**My apologies, but I didn’t know the Blogging in Black site would be down for maintenance today, so for those who have emailed me, I have updated this post to include the entire article. So, feel free to comment here if the BIB site isn’t up.**
For those who know me, you know I try to steer toward the positivity in things, stay away from drama, and do my absolute best in everything I do. I am the same with my family, with friends, and with business. I’m passionate about the literary industry and also when it comes to raising my children. Sometimes though, I just want to tell folks off, rant and rave, and throw up my hands in frustration. Talking it through helps at times; other times I’m too in shock to even wrap my mind around an issue. But lately I’ve been through both and keep finding myself at the OH NO THEY DIDN’T realm of things.
I have been completely pissed off over the last two weeks and while I’m pretty vocal about a lot of things, to be pissed off to this level had to take something major; especially when I didn’t get over it in a day or two, say what I had to say and move on. Shoot, I’m getting worked up now typing this up. To make matters worse, it’s not something I’ll be getting over any time soon because it affects me day-to-day on two levels.
First, on the literary level. Yes, I’ve been in the literary industry coming up on a decade and I’ve done a great deal of work championing authors, supporting their efforts and getting the word out to readers and book enthusiasts alike about great Black books. In addition to the promotional side of RAWSISTAZ, I’ve done work as an editor, reviewer, and a literary agent, so I have more than one view of things. This comes in handy, yet it has fueled the flames for the most recent things happening in the literary industry.
Secondly, I am a mother and while I’m passionate about the lit world, me being a mother trumps everything else. I’d give up all of the literary stuff if I had to choose between sitting quiet over an issue or speaking out when it comes to something that affects my child(ren). Folks want to combine the two and think I’m going to sit quiet? Oh no…that is not going to happen. Mama Tee don’t play!
What had happened was…
Bloomsbury, once again, decided that a book with a protagonist who was a POC (person of color) couldn’t have a book cover with a POC on it. Instead, once again, they published the book (Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore) with a white girl on the cover? WHAT? They did this just last year with Justine Larbalestier’s book, Liar. The internet was buzzing and Bloomsbury (in this case, their Children/YA imprint) eventually backed down and replaced the cover (for their financial benefit, no doubt). BTW, Ms Larbalestier was also against the cover. And now, here they (Bloomsbury) go again with the whitewashing. WHAT? They didn’t learn from their past mistake a mere 6 or so months ago?
Excuse me…but as a mother, I am NOT trying to hear “this is a business and books with people of color on the cover don’t sell.” Because, what you’re telling me (and my daughter who loves reading) is that she is not good enough to have a cover which represents her on a book (even when the main character may look like her), that it’s normal not to see covers reflective of our diverse world (because publishers won’t make the covers match and because librarians won’t order books that do show us), and that you don’t respect the book buyer enough to remember the whole issue with Liar (and no, we didn’t forget). I’m sorry, but this is NOT ACCEPTABLE to me as a mother or as a lit industry professional. How dare they! :::taking a deep breath:::
I’m going to end here and continue this on a post later this week, because I am no where near done with my thoughts on this and other literary happenings. I’ve been sharing bits and pieces via threads on my Facebook account and via the RAWSISTAZ Fan Page. I would also encourage those concerned with the Bloomsbury issue to join the Readers Against WhiteWashing (RAWW) group, to buy more books with POC on the covers, to talk to librarians at the schools or in your communities and to donate books reflective of our diverse world to your child’s classroom. My children are going to be okay because I do these things already, but what about the rest of our children? This is simply not okay…
**Posted via my column at Blogging in Black.
Great article, Tee, I can’t wait to read the rest.
Thanks, Wana! I posted the excerpt and had to run out, but didn’t know BIB would be down for maintenance, so I just edited the post to include the full article. I am not as ticked off as when this first went down, but when I think about it and start telling others, I get angry all over again. This is so messed up, first that it’s happening and secondly that the publishers think it’s okay.
It is unbelievable.
-Tee
Tee, I fully agree with your anger over this. I understand the publisher is trying to get more money by selling books with misrepresented covers but when a person buys a book with a white person on the cover, they are expecting the story to be about a white person. The white folks should be as angry about this as we are!!! If those (white) readers got involved with the discussion of whitewashing, changes would be made sooner. Great blog!
Rosa, there are some who are involved! Actually, the author of the LIAR book has been quite the advocate when it comes to race and representation in books. I’ve also seen a few who have joined and spoken out via the RAWW (Readers Against WhiteWashing) group. So, I don’t think it’s just people of color who are angry over this. Granted, we’re probably a bit more angry because there simply comes a time when you don’t settle for what has been done in the past, simply because it was done and seemed to work. It doesn’t work.
Do you know the issues I’ve had with Joy over the whole “I want a pretty doll (aka a white doll with long straight hair)” or “I want my hair to be straight so it’ll be pretty”? She would get huffy if I had her hair braided or done in curls. What? And she was around 4 or 5. I’m sorry, but it shouldn’t be like that! Scratch that! I am NOT sorry. I’m getting pissed off again.
