tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post3415190279575114119..comments2023-12-20T05:59:21.610-05:00Comments on Black-Eyed Susan's: Mama Lockdown: Recognition for Black Literature Beyond Historicalsusanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14924982664582970754noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-8915798747129242652010-01-16T00:29:59.483-05:002010-01-16T00:29:59.483-05:00I've been wondering too. As a Generation X-er,...I've been wondering too. As a Generation X-er, I grew up reading Edgar Allen Poe and Stephen King, and wondered where the Black genre writers were. <br /><br />It wasn't until I was legally an adult that I discovered Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, L.A. Banks, Octavia Butler, Brandon Massey, etc. Troy Cle is excellent! I hope to be added to the list too. Great post. Great point. :-D I am Tyhitia Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14070000168178880911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-83234219906397475152010-01-12T08:01:21.281-05:002010-01-12T08:01:21.281-05:00It's taken me a while to get to you - and I...It's taken me a while to get to you - and I'm glad I've finally caught up with this vibrant conversation! I too was very excited in the build up to the Cybils shotlists coming out - and felt enormously deflated when I read through the lists. I think what comes through in all that everyone is saying here is that the string goes back further... More nominations need to come in and Marjoriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12143499864104883745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-22067787795924885412010-01-11T18:40:43.942-05:002010-01-11T18:40:43.942-05:00Hi Sam,
Welcome to the discussion. Someone did po...Hi Sam,<br /><br />Welcome to the discussion. Someone did point out Oscar to me and I actually knew about the book but it paled to the majority of usual suspects. That's how it really happened for me: I saw more of the same and that grabbed my attention. <br /><br />Back to Oscar, I'm currently reading and enjoying The Prince of Fenway Park. Will be sharing it with my young neighbor soon.susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924982664582970754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-3107874331514562042010-01-11T18:13:55.253-05:002010-01-11T18:13:55.253-05:00This is a really valuable discussion, Susan; thank...This is a really valuable discussion, Susan; thank you.<br /><br />I did want to add that there's another Cybils finalist with a black (or mixed-race, actually) main character: <i>The Prince of Fenway Park</i>, by Julianna Baggott, on the Middle Grade Fantasy/Science Fiction list. <br /><br />I've only just started it, but the book seems to be very much about Oscar's feelings about Sam @ Parentheticalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10554555466537167304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-36830079423690679572010-01-11T15:57:26.836-05:002010-01-11T15:57:26.836-05:00jl
LOL,
I see others have gotten to answering you...jl <br />LOL,<br />I see others have gotten to answering your questions two more links I would add to you list especially since you write fantasy is the Great fantasy and Ebook publisher Drolerie press. They are kind of in the forfront of writing and diversity in fantasy. <br /><br />http://drolleriepress.com/resources/reading-and-writing-diversity/<br /><br /> also take a look at <br /><br />Karen L. Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03320299913012919654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-29050194922614225442010-01-10T23:04:16.178-05:002010-01-10T23:04:16.178-05:00I've been reading this discussion with so much...I've been reading this discussion with so much interest, but to Neesha, JL and Miss Attitude in particular, I just wanted to say: awesome! And not b/c you mentioned Ash, but b/c you so succinctly mentioned so many things I've been thinking about so for long, re: LGBT characters in YA.<br /><br />Susan, thanks for bringing all this up. It's been steadily percolating in my head for daysMalinda Lohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06125758561241843192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-12343041406651009992010-01-09T11:56:11.808-05:002010-01-09T11:56:11.808-05:00Hi Jl,
So glad the links are helpful! Definitely...Hi Jl,<br /> So glad the links are helpful! Definitely read Ash and Neesha's book, Shine Coconut Moon :D<br /><br />Thanks the mask was for a mardi gras party. Have a great weekend.<br /><br />I hope everyone continues to read, review and lbog about books by/about poc, what you all do is so important!MissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-75836109451918788972010-01-08T09:59:36.019-05:002010-01-08T09:59:36.019-05:00jl ~
*perfect* answers. All applicable to poc, to...jl ~<br /><br />*perfect* answers. All applicable to poc, too :).<br /><br />Warmly,<br />NeeshaNeesha Memingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09580810115152554244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-44502103863394983412010-01-08T01:21:34.282-05:002010-01-08T01:21:34.282-05:00MissAttitude,
