The most difficult idea to reconcile in war is the notion that anything is going to be solved by killing a stranger, or in risking your life for a cause anchored in some distant political arena.
Walter Dean MyersRead
I was raised in Harlem. I never found a book that took place in Harlem. I never had a church like mine in a book. I never had people like the people I knew. People who could not find their lives in books and celebrated felt bad about themselves. I needed to write to include the lives of these young people.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of representation in literature for marginalized communities.
Walter Dean Myers reflects on his upbringing in Harlem and the absence of relatable narratives in literature. He highlights the need for young people from underrepresented backgrounds to see their own lives and experiences reflected in books, suggesting that literature can play a crucial role in shaping self-identity and validation.
Themes
RepresentationLiteratureIdentityHarlemYouth
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a discussion about the importance of diverse literature in schools.
More from Walter Dean Myers
All quotes →I remember one time being told I could not play in a basketball game at the College of William and Mary because I was black, even though I was playing with a United States Army team.
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As a writer, I absorb stories, allow them to churn within my own head and heart - often for years - until I find a way of telling them that fits both my time and temperament.
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We need to tell young people that America was built by men and women of all colors and that the future of this country is dependent on the participation of all of our citizens.
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Yeah, that's funny, huh?...Something hurts you real bad and you get used to it. Like being hurt becomes part of who you are.
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Books transmit values. They explore our common humanity. What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?
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