Humans, like all animals, experience a level of comfort and security when they feel included in a group that reflects who they are, how they behave and what beliefs they share. While such tribalism can engender a certain level of security, all this sameness can eventually feel monotonous, boring and constraining. Using the metaphor of color, author-illustrator Arree Chung offers a convincing example of the benefits of mixing things up. Best known for his very successful Ninja series of books, his latest book, Mixed: A Colorful Story fights against small-minded tribalism.
It showcases the power that an individual can wield to lead their tribe. One outspoken color rallies the rest of “his kind” by convincing them that they are better than the other colors. They shouldn’t spend time together. They certainly should not live in the same communities with those lowly “others.” The other color groups follow his lead. Each group decides to live in a separate part of the city where only their color is allowed to reside. They feel secure and content spending time only with their “own kind.” Until …
A yellow happens to share a bench with a blue. They pause for a moment and choose not to fight, insult or ignore one another. Each sets aside their tribal expectations and make their own determination. Exemplifying a different leadership direction they pause long enough to notice the impact the other color has on them. Yellow feels blue’s gentle sense of calm while blue senses that yellow lifts his spirits. At first, their respective color communities are dismayed and offended by this unexpected mixing.
Love triumphs, however, and blue and yellow decide to marry. Soon they produce a lovely baby who blends the best of both of them. They name him “Green.” Soon more and more colors decide to explore friendships with members of other color families. Eventually, many mixed relationships occur and a panoply of lovely colors emerges. Each contributes a unique characteristic and creates a hubbub of diversity.
While the story may seem quite obvious, perhaps even heavy-handed to adults, the illustrations and sparse text vitalize the story in an engaging and persuasive way. Children will draw a message of inclusion and respect for including others regardless of the way in which they might differ from one another. In the end, like a box of crayons that includes the entire rainbow, a richer tapestry emerges.
AQ Lens: The inclusionary message of this story will connect with adoptees who lead lives based on the reality that adoption grafts them from one family into another. On some level, they will always reflect the characteristics of their DNA and they will also reflect the nurturing influence of their adoptive family. They become an embodiment of blending both. Their adoptive family will be enriched by the addition of their presence. The storyline offers an opportunity to talk about the emotions the various characters expressed–both the pleasure of being included plus the pain of feeling “othered” and the very real impact that tribal preferences impose. If the child seems open, parents can turn the discussion to the similarities in their child’s life.
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