Thank you so much for all of these ...MissAttitude,<br /><br />Thank you so much for all of these links. My browser right now is a hilarious cascade of tabs : ) I'm eager to read each of these blog posts, particularly the one about writing race in fantasy novels. I write fantasy, and I've heard nothing but good thing about Malinda Lo's "Ash" (I can't keep it on the library shelf long enough to read it myselfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-20703661252818575662010-01-07T23:44:57.820-05:002010-01-07T23:44:57.820-05:00I love reading all these comments and the great di...I love reading all these comments and the great discussion!<br /><br />Jl,<br /> You make some great points and they can be applied to poc. Remember, poc are people first too. Do your research, ask questions and be prepared to accept the fact that someone is going to take issue with your work. One Black person may love a Black character in your novel because she's realistic, another Black MissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-45675461716538402552010-01-07T19:48:41.244-05:002010-01-07T19:48:41.244-05:00Neesha,
You ask the great questions, "What w...Neesha,<br /><br />You ask the great questions, "What would you say to those writers? How could they write LGBTQ characters respectfully, multi-dimensionally, and yet still honor the fact that they are exercising a privilege rarely enjoyed by the majority of LGBTQ writers?"<br /><br />I'm afraid that the quality of my answers don't rise to the quality of these questions. What Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-64874416824665214352010-01-07T16:39:05.379-05:002010-01-07T16:39:05.379-05:00jl, I love that you're asking the questions, a...jl, I love that you're asking the questions, and I love that you're trying to make the connections between queer awareness and issues and those raised here, in this discussion, about poc.<br /><br />So, in that light, how about if we try to re-frame the question: we live in a world where the lives and issues of the LGBTQ communities are continually erased, dismissed, or misrepresented. Neesha Memingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09580810115152554244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-13925686366636682062010-01-07T14:56:15.969-05:002010-01-07T14:56:15.969-05:00Lafreya,
Thank you for taking the time to respond...Lafreya,<br /><br />Thank you for taking the time to respond. If I understand what you're saying, you'd find it more appropriate for white writers to write about POC if writers of color were better represented in the publishing industry. If I'm wrong, please correct me. <br /><br />Your answers lead me to more questions *grin*. Question one: what can I do to improve the representationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-60012050364276766262010-01-07T11:35:51.716-05:002010-01-07T11:35:51.716-05:00Writer to writer here is the problem that many whi...Writer to writer here is the problem that many white writers tend to ignore. White people get to write about African Americans, other POC and anything else for that matter and get published. Most books ( Like "The Help ( don’t get me started about this book) or Neil Gaiman's Anansi’s Boys or James Patterson's Alex Cross or most of the children and YA books about POC are written by Karen L. Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03320299913012919654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-52564177198875853372010-01-05T21:26:34.456-05:002010-01-05T21:26:34.456-05:00Susan,
I might be able to contribute to a discuss...Susan,<br /><br />I might be able to contribute to a discussion about the lack of PoC in white writers' contemporary fiction. When I was getting my B.A. in Creative Writing, one of my professors (a person of color) told our Advanced Fiction class that white people should not write main characters of color, because that would be an act of cultural appropriation. He also told us that white Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-20114052895455924692010-01-05T15:48:11.000-05:002010-01-05T15:48:11.000-05:00I had a thought last night. My husband is a physi...I had a thought last night. My husband is a physician. He's also old school - the dying breed that likes to hold your hand and doesn't keep to the 15 minute appointment limit. Because he runs an inner city clinic (only a mile from our house) he sees and hears a lot of "stuff" and has to read a lot of technical journals to keep up his license. <br /><br />My kids and I loved Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15343502038138971001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-41304566708025906912010-01-05T09:14:54.278-05:002010-01-05T09:14:54.278-05:00Susan - Brilliant, and thank you for voicing your ...Susan - Brilliant, and thank you for voicing your anger. Now I have to red through all the comments.Gavinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12865699135545209220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-54079671486735072412010-01-05T03:44:43.473-05:002010-01-05T03:44:43.473-05:00I've been publishing manga for about six years...I've been publishing manga for about six years now, which put me "out of the loop" with the rest of the publishing industry. We have very culturally diverse staffs in our corner of the universe, and found that our readers would devour characters of any color/culture. Our readers themselves were of all colors, races, creeds, everything. I got used to that.<br /><br />I spent the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-3525595869080090772010-01-04T22:34:33.124-05:002010-01-04T22:34:33.124-05:00I love that the Cybils exist.