It shouldn’t have ever been like that. But now? NO! She should not have thought that only long and straight hair was pretty. That is absolutely ridiculous. Thankfully, she’s had me around AND those books with brown faces to show her ALL different shades and types of hair and those little brown dolls I bought even though it took me forever and ever to find them.
-Tee
Well, what are we going to do to let publishers know, this is bullshyet and we aint having it.
Linda,
I just posted a lengthy reply. I hope it shows up. Please let me know if you see it.
Linda, the efforts are underway, so it’s a matter of joining in with those on the front lines and as I said in the article:
- buy more books with POC on the covers
- talk to librarians at the schools or in your communities about books with POC (and our authors)
- donate books reflective of our diverse world to your child’s classroom
These are only a few things, but we can not sit quiet and just watch this continue to go on. Yes, you may have to take a day or week to respond in more than just anger, but we must do something.
This is one reason why it saddens me that programs like READ are not funded for LIFE. Our children need those type of programs!
-Tee
Rosa,
Plenty of white readers did get involved. A group of allies created the POC Challenge. Many wrote letters and blog posts. In the YA blogosphere this was huge. I’m very involved in the YA book blogging community and I called for a boycott. When Bloomsbury issued a statement they were changing the cover, many readers were distracted so I created Readers Against WhiteWashing. You will find links to dozen of articles on blogs and newspapers when this happened. I posted and shared this news on our RAWSISTAZ yahoo.group.
When you visit RAWW you find a large number of fans are white readers. Another project, Diversify Your Reader was created by white bloggers.
We have allies. We need more black readers in the conversation because allies cannot speak for us.
There are a handful of black book bloggers who focus on children and YA literature and we are tirelessly fighting and we have gained allies. What we need are more black readers actively reading, reviewing and blogging about books for kids of color. We need members from communities like here commenting when these controversies blow up.
One way to show publishers that we will not stand for this practice is to be vocal when it happens, to be present in the circles where publishers are reading book reviewers blogs. And believe me at BEA publishers hosted a bloggers panel. They are listening to bloggers. We need to be present at BEA and other book events. I will be speaking this summer at the National Diversity In Libraries Conference in Princeton.
Below is a list of bloggers committed to kids of color:
The Happy Nappy Bookseller
http://thehappynappybookseller.blogspot.com/
Crazy Quilts
http://campbele.wordpress.com/
Reading In Color- Only AA teen who blogs exclusively POC. She was quoted in the Guardian, Jezebel, Salon and L.A. Times. I highly suggested everyone read her letter to Bloomsbury because it lit up the blogosphere.
http://blackteensread2.blogspot.com/
Black-Eyed Susan’s
http://blackeyedsusans.blogspot.com/
Color Online
http://coloronline.blogspot.com/
GAL Novelty
http://galnovelty.blogspot.com/
If you don’t blog, please start reading those of us who do. Comment.
Thanks for sharing, LaTonya. I probably owe folks an apology, but when all this happened, I was messed up, to put it lightly. I was hurt, I was saddened and then I was pissed the hell off! I’m normally at my desk a good 10-14 hrs a day, but when this all first broke, I had to get offline because I did not know what was going to come out of my mouth and end up on Facebook, via this site or in the groups. I simply had to calm down. You know how the older folks say “fighting mad” right? Well, that was me and trust that I am NOT a fighter.
But count me and RAWSISTAZ into the mix and I will be putting the RAWW logo on the site and supporting the efforts. This can not continue to happen!
The RAW Reviewers will CONTINUE to review books which feature POC and get the word out via our RAWSISTAZ chapters, BlackBookReviews.net and other projects we have in the works. So, don’t hesitate to reach out if you need us.
-Tee
I’m getting an error message saying I posted but my comments are not here. Arggg!
I’ll check, but if these are getting through, any other comment should come through unless you have links in it. Hang tight.
-Tee
Okay, so I can’t post links. Start at RAWW. Check the blog roll at Color Online and you’ll find plenty of links and books for KOC.
And when there are polls asking for recommendations, vote. Read publications like School Library Journal so you know what’s going on. There is a great series, Writers Against Racism that was hosted by Amy Bowllan at SLJ. I encourage you all to google it. It is well worth reading and supporting.
There’s plenty to do and we readers and writers would love to have you on the frontline.
Thank you,
LaTonya
Tee,
I was mad. I said so. On MLK I launched a boycott that’s how angry I was. It took me a couple days though before I could write my Open Letter to the publisher. I knew it would be linked and I knew a lot of folks were watching so I had to be careful not to come off like the crazy, angry black woman. Folks love an excuse to ignore you.
Sorry about the multiple posts. Like you, I’m passionate about this issue and we are fighting back.
Thanks.
This was exactly why I couldn’t comment until a few days ago. I kept thinking “I’m a lit professional and if I go off, people won’t hear what I’m saying because they’ll see the Angry Black Woman” and then it’ll be pointless.” But, trust that I had some long conversations with my lit girlfriends & mentor because it was just too much for me to handle.
