Using Multicultural Literature to Enhance the Reading Skills of Youth of Color

Abstract

21st Century youths live in a diverse world. Students of today, especially youths of color, struggle to connect with what they are learning due to an outdated curriculum that follows literature from the literary canon. The use of multicultural literature needs to be in every classroom for students to understand and appreciate diversity, find self-worth, and truly identify with what they are reading. Implementing multicultural literature into the curriculum will help students be engaged and motivate them to read. It is every educator’s duty to ensure students are reaching their fullest potential, that means having a healthy balance of the literary canon and more contemporary multicultural texts. It may be difficult for teachers to change their developed curriculum for a number of reasons but there are a number of resources readily available to help with an adjustment.