Black Like Kyra, White Like Me

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Black Like Kyra, White Like Me book cover

Black Like Kyra, White Like Me is children's book written by Judith Vigna and released in 1992 by Albert Whitman & Company. Composed with a socially conscious plan, Black Like Kyra, White Like Me tries to handle bigotry and bigoted biases within a text suitable for young children. Black Like Kyra, White Like Me has gotten both positive and negative reviews since it was published in 1992.

Summary

TThe story is about Christy who is excited when her closest friend Kyra Kirk's family moves in nearby. Shockingly, a portion of the neighbors are not satisfied to be joined by African Americans family. Even Christy's mom expresses hesitation, commenting that she is going to wait to know Kyra's mother better prior to inviting her for coffee.

One family after another leaves the neighborhood picnic in quick succession when the Kirks arrive, but someone returns to overturn the food tables and let the air out of the tires on the Kirks' van. In the end, one of the prejudiced families moves away, and the friendship between the narrator and Kyra--effectively portrayed in Vigna's soft, evocative watercolors--deepens.[1]

Positive Review

Back Like Kyra, White Like Me has received praise for being both a teaching tool about racism and a reflection of racial conflict and segregation. In addition, in Pittman 's Whited Out: Unique Perspectives on Black Identity and Honors Achievement, Vigna's Black like Kyra, White Like Me is expressed to be crucial in creating and showing sympathy in  childhood development. Moreover, Vigna's illustrations have been lauded for their allure and capacity to help up the story's heavy mood.[2]

Negative Review

In contrast Black Like Kyra, White Like Me also received backlash for its perceived "racial insensitivity and insincerity", it also often included on lists of controversial children's literature.

In 2000, A patron of the Toronto Public Library complained about this book where a black family moving into an all-white area and experiencing racial bias. The complainant said the story "builds up negative stereotypes about blacks and positive sorts about whites." In the end, the book was retained in the library's collection.[3]

References

  1. Publisher Weekly. Black Like Kyra, White Like Me. Retrieved on January 1, 2021.
  2. "Children's Book Review: Black Like Kyra, White Like Me by Judith Vigna". Retrieved on January 1, 2021.
  3. Black Like Kyra, White Like Me. Retrieved on January 1, 2021.