Tricia Ebarvia Profile picture
Jun 30, 2018 15 tweets 5 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
A thought experiment: think about all the books you've ever read — for academic purposes or in your personal life, from the pictures books read to you to the books you read now. How long would it take to read enough books by POC to match the number of White authors you've read?
As a POC, AAPI, Filipina American, I have always looked for mirrors in books, anywhere and everywhere. Spring Moon by Bette Bao Lord and The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan were important books for me as a teen—and I am not Chinese or Chinese American. But they still resonated with me.
As an English major in college, I took every multicultural literature class offered. When I read WEB DuBois's concept of 'double-consciousness' everything clicked. I knew what he was meant. I continued to read as much as I could by authors from marginalized communities.
All of this is to say that it still wasn't — still isn't — enough. And I am someone who has actively sought out a diverse reading experience. For every book I've read by a POC, I've read at least 3-4 by a White author. And perhaps that's a conservative estimate.
And if I consider all the media I consume? The newspapers, essayists, film directors, television writers, producers, song writers, and so on? I'm not sure I'd like the answer. And again, I'm someone who has recently been paying attention to these things.
So why does any of this matter? It's the content of the material not the color of one's skin that's important, right? The problem is that this colorblind approach fails to recognize the ways in which POC and White artists are shaped by race and racism.
That's not being divisive to say that; it's fact. When we continue to listen to the voices of one group, to continue to see the world through the eyes of one particular gaze, we also adopt, consciously and subconsciously, all the vales that go with it.
And this is as true for POC as it is for White people. For some of us, that has resulted in marginalization; for others, a sense of centeredness without even realizing it. Both leave us broken and blind.
So I am trying in my own life to fix that, by being more conscious and intentional about all the media I consume: the books I read, the podcasts I listen to, the films I spend money to watch, the essayists I follow, and in the classroom, the mentor texts I share with students.
And what I've found is that when I've opened my eyes to the points-of-view of others, my own personal world has expanded. My own sense of the possible, my sense of shared humanity has expanded. Living intentionally in the perspectives of others has been an experience in humility.
And part of this experience and growth has been because of the people here who have pushed me along the way. You know who you are. And I am forever grateful. ❤️ #hfellows #SuperFriends
So let's all go #DisruptTexts together, in our personal lives and in our classrooms. We can do better, be better.

And with that, I'll end by sharing three books, one I just finished and two I'm currently reading...
The Marrow Thieves by @cherie_dimaline is a beautiful book on the story of indigenous people and the power of storytelling, community, families and resilience. And if you read it, please join @TheEdCollab to discuss in August!
And currently reading The Beauty That Remains by @AshWrites , which was recommended by @angiecthomas, so you know... and The Latinos of Asia: How Filipino Americans Break the Rules of Race by @anthonyocampo which has been, esp. as a #FilAm, fascinating and necessary.
Updating this thread with a link to @edifiedlistener beautiful response... ❤️edifiedlistener.blog/2018/07/01/dea…

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More from @triciaebarvia

Oct 8, 2018
YAY! Excited to listen to @angiecthomas talk #TheHateUGive! @ncte
.@angiecthomas encourages readers to see the film and the book as “fraternal twins” - as two different works of art that complement each other, as an opportunity to look at how each shows versus tells. #NCTELearns @ncte
“I wanted each character to break away from stereotypes... to create characters that are 3-dimensional, as full, real people so that young people can say they see themselves”- @angiecthomas on #TheHateUGive and then quotes Dr. Bishop’s mirrors and windows. #NCTELearns @ncte
Read 7 tweets
Oct 3, 2018
My work right now is focused on curriculum, but not just on diverse text selection. For me, it’s about embedding anti-bias, anti-racist pedagogies into my daily practices in big and small ways, but relentlessly so. #ClearTheAir #DisruptTexts
Another one of my goals is to become more active as a role model and mentor to the AAPI Ss in my school as the Ss organization faculty advisor. Because of the Model Minority myth, too often AAPI Ss needs as ignored or underserved. #CleartheAir
My librarian and I are co-facilitating a social justice book club which has so far gotten a great response. Out first selection was Just Mercy and Ts stayed for almost two hours after school to talk! Our next meeting will be focused on action we can take. #CleartheAir
Read 4 tweets
Oct 1, 2018
This week, Ss consider the voices & perspectives that may be missing from texts like The Things They Carried, starting w/some reflection that considers the voices & perspectives they center in their own lives and who O’Brien centers in the text... #DisruptTexts #aplangchat 1/
Students selected articles from the @nytimes Vietnam in ‘67 collection: nytimes.com/column/vietnam… #DisruptTexts #aplangchat 2/
Here are some examples of responses from Ss when prompted to consider additional perspectives #aplangchat #DisruptTexts 3/
Read 10 tweets
Sep 30, 2018
Catching up on #TheEdCollabGathering sessions I missed yesterday day—and YES to EVERYTHING my #DisruptTexts co-Founder and friend @juliaerin80 says: We are living in a historic time, a true renaissance of multicultural #yalit.
Like Julia, I didn’t have these texts as a teen. What a difference it would have in my life; what a difference it can make for our Ss now.

It’s an amazing time for #yalit. Will you be a T who engages in this moment or let it pass by? #TheEDCollabGathering #12 #DisruptTexts
I could listen to @juliaerin80’s booktalks all day and 💯 agree w/this: “Jason Reynolds has written the book for everyone.” I have 3 boys, ages 8, 11, & 13 — and all three are reading @JasonReynolds83’s Track series, 11-yr-old read #MilesMorales, & oldest read #LongWayDown 2X.
Read 5 tweets
Sep 29, 2018
So as many know, me and @Tolerance_org Social Justice Standards = 😍. Love how framework works as a foundation & guide for any unit of study, grades K-12.

Ex. Here are essential ?s based on the standards on a unit of study on the idea of HOME.

Thread.

#TheEdCollabGathering #7
In #AmericanLit, we can explore the idea of HOME throughout the entire year — and #DisruptTexts — starting w/Native and indigenous literatures. #TheEDCollabGathering #7
Some related questions to explore: How have First Nations people defined home? How is home tied to land and language and culture? #TheEdCollabGathering #7 #DisruptTexts
Read 14 tweets
Sep 29, 2018
Thread.

Of the many things I learned co-presenting w/@teachkate was how we approach planning from different starting pts. Kate, master of rdg workshop, starts w/skills, then texts, then essential ?s. Meanwhile, I start w/essential ?s, texts, then skills. #TheEdCollabGathering #7
But no matter where we start—whether we start with the skills kids will need to apply to new texts independently or the essential questions they can wrestle and grapple with—what is NOT a starting or ending point is the text.

#TheEdCollabGathering #7
We should stop treating texts & the "canon" as if they are fixed.

How often do we start & end w/the "text": reducing literature to content to be consumed v. a means to invite Ss to develop skills & grapple with big, important questions? #DisruptTexts #TheEdCollabGathering #7
Read 5 tweets

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