Graduation Date
Summer 2024
Document Type
Project
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in English, emphasis in Applied English Studies
Committee Chair Name
Andrea Delgado
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Natalie Giannini
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Children, Children's literature, Sulwe, Black is Brown is Tan, Colorism, Children's literature genre, Direct depiction, Lupita Nyong'o, Arnold Adoff, Windows mirrors and sliding glass doors, Literary analysis, Visual analysis
Subject Categories
English
Abstract
My analysis of the texts Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o and Black Is Brown Is Tan by Arnold Adoff works to evaluate the representation of colorism in children’s literature to understand how it is represented and has evolved in its messaging towards a young audience. Using the frameworks of Critical Race Theory, Critical Skin Theory and Color Blindness under a lens of colorism, my research utilizes visual analysis to view how it is physically conveyed and research in the literacy of children in understanding intersectional issues. Utilizing literary analysis, I analyze the ways colorism is discussed and combatted through comparisons, representation, and acceptance to advocate for a deeper inclusion of skin representation in the literature aimed towards children. This exploration of the complexity of doing so will take notice of how these two texts from 1973 and 2019 compared to one another, noting how the messaging has altered. I study the depiction of these experiences under a lens of colorism, explain the role of children’s literacy in understanding these experiences, and analyze Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o and Black Is Brown Is Tan by Arnold Adoff for how the representation has evolved.
Citation Style
MLA
Recommended Citation
Fortunato, Jasmine April, "Exploring colorism in children’s literature: Sulwe and Black is Brown is Tan" (2024). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 771.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/771