Professor of Youth Literature and Culture, Melanie Ramdarshan Bold, has undertaken research into why this backslide – which comes as no surprise to many - suggests diversity in children’s publishing may have been treated as a checkbox rather than a sustained commitment.

Industry responses to the demand for representative books have too often been reactive, resulting in tokenistic portrayals that fail to capture the nuanced spectrum of racially-minoritised experiences. Melanie’s research for BookTrust highlights the structural barriers that racially-minoritised creators face, from financial insecurity to limited marketing support. These constraints restrict the depth and authenticity of representative stories, undercutting their potential impact.

Representation’s decline also points to the risk of viewing diversity as a business decision. The notion that recent progress is “sufficient” threatens to erode hard-won gains by advocates and creators who have tirelessly pushed for inclusivity. Many creators express frustrations that the industry’s commitment to diversity remains shallow. Racially-minoritised creators frequently describe being restricted to identity-bound narratives, limiting the range of stories available to young readers and their own artistic freedom.

Many worry publishers still only value diverse stories that focus on trauma, reinforcing stereotypes.

Read the full report on The Bookseller website.

 

First published: 5 December 2024

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