I know of two authors that have been told by publishers that they have to remove diverse characters or references to other cultures from their novels on the basis that only diverse creators are allowed to write about diverse characters or culture. If this is the attitude in the industry it isn't surprising that representation is being played down.
preach! I'm from the northern central valley and live with such a wonderful, diverse community. when I was younger, I moved down south where everyone was rich and white and i missed my diverse community SO MUCH. People don't understand what they are missing learning and living with people who don't look, act, talk, or laugh like them. people are wonderful, let's not make us all the same please. that's so fucking boring.
That last line 👏🏽 I love ya April 🤣. You make a great point for books too though. I remember everyone complaining that books felt boring and the same story over and over. Wonder why 👀
This is why I love covers with characters. They outright show me what the character looks like, proudly declaring they have a bipoc or fat or disabled main character. One of my books has the character's top surgery scars peeking out. Anyway, books don't always have to declare the race of characters, since I think we need books out there that have a neutral POV instead of the prevalent default white POV (eg, white characters' race or skin color are not mentioned but bipoc's are). But I'm also tired of the whitewashing of the little bipoc rep there is, even among the main characters whose skin tone and appearance are very clearly indicated (if I remember correctly, the "katnissisnotbrown" tumblr was attacking everyone that wanted brown Katniss but eventually changed to "moviekatnissisnotbrown" after other readers beat them down with book excerpts). So overall, I think authors should at least hold their ground with their characters' race (Suzanne Collins made excuses for JLaw's casting, unfortunately), and learn that if they don't actually want bipoc characters they can just not write them.
Yess! Fandoms (cough SJM Cough) have grown so toxic. Sometimes I can't believe their excuse. My "favorite" one on Rhys is "he was under the mountain so of course he is pale " 😤
I am totally white, but I have a masters degree in Spanish and along the way studied in Mexico and lived with a few different families. I have been a high school Spanish teacher for 20 years and have had the privilege of teaching various Hispanic/Latine students. So I get excited when I hear about Latine characters and then the art work is not there. I also like a lot of Southwest Asian fantasy and again the art work is often not there. I would love to see more Hispanic/Latine characters that feel accurate to some of the Hispanic/Latine people I have met in my life. Another tangent that really bothers me is when book reviewers complain that the Spanish wasn’t translated in the books. So I just unfollow them. So for what it is worth, this white lady agrees.
I am working on a novel and one of my main characters is a black woman. I myself am white, but I wanted to have some diversity in my cast. What descriptive words are appropriate for deeper skin tones that aren't based on food. I don't want her to be fetishized. Its important to me that she is described and viewed in a way that is appropriate for a strong leader.
I think you should check out black authors' books and see how they describe skintones. From my reading experience, I don't see food or earth comparisons. I think "dark", "brown", "deep skintone" are apt enough. Maybe gem comparisons. And I've seen undertones described. Warm, cool, red, gold. You can look up guides written by Black people. I'm not Black, so you can take what i said with a grain of salt.
Authors are not always in control of the illustrator's work. And many illustrators didn't read the book, they're just following the instructions of whoever hired them, the publisher usually.
That’s mostly true for the cover art of the book, but I’m talking about licensed indie artists who sell prints, stickers, sweatshirts, etc. who formally request to have their artwork licensed to sell. The author and their team end up approving, which means their team/the author is approving art that removes BIPOC identity. I’m also referring to fans who make fan art and white wash, and fellow readers praise them for it in their comments.
@xo_jo Fan-art controversies are always messy, so I avoided that part. But for the merch I don't know how much power the authors have. I guess it depends on their contracts. Some people sell their IP rights completely if it means getting a big paycheck
I'm baffled by people who do not know the author they are reading from. How about we stick with authors who do not feel the need to hide behind another name? Who are very open about who they are and are trusted as authors. There are so many good REAL BIPOC stories out there. Read those! ❤
This is such a great video 👏 thank you for making it! I love hearing about you and your experiences. In a similar vein, I read a YA book semi recently that really advertised having a diverse cast of characters. The main 4 girls all were of a different minority. But when I got into reading it… all of the characters were VERY stereotypical. It was borderline (or just… straight up) offensive. Why market yourself as a diverse book when you can’t take the time to write meaningful and accurate representations of these minority groups? Oh yes… bipoc baiting 🫠
A tough topic, but very real in the book world. Thanks for following along!
ADORED THE WORD VOMIT!
This was fantastic, especially you talking about your experience in college and how that opened your world up!
@@maggiesbooksandstuff ugh thank youuuu 🤍🤍🤍
I know of two authors that have been told by publishers that they have to remove diverse characters or references to other cultures from their novels on the basis that only diverse creators are allowed to write about diverse characters or culture. If this is the attitude in the industry it isn't surprising that representation is being played down.
