People who read books, and of course the writerly types, have always believed they possess some sort of superior intelligence to us lesser folk. (Apparently the Nazis had similar thoughts). But could it be these superior types are just a big bunch of racists . . . and commercial fiction is making them worse?
The bean counters at Global Publishing LLC ain't publishing a book with limited potential.
And so we ask our esteemed readership what qualities a book must have.
"We need to like the main character," they reply. So, I ask you . . . "How many black BFFs do you have?"
"We need to empathise with the main character," the readership says. And you must ask yourself, "Do I really understand black people and their problems?"
"We need a character to root for!" the readership demands. But in any conflict people tend to root for their own.
It stands to reason any stories about black people with black problems will not appeal to the tastes of the established readership. If the readership ain't buying it, Global Publishing LLC ain't printing it.
I was disappointed in aspects of feedback I received for The Spoils of War while it was in development. A returning British Soldier rapes a Pakistani (British) student. Many of those who commented on the fly 'liked' the soldier and even after he raped the student suggested 'excuses' for him. They didn't seem to give a crap about the girl.
My latest novel had a similar response. In a tale about sisters with different skin colours they all assumed it was story about the black child and her struggles - It isn't.
And so we back to old question of why black people don't read. Surely forcing them to read about likeable white people with and their white problems is cruel and usual punishment.
I could end by saying, "Literature, literature everywhere and not a word to read." Or perhaps I could go for.
LITERATURE - of white people, by white people, for white people, shall not perish from the earth.
The bean counters at Global Publishing LLC ain't publishing a book with limited potential.
And so we ask our esteemed readership what qualities a book must have.
"We need to like the main character," they reply. So, I ask you . . . "How many black BFFs do you have?"
"We need to empathise with the main character," the readership says. And you must ask yourself, "Do I really understand black people and their problems?"
"We need a character to root for!" the readership demands. But in any conflict people tend to root for their own.
It stands to reason any stories about black people with black problems will not appeal to the tastes of the established readership. If the readership ain't buying it, Global Publishing LLC ain't printing it.
I was disappointed in aspects of feedback I received for The Spoils of War while it was in development. A returning British Soldier rapes a Pakistani (British) student. Many of those who commented on the fly 'liked' the soldier and even after he raped the student suggested 'excuses' for him. They didn't seem to give a crap about the girl.
My latest novel had a similar response. In a tale about sisters with different skin colours they all assumed it was story about the black child and her struggles - It isn't.
And so we back to old question of why black people don't read. Surely forcing them to read about likeable white people with and their white problems is cruel and usual punishment.
I could end by saying, "Literature, literature everywhere and not a word to read." Or perhaps I could go for.
LITERATURE - of white people, by white people, for white people, shall not perish from the earth.
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