University of Oregon’s Special Collections and University Archives, in partnership with Eugene Public Library, will present a virtual panel discussion, cosponsored by the OHC’s Endowment for Public Outreach in the Arts, Sciences and Humanities, which will address the complex issues of race and identity in children’s literature—specifically, who can tell whose story, how do we deal with our racist past, and how we can begin to bring fresh narratives and perspectives to the field.   

Panel participants include moderator Elizabeth Wheeler, University of Oregon Associate Professor of English; Kimberly Johnson, University of Oregon Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and author of juvenile literature; Debbie Reese (Nambé Pueblo), founder, American Indians in Children’s Literature; and Chenoa (Lummi and S’Klallam) and Keith (Lummi) Egawa, authors and illustrators of children’s literature. 

Organizer Danielle Mericle, SCUA’s Curator of Visual Resources, says “I am really pleased to facilitate this conversation with contemporary children’s literature authors and scholars about the significance of race and identity in the genre. These creators and critics are leading forces in moving young adult and children’s literature into anti-racism and reframing our understandings of racism in children’s literature history.”