Why I care about diversity

Growing up, I often felt invisible. Invisible in the TV shows I watched, the books I read, and the history lessons I was taught in school. I’m very grateful to my father, who I often refer to as my Puerto Rican Studies professor, because he taught me about our history, our people, our literature as well as our music and art. But once I walked outside, it was like his teachings were a myth, discounted and nonexistent past the walls of our home.

It wasn’t until I was a young adult in college when, for the first time ever, I saw my reflection in a book that I had longed to see all my life. It started me off on a quest to find diverse, quality literature that reflected me, my history, and my distinct perspectives on life.

When I became an elementary school teacher, I carefully selected beautiful literature that reflected my precious students of color. When I became a mom, the hunt for lovely, multicultural treasures became even more exciting and our library grew as my daughter did.

Now, as a home educator, I get to share on a broader scale about the importance of a multicultural education—one where every child, regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status or zip code, can experience a rich and abundant feast as they learn about other cultures, including their own, through diverse, living books.