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Too often, Asian American Pacific Islanders are either missing from children s books or are depicted using narrow stereotypes. However, all children should be able to see themselves represented in the stories they read and should also see characters who are different from them.
The rise in violent attacks against Asian Americans of late has marked the need for Americans of all ages and ethnicities to learn more about the history of these communities.
In an interview with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, anti-bias educator and elementary teacher Liz Kleinrock encouraged teachers to think about how they are presenting Asian American history. She reminded educators that all students need to form positive self-identities and respect those of others. To help with this goal, Kleinrock urged teachers to first explore the resilience, culture and contributions of Asian Americans before starting to ta