Discussion Questions: Multicultural Children's Literature as an Instrument of Power

1. Which statements in the first excerpt (see below) might the author disagree with? Why would the author disagree with such statements?

Mama explains about rioting. “It can happen when people get angry. They want to smash and destroy. They don’t care anymore what’s right and what’s wrong.”

Below us they are smashing everything. Windows, cars, and streetlights.

“They look angry. But they look happy too,” I whisper.

“After a while it’s like a game,” says Mama.

2. Define Assimilationist Pluralism and Multiracial Democracy. What are the differences between the two? Which does the author prefer and why?

3. Do you agree with the author on the “power of the Word” and it’s implementation into children’s literature?