The environment, toys and materials in a child’s environment
influence what children learn. Among
these materials, children’s books play a major role in helping children understand
the world they live in. Anti-bias books can
provide a great way for children to learn about diversity (Derman-Sparks,
2010). Educators and parents should
carefully examine the books they provide for their children. There are important questions to ask when
selecting children’s books, such as: Do the books I provide support all
children’s racial identity, family, cultural identity, home language, etc. (Derman-Sparks,
2010)? Or, do white people possess the
power, and take the leadership (Honig 1998)?
When looking critically at the children’s book Annie and the Old One by Miska Miles, I found several stereotypes
and racial bias. This blog will further
examine the book written by Miles, to shed light on the stereotypes and bias
that may be otherwise hidden without careful observation.
First,
here is a little information on the author, Miska Miles. Miles was born in Kansas in 1899, where she
became a teacher. Her stories are
influenced by her life growing up on a farm and a Navajo reservation. Her most acclaimed book, Annie and the Old One, written in 1971, was made into a movie and
received the Newberry Honor Award (Childrensliteraturenetwork.org 2013)
When
reading Annie and the Old One, I
found several stereotypes about Native Americans. For example, Annie lives near cornfields,
pumpkins and in the desert. She also
eats fry bread, carries pails of water, weaves daily, and gathers dry twigs and
brush to make fire. I also found the
characters to be stereotypical Native Americans. Annie’s grandmother’s face is covered in
wrinkles, an image I have seen in several Hollywood films. The person of authority, the teacher, is a
blonde woman, who I am assuming is white.
All the Native characters have extremely long and black hair. Also, the grandmother, who is referred to as
the old one, is a common stereotype for Native American elders to always be
wise. 
When
thinking about the stereotypes this book lays on Native American people, it
makes me wonder how it would affect Native American children reading this book. Because Annies parents in the story do not
seem to have real jobs, perhaps children will feel their potential is limited
to crafting, weaving, trading in the market and simply living on the reservation.
The
illustrations in the story depict a life on a reservation, full or cornfields,
sheeps, ealges, cactus and desert landscape.
Not all Native Americans live on a reservation. In the one drawing of Annie at school, she is
standing outside of the building looking shamed with her head down for misbehaving
at school.
After
analyzing this book I feel that it may send a negative image about Native
American people. It paints a picture
that Native Americans live on reservations; grow corn and pumpkins, live in the
desert, misbehave in public schools, weave everyday, and die on the
reservation.
Reference List
ChildrensLiteratureNetwork.org (March 2013)
Derman-Sparks, Louise (2010). Anti-Bias Education: For Young
Children and Ourselves: Washington D.C.
Honig, Bill (1998) “10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children’s
Books From Racism to Sexism”: Sacramento, CA
Miles, Miska (1971). Annie and the Old One: New York, NY
The book you chose has a lot in common with the one I chose; my story was about a little Indian boy and it was filled with stereotypes about Native Americans just like in your book. The character was illustrated with red skin, long black hair and had feathers in his hair, just like some of the people you had described also. I agree that the book you chose can send very negative messages to children about Native American people as well.
ReplyDelete-Sam HDEV 25
It is so hard to find a good book about Native American, “Annie and the Old One” is also send a negative image about Native American people, that we can see from you analysis. I like how you did your work.
ReplyDeleteNataliya Tokaryeva HD25
I agree with Natasha, it is so hard to find a good book about Native Americans. This book is filled with negative stereotypes and sends a bad message to children. Your analysis was very good though.
ReplyDeleteVery nice job with your analysis. There are stereotypes here, and perhaps a different book can be chosen. One comment I read about this book was that in a traditional Navajo setting, death is seen differently and with respect. A child would not act out.
ReplyDeleteI like that you brought up how this could affect Native American children. They see these types of books and it can cause confusion if they are not how the book portrays them. I like your example of the job...it should instead show them doing a variety of things in order to show children that their potential is not limited.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your analysis. It is sad that there are not many books that show respect to Native Americans. The book I chose was disrespectful as well.
ReplyDeleteYou chose good pictures to go along with your analysis. It is crazy that so much stuff is hidden inside books. I never thought of this before this class. Hopefully they start writing more books without any discrimination against a race.
ReplyDeleteI analyzed a book that was similair to yours, that depicted native americans in a certain way. It seems that most books that are about native american people tend to all make native american people look and act the same way and that is a sad stereotype.
ReplyDelete-Victoria DeLong HDEV 25
From your analysis this doesn't seem to be the worst book on Native Americans out there, but I'm sure that there are better ones. In this case, the author is a part of the culture she is representing, and she is writing about life experiences. The pictures may be stereotypical, but did she do the pictures or was there a different illustrator? Maybe this book only represents one way of life, but it's the life that the author has lived.
ReplyDelete