Is it time for a change in publishing black lit?
Posted by: Rich Watson on December 20, 2008 at 1:12 am
“…Just as Obama connected beyond Blacks and sparked the change that took place on the second best day of my life, those black writers who want a change in the publishing industry have to fight for the change and connect beyond their color, too.
“And, unfortunately, it doesn’t come from telling the publishing industry – yet again – that they need to change; they don’t buy it, no matter how much convincing we try to do. They want to see the numbers, they want to see the sales, they want to SEE the change.
“So, I guess, the question is how do we start that grassroots campaign for change in the publishing industry for black writers? How do we convince our ‘constituents’ that we are worthy of being read, of being published so that it’s not just about us – the writers – ‘complaining’ (as the industry might say – ’sour grapes’), but it’s about the people who are ready, who are craving for more diversity in black literature?”
1 Response to "Is it time for a change in publishing black lit?"
1 | WriteBlack
December 21st, 2008 at 12:38 am
It’s fundamentally about raising awareness and getting people to buy the books that are out there. For black authors, it’s about reminding — or informing — readers black and nonblack that there’s more to black literature than Alice Walker, Toni Morrison and Richard Wright.
The people who run the publishing industry aren’t stupid. When they see that there’s Real Money in publishing and really promoting books by black authors, they’ll do it.
I like author Carleen Brice’s humorous attempt at getting at the heart of this matter by declaring December to be Buy a Book By A Black Author and Give It To Somebody Not Black Month (I’ll have a short interview with Brice on this subject up at my site Sunday, Dec. 21).
