Stories: Whose are Told and Whose Remain in the Margins?

Why is it that some stories are seen as "fit for children" to learn in school and some are not? What qualifies a story as being better than another or more worthy of being taught? How many stories that are a pivotal part of our history are changed to better suit one narrative or not even taught at all? And is it often an easy way for education systems to discriminate against minorities?

I feel there should be quick and easy answers to all these questions but most of the time these questions are the easiest for people to dodge around as though it were the plague. There are countless stories told of the white protagonist that saves the day, such as figures I personally learned about like Davy Crockette, The Texas Rangers, or Doc Holiday.  Yet, we fail to hear the stories that have the most impact, like stories from Ruby Bridges, Patricia de la Garza and Martin De Leon, or La Malinche who shape our history to what it is today. This does not discredit everything that the Anglo, American or European descending historical figures have done, but I think it is high time that we give the stage to stories we haven't been taught to know like the back of our hands. We should be teaching all stories, of everyone, so that everyone is represented and so no child feels like their culture it not as important as someone else's. 

There is always the question of how we integrate other cultures into our everyday lives. I think we should start just but teaching our children different culture's stories and letting them know these stories like the back of their hand. Why shouldn't they? It is knowledge and knowledge is what you send children to school to obtain anyways. I think that stories left in margins by people who do not even understand why the stories are important should be displayed everywhere for everyone so that no one can be cast aside anymore.

Do I Have the Full Picture?

 It is possible for any of us to really see things from everyone point of view. Is it possible that any of us are able to really sympathize with everyone around us? None of us have the full picture. We cannot possibly know how everyone was raised, what they experienced, and how they feel. I cannot understand someone else's race fully even if they can give me a clear idea of it. No one can in fact understand things this way. Our way of connected it comparing others experiences to our own and seeing the similarities and differences. This, even though worthwhile, does not provide the full picture on someone else's culture or life.

Taking the time to travel and learn about others is a beautiful thing in its own right. It can give you many memorable experiences and broaden your thinking of the world around you. It can help you see more of the picture, but you will never know the full picture because you are not the artist. An artist of a certain painting knows exactly what stroke went where and what colors or bases in underneath the work. The viewer of this painting will never see that without the artist telling them. Even still the viewer will never know what that looked like because they did not experience the art being made. An odd analogy really but I feel that is the only way what I am trying to say makes sense. 

I think it is important to try and see as much of the full picture as you can. Being knowledgeable about things that happen for certain cultures or certain people will help foster the understanding that is needed to really connect with others. It provides a base of feeling understood and like what you have going on matters to others. So, while I do not think one person will ever have the full picture, I think it is good to seek out many different pictures to help you piece together your understanding of a subject.