Multiracial Literature in AZ Public Libraries

In 2022, Arizona became the 20th state in the nation to proclaim June 7-14 as Multiracial Heritage Week. This proclamation was in response to the increasing multiracial/mixed race population within the state and the importance of acknowledging the multiracial community. Nationally, 33.8 million Americans, approximately 1 in 10, identify as being of two or more races, and according to the United States Census Bureau, the multiracial population has increased nationally by 276% from 2010 to 2020.

Yet here in Arizona, in 2023, the Dept of Education closed the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion therefore eliminating the opportunity for the inclusion of multiracial literature in K-12 curriculums.

At The Color of Us, www.thecolorofus.org, we believe every child deserves to see themselves represented in the pages of a book and this year our summer campaign is to increase access for children, tweens and teens to see themselves represented in age-appropriate literature that features multiracial/mixed race protagonists and stories.

Please join us in this campaign and donate today so that we can place multiracial books in the 91 public and tribal libraries in Arizona.

Thank You!