As a way to continue the conversations in The 51 Hour, we've invited Becky Mitchell to blog her thoughts after each episode. This is a response to Episode 46 on story and minority voices in literature. Feel free to interact with Becky's thoughts in the comments below.

“Did you hear what she said?” The beautiful words of truth brought snaps to my friend’s fingers. We viciously nodded our heads in agreement and commented as the questions rolled in. Dr. Garcia had said that she read her first text from a woman of color in her undergraduate career. These stories, these experiences were not included in her education—like many of us. 

The stories are lived experiences. The stories can become challenges to lessons widely taught or long overdue truths one’s soul needed to hear. The stories are not simply for media consumption or to keep at a distance. The stories are people, people who matter.

Dr. Garcia loved with her words, sending messages of care for every person in the audience. No person, no matter the group they have been placed in or identify with, was ignored. She shared words she believes and lives as portions of her experiences.

‘Teaching literature broadly requires all voices.’

  ‘The person I was made sense when I taught for the first time.’

     ‘A history book is a narrow, incomplete perspective.’

        ‘Whose perspectives would challenge your own?’

No story should be forsaken. Minority does not mean lack of existence or value in a life. Majority does not mean value of existence over another.   

Do you have stories you peg people with? Have you seen yourself use words, actions or thoughts from TV shows, movies, newspapers, magazines, radio stations and books? As Dr. Garcia said, take the time to get to know yourself and other people.

What stories do you hope will be told?

*Rebecca was a student in Dr. Garcia’s Race and Ethnicity in American Literature course.