Insider/Outsider Debate

After considering all of the articles, I wasn't really sure what direction to take in the "Insider/Outsider debate." Between the four articles, I was presented with so much information I felt like it might take me months to decide exactly where I stand and what questions to answer. I decided to first consider the idea of who has the right to tell stories about specific cultures. I would have to say I take the "insider's" stance on this one. Bishop says, "you have to know a culture intimately if you're going to reflect it accurately in your fiction," and I agree (Bishop 1994). I think that those within the culture they are trying to represent generally have the best intentions and an author's intentions are crucial in the outcome and interpretations of their work. I would say that insiders do have more of a right to represent their culture, but I also realize (after continuing to read through the articles) that outsiders play an important role. Good literature from outsiders with good intentions is also important so that the whole of multicultural literature doesn't become an issue of "us against them."
Cai too talks a lot about the idea that "if the issues of inequality, discrimination, oppression, and exploitation are excluded from consideration when we try to define multicultural literature, there is a danger of diluting, or even deconstructing, the social, political concept that underlies the term." Which is what has brought me to the decision to declare myself an "insider" on the issue of multicultural literature as a whole. Shannon discusses the fact that "we must recognize ourselves in the oppressors of others," and I have to admitt that I have struggled with this, but I realize that I am priveledged. I never asked for it, but as a born outsider it is my duty to jump "inside" the realm of multicultural literature and make sure that the issues of inequality and oppression are not ignored.
Many of my questions regarding the text have to do with age appropriateness and catering your subject matter for the age of your students. Each of the articles gave great examples of what and how to takle in discussing the issue of multicultural literature in your classroom, but I felt like the majority of the examples discussed where aimed at an older audience. Coming from the perspective of a future teacher planning to teach preschool, kindergarden, etc. I still question what is appropriate or my duty to cover. I guess from my perspective I feel like I will only have the opportunity to simply introduce some of these ideas but never really discuss them as the articles suggest.