Webb, Chapter Seven

Teaching multicultural studies and expressing the need for students to see many diverse opinions in literature is very important and I feel must be addressed. In Webb's chapter Testimonial, Autoethnography, and the future of English, he asserts the need to get students exposed to many diverse written work by authors of many different backgrounds, religions, and races. Students exposure to opinions of people that aren't from their race or beliefs can help to gain understanding of issues that they may be unclear about. Webb's discussion of Rigoberta Menchu offers, "fresh new perspectives on traditional literary approaches and generates new possibilities for developing and deepening the writing I ask my students to do." testimonials offer a great deal of insight into diverse situations of many individuals. By teaching these texts it speaks back to stereotypes that students may have in mind and establish ideas making them especially useful to a cultural studies classroom. Students are then led to ask challenging questions and question their every day school experiences. These questions should be developed into large group discussions. For poor or minority students testimonials could have a profound impact on their lives and may give them inspiration in writing. By teaching these texts they have a reach far beyond the classroom.