Critically Analyze a Mentor Text

Social Justice Mentor Text

1. Who is the author and what is the purpose of this message?

The author of this article is an educator who is part of the NEA, Cindy Long. The purpose of this message is to assist educators in discussing the hot topic of race and social justice advocacy through age appropriate books.

2. What creative techniques are used to attract and hold audience attention?

The article is bright and interactive, with multiple pictures of the covers of the books at the level of elementary, middle, and high school levels. They are colorful and inviting, with hyperlinks to where you can buy each book. The books have language that is appropriate to the level of the student.

3. How might different people interpret this message differently?

Educators and parents who focus on teaching social justice and acceptance to their children will interpret this as a positive article that will assist them on their journey. People who do not agree with supporting immigrants and refugees may view this article negatively as if a particular viewpoint is being promoted in schools above another. Overall, in the realm of social justice this article is a positive step forward for helping students learn about social justice.

4. What lifestyles, values, and points of view are presented?

In this article, the lifestyles and points of view of refugee families and children are presented. The books center around families from the Middle East, the largest source of refugees at the moment and a large focus of racism lately. There are also stories represented about immigrants and refugees from Africa and Southern Europe. For example, Coming to America: A Muslim Family’s Story by Bernard Wolf (Lee and Low Books) describes the struggles faced by an Egyptian family coming to America. The values of a Muslim, North African family are outlined in an age appropriate way for middle level students to engage in the struggles of Muslim families in America. Another book mentioned in this article is It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas (Clarion Books). This book outlines the point of view of an adolescent girl who's family has moved to California in the 1970s from Iran. This book is set during the height of anti-Iranian sentiment in the U.S., even mentioning the hostage crisis. This book is extremely relevant today as we are circling back to an anti-Middle East sentiment that is creating a divide when we are faced with a refugee crisis. Lastly, this article includes a book about a girl from Central Africa, One Good Thing About America by Ruth Freeman, illus by Kathrin Honesta (Holiday House). This story describes the struggle of a young girl who has moved to America from the Congo, leaving behind her father and brother. As Anais, the young girl, learns more and more about America, this novel follows her journey through finding cultural common ground with her new classmates and herself. This perspective is extremely important with the current influx of refugees who are entering our education system after being ripped from their previous culture. 

5. What is omitted?

Omitted from this list are the view points and lifestyles of African-Americans who have lived in the United States their entire life but are still facing discrimination daily. Native Americans are also facing separation that has built over hundreds of years that is not included in this list. Minority groups that have been living in the United States for centuries that are still facing systematic oppression and discrimination in schools and the workplace. These viewpoints need to be included in any well rounded curriculum about racial discrimination and how it affects middle schools.