, then, becomes a means of self-affirmation, and readers often seek their mirrors in books,” she says.

These “self-connections” allow us to learn, not just about ourselves, but about others. Bishop goes on to say books also act as windows into the lives of others, allowing us to travel to other places and connect with those whose experiences differ from our own.

At BookGive, we believe it is crucial for all readers to find themselves reflected in books AND to cross into the rich variety of others’ life experiences. Often our community partners request diverse books and we do our best to accommodate. If any organization you’re involved with needs diverse books, please contact us.

Our inventory primarily depends on what is donated to us and as you might expect, we don’t receive nearly as many diverse books as are requested. Keep an eye out for fundraisers specific to this important need or contact us sooner if you are compelled to support now. In addition, BookGive is currently in conversation with Little Free Library’s Read in Color initiative to bring more diverse books to Denver’s neighborhoods.

Diversity includes a myriad of underrepresented voices. This month, in honor of Black History Month – and based on our beliefs that Black history is American history and that everyone should read Black authors – here is a list to help readers find mirrors and windows among Black writing, with links to purchase at BookBar (10% of BookBar sales supports BookGive’s mission to deliver free books throughout metro Denver.) We encourage you to support your local Black-owned bookstores as well.

For adults:

Trancendent Kingdom, by Yaa Gyasi
An American Marriage, by Tayari Jones
Milk Blood Heat, by Dantiel W. Monitz
Queenie, by Candice Carty-Williams
The Souls of Black Folk, by W. E. B. Dubois
Kindred, by Octavia Butler

For children and youth:

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
Wings of Ebony, by J. Elle
The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson, Rafael Lopez (illustrator)
Let the Children March, by Monica Clark-Robinson, Frank Morrison (illustrator)
Brown Boy Joy, by Dr. Thomishia Booker

If you are a Black writer in the Denver region and wish for support in publishing your work, know that BookBar Press, the publishing arm of BookBar specifically seeks to lift up your voice. I know they would love to connect with you.

BookGive fans, as you buy, borrow, and read Black authors this month and throughout the year, whether as mirrors for you or windows, we at BookGive encourage your heart and mind to move toward greater understanding and openness. We remain committed to the same.

*Similar stats couldn’t be located for this blog post about other aspects of diversity among authors beyond racial identity. Do you know where such statistics might be found? Let us know! We’ll update this blog with new info and/or include such data in future blog posts.

~ This blog post written by Melissa Monforti, BookGive’s executive director.