News and Views

July 20, 2005
Harry Potter: Half-Blood Prince Revealed

Harry Potter books and movies are more than imaginative adventures and magical spells, they are great ways to encourage your child to think critically about biracial backgrounds and a variety of cultures. As the article states, "Rowling does children a favor by referring, metaphorically yet explicitly, to the hierarchies of human value that institutionalized racism conceals in the 'real world.' The good characters, like Harry, reject this hierarchy." So the next time you see your child reading a Harry potter book, be active about discussing the issues of diversity and race with your child. Make reading the book or watching the movie more than just entertainment, make Harry Potter an icon for open-mindedness. This popular series may be a gateway to addressing and improving racism and promoting diversity through magic and adventure for children and adults alike. Read the article to get a couple of effective pointers on how you can utilize Harry Potter books and movies as educational resources.

Read more at: Tolerance.org