I’ve had BIPOC authors tell me the same! Imagine?! If non BIPOC authors can’t include a diverse cast and BIPOC authors can’t either…. THEN WHO CAN?! 😭
preach! I'm from the northern central valley and live with such a wonderful, diverse community. when I was younger, I moved down south where everyone was rich and white and i missed my diverse community SO MUCH. People don't understand what they are missing learning and living with people who don't look, act, talk, or laugh like them. people are wonderful, let's not make us all the same please. that's so fucking boring.
That last line 👏🏽 I love ya April 🤣. You make a great point for books too though. I remember everyone complaining that books felt boring and the same story over and over. Wonder why 👀
This is why I love covers with characters. They outright show me what the character looks like, proudly declaring they have a bipoc or fat or disabled main character. One of my books has the character's top surgery scars peeking out. Anyway, books don't always have to declare the race of characters, since I think we need books out there that have a neutral POV instead of the prevalent default white POV (eg, white characters' race or skin color are not mentioned but bipoc's are). But I'm also tired of the whitewashing of the little bipoc rep there is, even among the main characters whose skin tone and appearance are very clearly indicated (if I remember correctly, the "katnissisnotbrown" tumblr was attacking everyone that wanted brown Katniss but eventually changed to "moviekatnissisnotbrown" after other readers beat them down with book excerpts). So overall, I think authors should at least hold their ground with their characters' race (Suzanne Collins made excuses for JLaw's casting, unfortunately), and learn that if they don't actually want bipoc characters they can just not write them.
Yess!
Fandoms (cough SJM Cough) have grown so toxic. Sometimes I can't believe their excuse. My "favorite" one on Rhys is "he was under the mountain so of course he is pale " 😤
That made me cringe 💀 like oookaaay. He just lost his actual skin tone and turned a whole other ethnicity 💀
I am totally white, but I have a masters degree in Spanish and along the way studied in Mexico and lived with a few different families. I have been a high school Spanish teacher for 20 years and have had the privilege of teaching various Hispanic/Latine students. So I get excited when I hear about Latine characters and then the art work is not there. I also like a lot of Southwest Asian fantasy and again the art work is often not there. I would love to see more Hispanic/Latine characters that feel accurate to some of the Hispanic/Latine people I have met in my life.
Another tangent that really bothers me is when book reviewers complain that the Spanish wasn’t translated in the books. So I just unfollow them.
So for what it is worth, this white lady agrees.
Thank you for your thoughts on an important conversation. ❤
Thank YOU for watching and commenting 🤍
I am working on a novel and one of my main characters is a black woman. I myself am white, but I wanted to have some diversity in my cast. What descriptive words are appropriate for deeper skin tones that aren't based on food. I don't want her to be fetishized. Its important to me that she is described and viewed in a way that is appropriate for a strong leader.
I think you should check out black authors' books and see how they describe skintones. From my reading experience, I don't see food or earth comparisons. I think "dark", "brown", "deep skintone" are apt enough. Maybe gem comparisons. And I've seen undertones described. Warm, cool, red, gold. You can look up guides written by Black people. I'm not Black, so you can take what i said with a grain of salt.
Pop off Joanna!
So well spoken
Hahah thank you 😆
Authors are not always in control of the illustrator's work. And many illustrators didn't read the book, they're just following the instructions of whoever hired them, the publisher usually.
That’s mostly true for the cover art of the book, but I’m talking about licensed indie artists who sell prints, stickers, sweatshirts, etc. who formally request to have their artwork licensed to sell. The author and their team end up approving, which means their team/the author is approving art that removes BIPOC identity.
I’m also referring to fans who make fan art and white wash, and fellow readers praise them for it in their comments.
@xo_jo
Fan-art controversies are always messy, so I avoided that part. But for the merch I don't know how much power the authors have. I guess it depends on their contracts. Some people sell their IP rights completely if it means getting a big paycheck
got to expose the fakes to find the real ones
True 😂
@@xo_jo surface level representation is not going to cut it
I'm baffled by people who do not know the author they are reading from. How about we stick with authors who do not feel the need to hide behind another name? Who are very open about who they are and are trusted as authors. There are so many good REAL BIPOC stories out there. Read those! ❤
Yeah! That’s why I mentioned we already have plenty of incredible authors that need more hype!
👏👏
This is such a great video 👏 thank you for making it! I love hearing about you and your experiences.
In a similar vein, I read a YA book semi recently that really advertised having a diverse cast of characters. The main 4 girls all were of a different minority. But when I got into reading it… all of the characters were VERY stereotypical. It was borderline (or just… straight up) offensive. Why market yourself as a diverse book when you can’t take the time to write meaningful and accurate representations of these minority groups? Oh yes… bipoc baiting 🫠
Oh gees. That would’ve thrown me off a lot! I feel you when you say it made you feel uncomfortable or suspicious. I would be too…