Schools in England are struggling to incorporate diverse voices into their curriculum. Bernardine Evaristo, the Booker Prize-winning author, is sounding the alarm, warning that young people are facing a society where doors are closing on inclusion.
According to a report by Lit in Colour, the current GCSE English literature curriculum still has a long way to go in terms of diversity. Only 1.9% of students study books by authors of colour, up from 0.7% five years ago. It will take until 2046 for 10% of students to answer a question about a text by an author of colour and until 2115 for 38% of pupils to study a writer of colour in GCSE English literature.
Evaristo has welcomed the progress made but said that with the concept of diversity under attack, it's more important than ever. The murder of George Floyd and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement have led to increased awareness of the barriers faced by people of colour. However, Evaristo fears that this progress is being undone.
The author believes that ensuring books by writers of colour are on the curriculum is crucial in a climate where diversity is being dismissed as a "dangerous concept". Lit in Colour's campaign aims to improve diversity in the school curriculum and has made significant progress since its launch five years ago, increasing the proportion of texts by authors of colour from 12% to 36%.
Meanwhile, author Lee Child has been appointed as the first prison reading laureate, highlighting the importance of improving literacy among prisoners. Child plans to expand a literacy pilot programme in prisons and invites more authors to participate.
"I'm not soft on crime," he said. "I'm smart. Improving literacy is an evidence-based approach that works. When people leave prison better equipped to read and learn, they're less likely to reoffend, making communities safer for everyone."
According to a report by Lit in Colour, the current GCSE English literature curriculum still has a long way to go in terms of diversity. Only 1.9% of students study books by authors of colour, up from 0.7% five years ago. It will take until 2046 for 10% of students to answer a question about a text by an author of colour and until 2115 for 38% of pupils to study a writer of colour in GCSE English literature.
Evaristo has welcomed the progress made but said that with the concept of diversity under attack, it's more important than ever. The murder of George Floyd and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement have led to increased awareness of the barriers faced by people of colour. However, Evaristo fears that this progress is being undone.
The author believes that ensuring books by writers of colour are on the curriculum is crucial in a climate where diversity is being dismissed as a "dangerous concept". Lit in Colour's campaign aims to improve diversity in the school curriculum and has made significant progress since its launch five years ago, increasing the proportion of texts by authors of colour from 12% to 36%.
Meanwhile, author Lee Child has been appointed as the first prison reading laureate, highlighting the importance of improving literacy among prisoners. Child plans to expand a literacy pilot programme in prisons and invites more authors to participate.
"I'm not soft on crime," he said. "I'm smart. Improving literacy is an evidence-based approach that works. When people leave prison better equipped to read and learn, they're less likely to reoffend, making communities safer for everyone."
I think its a shame we cant just get more diverse voices in schools already. 36% is still super low considering how many books by authors of colour are out there! 
What's wrong with having some different perspectives? Kids should learn about all kinds of lives and experiences, not just the ones that are like their own.
. it makes me think there's some kinda agenda at play here... maybe they're trying to keep people in the dark about their own experiences and perspectives? i'm not buying it that diversity is being dismissed as a "dangerous concept" either 
. Bernardine Evaristo is right, we need more books by writers of colour on the curriculum ASAP! 
and what's with Lee Child becoming the prison reading laureate? is this just another way to keep people under control while they're in prison? i don't know about you guys, but I'm keeping a close eye on this one 
.
And what's really concerning is that people are saying diversity is a "dangerous concept" - like, how can we even have that conversation without acknowledging the harm of erasing voices from history 
. We need more voices in the curriculum, not just for fairness, but because it's essential for creating a society where everyone feels included and valued 