Insider/Outsider Debate

The insider/outsider debate is one in which I feel is very hard to make a decision one way or another on. I feel that anyone who has done a great deal of research or experienced being part of a certain culture should be able to write or illustrate stories about specific cultures. Someone who knows nothing about, for example being gay would have a hard time writing a story about it. The story would be nothing but stereotypes and assumptions. It is very possible for someone who is an outsider to write and illustrate about a culture that they are not part of as long as they have concrete facts and have done some work to gain an understanding of that specific culture. I also feel it is very possible for someone who is an insider to write and illustrate about their culture. Someone who is an insider may have an easier time writing and their writing could potentially be more interesting. This is only because they have gone through the experience and lived in the moment. If they were treated differently either in a good or bad way they can express that in the writing, probably differently than someone who has not actually had the experience.
I feel both works would be authentic as long as both parties had concrete information that expressed the feelings and desires of the characters in the story correctly. It is very easy for people to write based on stereotypes and think that they know what it is like to be someone else. This is something that would have to be avoided. It would be hard to detect, especially if you have not experienced the culture that is focused on in the book. I do believe with enough research and possibly experience it would be very possible to write an authentic book being an outsider.
Some questions to explore in class would be to discuss what really makes a piece authentic and why that would make it authentic. I would also like to know who decides what is authentic. Is it just someone from that specific culture or simply anyone. This debate is something that is very hard to make one concrete decision on. There are many great writers and illustrators who have won awards for their writing and some of them not from the specific culture discussed in the book. But who is to say if they are “authentic” or not, and if they are not then should they put in school libraries and be read to young children?