There were many wo...I love that the Cybils exist. <br />There were many wonderful books nominated including those featuring POC. <br /><br />The problem lies with the publishing industry. People can't nominated what isn't being published in the first place. <br /><br />Also the Cybils lead to this discussion which is a very good thing. <br /><br />Christine (and every one) - you should really check Dorethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08676911030014718403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-12365782005959171542010-01-04T18:40:08.232-05:002010-01-04T18:40:08.232-05:00For the record, I send multi kudos to Cybils for t...For the record, I send multi kudos to Cybils for the daunting task of weeding through all the nominations (and extra hugs to the judge who gave my book a good review :-) ) The judges are not paid so double kudos for trying to do something positive.<br /><br />Liz - that's so familiar what your friend went through. A lot of us get that. I was once told my characters didn't sound black (Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15343502038138971001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-1955221460737663872010-01-04T18:36:00.191-05:002010-01-04T18:36:00.191-05:00Neesha,
Now how am I suppose to say no when you a...Neesha,<br /><br />Now how am I suppose to say no when you and Colleen are pushing in the door? lol <br /><br />Was Anne asking me to serve? <br /><br />Anne, I have no idea what you're asking so let me know how I can serve and I'm in.<br /><br />I've been at work all day with no access and I come home very encouraged to see you all have continued to engage one another.<br /><br />susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14924982664582970754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-34076963331457543742010-01-04T17:18:25.884-05:002010-01-04T17:18:25.884-05:00I do hope you join the Cybils committee, Susan -- ...I do hope you join the Cybils committee, Susan -- and then invite some other change-bloggers in, too.Mrs. Pilkingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443662716537601907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-89136326109387164752010-01-04T17:17:22.740-05:002010-01-04T17:17:22.740-05:00YES Christine! I agree wholeheartedly! Slavery/Civ...YES Christine! I agree wholeheartedly! Slavery/Civil Rights/Holocaust books have become the default for Af American and Jewish teens. And there are so many excellent books already out there on these subject that I just don't get why they keep coming.<br /><br />For my column at Bookslut I receive hundreds of MG and YA books a year - hundreds of them. And to the authors who wonder about "Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18380722344521975869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-50946492682519710952010-01-04T10:38:20.847-05:002010-01-04T10:38:20.847-05:00Hey - thanks for the question, Wendy. No I think ...Hey - thanks for the question, Wendy. No I think I was misunderstood. In my essay for Writers On Racism I noted that while my daughter attended an summer program at an elite boarding school - the students from other countries focused on positive aspects and contributions from their cultures at the diversity showcase. The African American students focused on slavery and civil rights. Because Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15343502038138971001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8400455429821166661.post-42329189545147278552010-01-04T10:12:39.856-05:002010-01-04T10:12:39.856-05:00Wendy, you make a great point. I think this is exa...Wendy, you make a great point. I think this is exactly the crux of our discussion: <br />"...because most of the children's literature world is focused on giving kids what they want, so if you're thinking they need something other than what they want, that's something of a departure."<br /><br />Focusing on what kids *want* is about profit. For instance, my 8-yr-old wants Neesha Memingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09580810115152554244noreply@blogger.com