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At some point we have all encountered some form of discrimination.
As a writer, sometimes authors of color find themselves fighting discrimination of another kind.
We have our own section in the book store. We have our own section but why? Some authors think this is a good thing but I don't.
My writing should be listed and shelved with every other book in the store. My book shouldn't be singled out because it was written by a black author.
Yet, we aren't shelved with other books. We have to have our own section. This is a form of discrimination. Plain and Simple.
Our books are priced higher than books in the same genre as white authors. Our books are marketed to a specific audience but why does this have to be?
If you write romance, why can't your book be listed with the other romance writers? If you write mysteries, I shouldn't have to go to the 'black' section to find a black author's book. It should be under "Mystery" like all other books.
Not only do we face discrimination in the bookstores but we face it when we are asked to be on panels at writing conferences. Why am I on a panel with all black authors instead of on the panel with authors discussing the writing style of mystery or romances.
Some of us are making great strides in breaking the stereotype. Cerece Renner Murphy, is an african american woman author of Sci-Fi and she is taking that world by storm. In part because there is not a black sci fi section in bookstores and because she puts herself out there as being one of the best woman writers of Sci-Fi.
Make no mistake about it; there are a lot of black authors making a wave in the author world but not enough of them are getting the recognition that they deserve.
Why is this? Because mainstream is not seeing them. Why? because they are shelved in the 'black' section of the book store.
Next time you go into a store; make sure you check out my theory and while you are at it; make sure you check out the price of the books.
That might also surprise you.
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