TR&W Issue 20

W ords matter. We’ve all heard the adage, ‘sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me’, but in reality, they do, and they have a monumental impact on the way society interacts. A flippant “You’re fat!” can cause a young person to lose confidence in their body image for the rest of their lives. A comment on someone’s skin colour can result in them never aspiring to reach their potential because, they feel they‘ll never belong. What we saw unfold in the UK this summer shocked many of us to our core. The racism and hatred that we thought had been buried and moved past has resurfaced. And I would say that the fault lies squarely with our politicians and media. Because when they use language irresponsibly, the consequences can be devastating. All my books have been inspired by the news. More specifically, news that doesn’t tell a full story, but is distorted – platforming only one viewpoint or a minority opinion. Politicians and the media have been peddling a false narrative, to fuel fear, for years. I wrote my novel Boy, Everywhere in response to this divisive rhetoric. It’s a story that shows we are all one cruel twist of fate away from becoming refugees ourselves. Meanwhile, Fight Back is about being proud of your identity and finding the courage to fight to express it. My latest book, Kicked Out, explores immigration, belonging and the influence of social media on rising racist narratives. And more importantly, it shows that when we come together, we’re stronger in the face of hatred and injustice. Words have wings We saw young people taking part in riots this summer, chanting hateful, extreme language. Some damaging words take only seconds to utter, but have something in common with those who seemed different. Resetting the narrative In replaying historic racist tropes, media representation significantly influences the way certain groups are perceived by society. It’s only through adequate representation that we can learn about and from different lives and cultures, and hopefully bring people together. This is what drives me to write: the hope that my stories will show children that there is nothing to fear, that there are indeed other sides to the stories they are being told; ones in which they can see themselves portrayed, and through which they can aspire and dream. My desire is for as many people as possible to lend their voices and speak up against the injustices we witness. Now is the time to discuss what we need to do to build a more empathetic society, and to show young people the power of words and how they can use them effectively as they move through life. A. M. Dassu is the internationally acclaimed author of Boy, Everywhere, Fight Back and Kicked Out , which have collectively been listed for over 50 awards. She is a director at Inclusive Minds, which is an organisation for people who are passionate about inclusion, diversity, equality and accessibility in children’s literature. @a_reflective @a.m.dassu amdassu.com their impact is real and long-lasting. Such words collect and take flight, reaching further and further, leaving devastation in their path. That’s why it’s more important than ever to discuss how words are weaponised and how harmful they can be. I wonder, if those young people had been taught about the impact of words and choosing them carefully, would they have been emboldened to join those riots as passionately? As much as we want to protect them, children are exposed to global, national, even community-level events, not just via the news, but through exposure to social media, or even by overhearing the commentary of adults in their lives. They might feel scared or that they have no control over the environment they live in. This is why it’s vital that we give young people the tools to feel empowered and show them that they can use their voices to bring positive change. Looking in the mirror It’s so important for children to feel seen in books. Childhood is a time in your life that can really shape the choices you make later. Young people want to make sense of the world they’re in and their own place in it, and books can really help them to understand and tackle difficult themes that they will be aware of through the news, their peers and perhaps their own experiences. Unfortunately, there are lots of children who experience discrimination, stereotyping and microaggressions, who live with violent or controlling family members, who get called names, etc. A book can literally be life-changing if a child can see themself in it, or if they realise they A. M. Dassu discusses language and representation in the classroom in a time of media bias, disinformation and relentless bad news “This is what drives me to write...” “Damaging words take only seconds to utter, but their impact is real and long-lasting” BOOKS FOR SCHOO L S www.teachwire.net | 7 A. M. Dassu