‘All American boys’ in the time of George Floyd: how multicultural literature can address racism’s effect on community health

Abstract

Abstract Multicultural Literature is an educational tool that has been increasingly used in adolescent education to help understand the impact of police brutality. Limited research is available on the impact of multicultural literature and its ability to educate themselves on the effects experienced by communities affected by police brutality. Through the implementation of multicultural literature, people would be exposed to both the experiences of the individuals getting assaulted and the community that is affected once an incident occurs. When reading these stories, they are emotionally connected to the stories, which have been proven to show a deeper understanding of the topic. This article will analyze a specific book, ‘All American Boys’, and its potential impact on community health through fostering empathy and giving a deeper understanding of community impact in a heavily monitored community. As more books that introduce topics like this get restricted from students, it is necessary to analyze the potential benefits multicultural literature can bring to adolescents both through reading comprehension and human connection.