In this article, Michael Carte explores how the need for diversity in young adult and youth books continues to grow as the population of minorities expands. Carte explains how the youth population of minorities continues to grow and is expected to become the majority soon. He uses statistics to show the diversity in the youth population “there are 42 million adolescents in America. A total of 54.1 percent (22.7 million) of them are white, 22.8 percent (9.6 million) are Hispanic, 14 percent (5.9 million) are black, 4.7 percent (1.97 million) are Asian, and 4.4 percent (1.8 million) are other (i.e., American Indian/ Alaska Native, Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, mixed race).” Seeing the percentage of minorities in America, one would expect literature to reflect that, but according to an analysis done by publishers, this was not the case. In a study of 3500 books, only 270 were about African Americans, 83 were about Hispanics, 113 were about Asians, and then 42 were about Native Americans. Of the 3500 books used for this analysis, only 508 were about minorities.
Michael Carte explains the reasons for this need for more diversity despite the support of many volunteer organizations. One reason Carte explores is the need for more diversity in editors. According to a Publishers Weekly survey, 90 percent of editors identify as white. There needs to be more diversity not only in editors but in writers as well. Many influential authors and organizations are taking lengths to change that fact, such as internships and grants specifically for minorities. Carte describes how as time goes on, the need for diversity only increases and how important it is for minorities to be able to see themselves in the literature they read.
Cart, Michael. “Carte Blanche: celebrating diversity.” Booklist, vol. 113, no. 8, 15 Dec. 2016, p. 39. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A476563541/ITOF?u=maine&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ea2780a6. Accessed 19 Jan. 2023.