Shoot, I even started writing my article early and I normally write it the morning it’s due. ROFL. Shhhh. This post is actually the 2nd or 3rd version because that anger was coming through and overshadowing the message.
Like I said already…count RAWSISTAZ in!
-Tee
Another great blog
Multiculturalism Rocks
http://nathaliemvondo.wordpress.com/
Ari from Reading In Color interview Nathalie here
http://blackteensread2.blogspot.com/2010/01/blogger-spotlight.html
What else can we do?
We need black and other people of color to not only to create POC online communities we need to integrate mainstream sites so other folks know who and where you are. We need to dismantle the argument they don’t know where to find good POC lit and resources. And as long as we are out of sight, many won’t know where to look. I realize we shouldn’t have to lead folks by the hand. On the other hand if we were more connected with mainstream YA blogging sites for example, many of us would have witnessed the blow up firsthand. Many of us didn’t know because we don’t anything about the children/YA blogosphere. Well, it’s huge and it’s been growing for some time.
Damn, Tee, tell us how you really feel about it. I heard about the first one, but didn’t even know this was going on. Thanks for your post–it’s very well written.
I try to see the world as a glass half-full kind of girl, but the fact that this publisher keeps making the same mistake says that they really believe that books with black faces on it won’t sell. It’s a sad thought in this day and age.
Great article Tee, and I saw past your anger to see that you were hurt as well. As all of us black authors were.
Tee,
When I first saw that you were going to post on this subject I had decided not to read it. I have been steaming over this issue since that debacle with Liar. I have HP and thought, enough for right now, wait a little while.
But this thing with not putting “POC” on books where “POC” are the main characters is reminiscent of the time when Black musicians could not be on the album cover. Seriously, things are moving backward at breakneck speed.
Authors have had to accept a lot from publishers especially in the way of covers. You try and give up. But this issue isn’t one that I believe an author can give in on. It would make us, the writers of color, that is, non-existence people.
But let’s forget about the writer and the morality of doing that. Let’s look at ti from the publisher’s pov. MONEY. Do they think readers will not be ticked and return the books in record time to the book stores. They evidently haven’t thought of the damage it would do to their sales. We already know people of color and the authors don’t matter. Readers not buying their books should make a noise. But of course, the intent is not to hurt the author, so I guess like you suggest Tee, we need to ban together to stop this from happening again. This would have to be my personal line in the sand.
That this is happening in 2010 makes me feel sick in the pit of my stomach.
Dyanne
Hi Tee,
Wow! I’m so proud of you! You broke it down and laid it out. Definitely unacceptable. Book covers should be diverse in ever sense. There is no argument. You should be applauded for reminding us on the true reality of the goings on behind the literary scene and stepping up to the plate. Keep it going Tee, you’re awesome…..You have opened so many doors …so happy to be back in the loop once again…Rawsistaz is Awesome!
love you!
Kal
As the mother of a five year old little boy this drives me out of my mind. Even before he was born I’ve been trying to find books for him with little black boys in them. Not “message” books, just fun adventures that just happen to feature little black boys. I’ve been sadly disappointed to say the least. His dad has been reading The Hobbit to him and he’s absolutely entranced with those type adventure stories. He loves to read about animals and of course big scary monsters.
When I read about something like this it makes me wonder if maybe I’ve missed a book because the cover has been whitewashed.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/media/vanity-fairs-young-hollywood-whitewash/19343469/?icid=main|main|dl2|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyfinance.com%2Fstory%2Fmedia%2Fvanity-fairs-young-hollywood-whitewash%2F19343469%2F
If this long link takes you to nowhere this was on AOl this morning, about the new Vanity Fair issue.
Dyanne
I hope all of you who are angry are angry enough to become visible and active members at the sites I listed. We are poc bloggers reading and reviewing poc books for your children. We’d love to have your support as much as the writers we actively promote.
I’d like to see more poc members commenting and engaged when these incidents jump off.
Thank you,
LaTonya
My apologies everyone! I am not getting email notifications, so I’ve missed the latest posts on this, but I will catch up over the weekend. Thank you ALL for stopping by RAWSISTAZ and sharing your thoughts. It is appreciated.
-Tee
There are plenty of discussions are going on. There’s a lot of nonsense being said about who and why books about kids of color don’t sell. I’m imploring you to weigh in. A few allies are getting pretty beat up and the authors themselves a battle weary. Please speak up:
Who Will read About Who? at Read Roger
http://www.hbook.com/blog/2010/02/who-will-read-about-who.html
What’s Acceptable to Believe About Kids’ Reading Choices? This guy really needs to be checked. 500+ hits to his column.
http://ozandends.blogspot.com/2010/02/whats-acceptable-to-believe-about-kids.html
And Bell is beating up this Ally at Bookslut.
Kids of Color and the New American Whitewashing
The link to RAWW is not working here. The page is here
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Color-Online/127400032548#!/pages/Readers-Against-WhiteWashing/309034599987