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Perspectives
on Culture:
An Annotated Bibiography
Compiled by Leah Stuck, University of Denver,
in partnership with Assets for Colorado Youth, 2002.
In the field of youth
development, positive connections to culture and cultural competence play
an increasingly larger role. The diversity of our culture in the United
States and the influence that diversity has on how young people are interacting
in communities can be central to many of the challenges and obstacles
faced by society today.
The following is a
list of recommended readings for individuals wishing to broaden their
world view around issues concerned with diversity and cultural competency.
This collection of readings, together, provide a foundation and frame
a context for understanding the link between youth development and cultural
identity.
The bibliography was
a collaborative effort between The University of Denver College of Urban
Studies and Assets for Colorado Youth to address the need for comprehensive
reference on cultural competence and diversity as it connects to positive
youth development.
Chideya, Farai
(1999). The Color of Our Future. William Morrow and Company Inc.:
New York.
This book offers powerful insight into the complexities of cultural and
ethnic diversity as experienced each day by young adults in our country.
The reader is navigated through the personal and professional experiences
of diverse youth and invited to learn from the role that diversity plays
in their daily endeavors.
Frazier, Ian (2000).
On the Rez. Picador USA: New York
This book provides a chronicle of the time Frazier spent with the Oglala
Sioux on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He provides a good amount
of historical perspective as he tells an empowering story of being a “wanna
be” on the reservation and witnessing the profound difference one
young person can make in the lives of an entire community.
Giovanni, Nikki
(1994). Racism 101. William Morrow & Company, Inc.: New York.
If you’re not sure what the connection may be between Star Trek and
Malcolm X in shaping a person’s view of cultural competency, Nikki
Giovanni can enlighten you. It is pure pleasure to read this collection
of thoughtful and insightful essays covering topics that are far reaching
with a poetic style that is fantastically moving.
Hong, Maria (Editor)
(1995). Growing Up Asian American. Avon Books.
This collection of non-fiction and fiction essays written by Asian Americans
including Amy Tan, Maxine Hong Kingston, and Gus Lee gives a historical
perspective on the experiences of Asian Americans in the United States.
While it is a good introductory book for people completely unfamiliar
with Asian American cultures, the book does not include commentary from
Pacific Islanders or people with roots in Viet Nam or the Philippines.
Kotlowitz, Alex
(1998). There are No Children Here. Anchor Books: New York.
This powerful book tells the story of two brothers growing up in an urban
housing project in Chicago, which Alex Katlowitz refers to as “the
other America.” It is a book that gives names and faces to groups
of brave Americans being forgotten and neglected by the social system
every day.
Koss – Chioino,
Joan D. & Vargas, Luis A. (1999). Working with Latino Youth: culture,
development, and context. Jossey – Bass: San Francisco.
This practical guide provides direction for the collaboration of various
professions interested in approaching their work with Latino youth using
a culturally responsive pedagogy. While the ideas presented in the book
are empirically based, the book is approachable with a nonacademic feel.
Lelyveld, Joseph.
NYT Correspondents (2001). How Race is Lived in America: Pulling Together,
Pulling Apart. Henry Holt: New York.
This book paints a fascinating and sometimes painful picture of the state
of race/ethnic relations today in the United States. It is a book that
would benefit any reader by hearing the voices of diverse Americans living
in our country today.
McIntosh, Peggy
(1988). White privilege and male privilege: A Personal Account of coming
to see correspondences through work in women’s studies. (Wellesley
Center for Research on Women, Working Paper No. 189). Wellesley, MA: Wellesley
College Press.
This article, which concisely articulates the many ways in which society
favors people with white skin to the detriment of people of color, is
a must-read for any person in pursuit of a greater understanding of cultural
competency. In her article, McIntosh provides a list of ways in which
the unearned power and unearned strength that is white privilege shows
up in her life each day. An understanding of white privilege is critical
to unwrapping the complexities of racism and oppression in American society.
Mihesuah, Devon,
A., Mihesuala, Devon. & Collier, Diana, G. (Editor). (1997). American
Indians: Stereotypes & Realities. Clarity Press: Atlanta.
This book will be a quick and relevant read for any educator in search
of reference materials and direction in working with American Indian youth.
While the book is organized around stereotypes associated with American
Indians, it extends beyond those stereotypes to provide the reader with
a better understanding of the complex daily realities faced by Indigenous
people.
Montero-Sieburth,
Martha & Villarruel, Francisco, A (editors). (2000). Making Invisible
Latino Adolescents Visible. Falmer Press: New York.
This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the development of Latino
youth. It is academic in nature and captures the voices of experts in
topics including sexual behavior, child welfare, family values and migrant
status.
Nam, Vickie (2001)
YELL-Oh Girls: Emerging Voice Explore Culture, Identity and Growing Up
Asian American. HarperCollins: New York
This collection of essays and poems is authored by 76 Asian American and
Pacific Islander young women whose zestful voices energetically express
their unique experiences living in the United States. Topics explored
in this compilation include peer groups, cultural identity development,
family relations, body image and the need to develop one’s voice.
Payne, Ruby (1998).
Framework for Understanding Poverty. RFT Publishing: Texas
This quick read is slowly infiltrating schools across the country, as
Payne addresses an issue all educators seek the answer to: How can we
ensure that all students experience academic success? While a close examination
of this book will not provide the reader with a set of strength-based
strategies that will facilitate learning for children coming to school
from economically disadvantaged homes, nor does it address cultural diversity
in youth, some positive implications are outlined and due to its popularity,
familiarizing oneself with its content is worthwhile.
Reyes, Pedro.,
Schribner, Jay D., Schribner & Alicia Paredes (editors). (1999). Lessons
From High Performing Hispanic Schools. Teachers College Press: New
York.
The information presented in Lessons from High-Performing Hispanic Schools
is comprehensive, and the editors do an excellent job of presenting a
data-driven framework for the effective education of children coming to
school from economically, culturally and linguistically diverse homes.
Any reader in search of a research-based publication that can help inform
them in their school improvement efforts, would be well-served by their
familiarity with Lessons from High-Performing Hispanic Schools.
Tatum, Beverly
Daniel (1997). Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?
Basic Books.
Ethnic segregation in a school cafeteria actually may not be a bad thing.
Instead, Beverly Daniel Tatum, says that this phenomenon may be evidence
of the healthy ethnic identity development process experienced by young
people of color. While much of the book is focused on the development
of racial identity for black and white adolescents, Tatum does provide
an overview of critical issues related to Latino, American Indian, and
Asian Pacific identity development.
Assets for Colorado
Youth (ACY) is a nonprofit organization that champions change for positive
youth development by building capacity, focusing on individual and community
strengths, and increasing developmental assets in youth.
ACY provides leadership
in creating positive social change for youth in communities throughout
Colorado and nationally. Social change based on the 40 developmental assets
framework capitalizes on youth and resources involving parents, educators
and youth service organizations.
Leah Stuck, of
The University of Denver, worked closely on the Expect Success Project
through the College of Urban Studies and collaborates with ACY on a number
of initiative projects in the community.
Contact us for more information on
ACY, our work and our network of partners.
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