Minority Characters in Picture Books - A Disheartening Representation

‘The Tied Shoe’ (‘Der Schuh ist zu’) from the collection Danke, Paulina! Geschicten vom Helfen, Trösten und Zusammenhalten by Achim Bröger and Betina Gotzen-Beek (with pedagogic support from Sandra Grimm)

Paulina and Lea are best friends in Kindergarten. Newcomer Ayse observes them some distance away on the swing. She avoids eye contact with the girls and is too shy to go over to them. Lea then announces – ‘Ich glaub, die spricht so komisch. Die kommt irgendwo aus der Türkei‘ (I think she speaks weird, she comes from some place in Turkey). Then there is a description of Ayse – Her skin colour is darker than the girls, she has black hair and dark eyes. Ayse is often silent and doesn’t play with anyone.

Paulina asks Ayse to join them much to Lea’s annoyance (‘she is strange’, she tells Paulina). Paulina helps Ayse tie her laces (that are loose) and Lea unties them again because she wants Ayse to learn for herself, even though Ayse has objected to this. After a few attempts, a glowing Ayse can now tie her shoelaces. ‘My mother always ties my shoes. Now I can finally do it myself. Thank you!’. To their surprise, both girls realise she speaks just like them. Ayse shares her sandwich with the girls and they all play at tying shoelaces. Her dark eyes sparkle.

Ayse is not yet integrated in the kindergarten (she is playing alone). Her speech, origin and appearance seem to be obstacles to making friends. Her skin, hair colour, dark eyes and silence are used in the text to make this minority figure stand out. In picture books and children’s literature, such images within a well-intentioned context (inclusion) do more harm than good for it reinforces in children’s minds the association between otherness and skin colour/language that is not German/migrant country, Turkey (in this case).

One might think – Even though Ayse DOES look different, the girls choose to include her in their games. Much to the girls’ astonishment, Ayse DOES speak like them. She is now part of the circle and integration has been achieved!

My argument – the dichotomy in German society is not questioned or subverted. Ayse is visibly different (DARK, OUTSIDER, FOREIGNER) because she isn’t one of US – she comes from a different (read strange and weird) place that is not featured in a positive light. There is acceptance but the ‘WE’ in German society still remains White (prefably blond and blue-eyed). With a good intention, the girls tie and untie Ayse’s shoes because THEY feel she needs to learn for herself. In the end, she is grateful – she is more independent thanks to their help. In return, Ayse offers them a piece of her sandwich – there is sharing, but an underlying paternalism where the ‘outsider’ needs to learn ‘OUR’ way in order to be part of ‘OUR’ group.

Such stories need to be opened up for discussion because of all the implicit biases they showcase. It’s not enough to have a happy ending; we need to shake up the inside and let non-white characters speak from this inside too. Are we ready for this or are fear and insecurity our barriers?