Every so often,
the debate over
whether or not
white authors
should write books
with diverse characters
rages on social media.
No one seems to want
to touch the REAL
reason
this can be an issue
(but I will
because that is what
client k does).
There isn’t a problem
with white writers
WRITING diverse characters
well
(doing it well is important).
There IS a problem
with white writers
PROMOTING
that they’ve written
a book with diverse characters.
Why?
Because when a writer
merely promotes
the diverse book
like she usually promotes
her non-diverse books,
she is likely to bring
readers
TO other diverse writers’ books.
If she deliberately promotes
her diverse book
to a different readership,
to the diverse-book-loving readership,
she is taking a sale
AWAY from diverse writers.
And by promoting her book
as a diverse book,
she is suggesting
it is representative of
ALL diverse books.
She is setting herself up
as THE diverse book writer.
This applies to businesses
that tout their diverse hiring
yet have no diverse leaders
and to businesses
that promote their female-friendliness
yet have no female leaders.
Don’t promote a half a$$ effort
and expect no push back
from the truly diverse
or the truly female-friendly
businesses and communities.
Take these steps…quietly,
without fanfare
because that is the right thing
to do.
The people who care
WILL notice.
Think before promoting
your efforts.
Just because you’re doing it
doesn’t mean
you have to tell the world
you’re doing it.