The fairy tale of Cinderella spans more than the West

It’s a classic folk tale nearly every little girl has been able to recount from generation to generation — a tale of unjust oppression, of triumphant reward, all wrapped up in a magical carriage, a glass slipper, and the clock striking midnight.

What they remember most is the prince and princess part.

Saturday, southeast Kansas children had a chance to hear the tale told from two perspectives that might differ greatly from their own.

“A Multicultural Cinderella” was presented at Pittsburg Public Library by two Pittsburg State University students; one from China and the other from Africa. It was just one of many such activities the Pittsburg State University Tilford Group has planned.

“The Tilford Group is all about diversity and multiculturalism,” explained member John Franklin, also on the faculty at PSU.

Modeled after the Kansas State University Tilford Group, the PSU group is part of a statewide effort under the auspices of the Kansas Board of Regents and named for the late dean of the graduate school at Wichita State University.

“We formed at PSU about a year ago and have several goals related to diversity,” Franklin said, adding that he has a personal interest in both the focus of the group and the performance of Cinderella — he is of Japanese-American descent and with his American wife is raising an adopted Chinese daughter.

“It’s important to me on many levels. As a faculty member at Pittsburg State I want to help develop diversity and multiculturalism throughout our community so that when potential faculty come here they see we have that, and as a father of a little girl — and what little girl doesn’t think about princesses? — I wanted her to be able to see the tale told in different ways,” he said. “That said, it’s also important for little boys to attend. Part of diversity includes gender.”

And perspective related to multicultural, diversity, and gender, group members agree, is what women of all ages need.

Reading the Chinese version was NiNi, the Chinese Culture Club president, and reading the African version was Chilu, a pre-med student.

Starting with children is important to achieving the overriding goal of the PSU Tilford Group, which is to instill in the community a global awareness and respect for different cultures, according to Ananda Jayawardhana, group chairperson.

“Early childhood is the time when we learn about our own identity.  It is probably the best time to learn about equality too,” he said.

And Cinderella is a story to which everyone can relate.

“Birth, happiness, sadness, love, family bonds, friends, illnesses, fashions, and death are common to all humankind,” he said. “ We all enjoy music, food, stories, dance, festivals, vacations, movies — regardless of our diversity.”

Jayawardhana hoped the presentation illustrated how the same story is a part of childhood around the world. 

“Hopefully this will create curiosity to learn about other cultures, languages, and customs,” he said.

More of their goals and information about the group can be found at http://faculty.pittstate.edu/~ananda/Tilford.html.

Andra Bryan Stefanoni can be reached at andra.stefanoni@morningsun.net.