Wk-End Panel – Can of Worms Pt. 2

Okay, so we’ve covered the importance of diversity. Now let’s flip the topic on its head and talk about the thin line of “exclusion.”

When I’m speaking on behalf of The Brown Bookshelf I don’t believe I’m excluding my white counterparts. 9 times out of 10 I’m merely trying to get our names and books mentioned along with everyone else’s.

However, because I travel in a variety of kid lit circles and have writer friends of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, I often feel like I’m constantly waving the race flag even as I’m saying – I just want my books to be seen as teen books not exclusively black teen books.

Can an author have it both ways?

Can a brown author both wave the flag bringing attention to the fact that they’re a brown author and that of “it’s just a teen/PB/MG book?”
Or is that double dipping?

The day that more books by brown authors are simply “a book,” is that success?

I realize, this part of the discussion has even less of a solid answer than Part 1. But I welcome all healthy discussion.

3 thoughts on “Wk-End Panel – Can of Worms Pt. 2

  1. The only way for a Black man to successfully run for president was just as a man running for president. Yet now, race is more a topic of discussion than ever.

  2. I think so. I always find it interesting that all the other art forms easily translate – like music and dance, but there has always been this gap with literature. Good writing is Good Writing.

  3. Been out of town and just returned — you bring up some very good questions and discussion. Thinking about them… and I really don’t have answers but these are points I ponder myself…

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