attitude & gratitude

23 Nov 2011 news 0 Comments 0

I’m thankful for many things this evening. I’m thankful for the medication that relieved my 4am migraine. And I’m so glad I dragged myself to work today because my students really lifted my spirits. We were discussing colorism and we took turns acting out Yellowman by Dael Orlandersmith. We shared stories of our own experiences with privilege and prejudice; we reflected on the messages we get from the media and from our families. We talked about body image and eating disorders, and the impulse too many black women have to diminish ourselves in order to please or placate others. Why do so many of us fear that we “take up too much space?” I’m so thankful for the opportunity to teach and learn from my students—and I truly needed to be in the classroom this week because things got a little heated on the blog. When I posted the publishers responsible for the 47 black-authored books that came out in 2011, one editor left an anonymous comment that rubbed me the wrong way. In part because it was the same old, same old (“I don’t consider race when judging a manuscript”) and in part because s/he claimed my methodology was flawed. I responded to her comment and then rallied the troops (thanks to everyone who shared their opinion!), and my good friend Laura Atkins wrote a brilliant response that she has since posted on her own blog. Laura was much more diplomatic than I was and asked the anonymous editor to consider a few things:

…have you considered how you respond to manuscripts based on your own background (not knowing what that background is)? And if this idea is extended, considering that the publishing industry is dominated by people from a white middle-class background (and generally female), then isn’t this going to shape the reactions editors and sales people are having to submissions? Again, Neesha’s post on aesthetics is helpful to read here. As is Cynthia Leitich Smiths’ article, “A Different Drum: Native American Writing” (“Field Notes,” The Horn Book Magazine, July 2002, p. 407). She gives examples of responses she had to her writing, including the use of humor which non-native readers didn’t get, and how she was told that repeating four times was incorrect – it should be three (drawing on fairy tale tropes rather than Cynthia’s cultural traditions). This is a lot of what I wrote about in my essay, “White Privilege in Children’s Publishing,” and I think gets to the heart of the issues with the publishing industry. As long as the people working there don’t reflect the people who live in the country (demographics are shifting, ethnic minorities becoming majorities in some places) – then how can the books published really reflect and speak to children from truly diverse backgrounds?

Laura also posted links to my stats and her response on the Child_Lit list, and one member (thank you, Melynda Huskey) shared a link to an interesting Implicit Association Test that YOU can take to reveal your unconscious assumptions about groups of people who are different than you (race, religion, gender, sexuality, etc.). Academics certainly have their issues, but maybe we need more professors in publishing! I withdrew from the Child_Lit list after hearing crickets whenever I broached the subject of racism in publishing, but I’m grateful that at least some people on the list were willing to respond so thoughtfully to Laura’s post.

I will be grading over Thanksgiving, but I have vowed *not* to grumble as I grade. There’s way too much to be thankful for…

activism, African American Literature, book culture, children's literature, equity, minority issues in publishing, multicultural literature, racism in publishing

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rhapsodyinbooks

23 Nov 2011 Reply

Great dialogue on the previous post, Zetta. Of course we always hear "I don't consider race." But, as you all point out, that's only true if every candidate from every race seems white! Well here's hoping the fact that Mr. Anonymous stopped by, and presumably read subsequent posts, will make a difference! ...for which we would all be thankful! :--)
elliottzetta

24 Nov 2011 Reply

That's funny--I assumed Anonymous was a woman! And at the end of the day I really do appreciate that s/he spoke up b/c it's largely the silence that stalls progress. And I know editors are afraid to speak out because they know they'll then be held accountable for whatever they reveal about their practices. But I'm going to keep on pushing! So glad and grateful for allies like you, Jill.
Laura Atkins

24 Nov 2011 Reply

I also assumed the editor was a woman - perhaps thinking if it is someone from children's publishing, you must have a 95% chance of her being female. And I also appreciate her speaking up. It's better to be honest and give insight into these processes. Zetta pointed out the lack of transparency in publishing, and that keeps so much of this behind the scenes and inaccessible. And I hope she didn't feel railroaded by our responses. One of my biggest concerns or questions is HOW to make an impact of publishing decisions, trying to get people to be more self-reflective about their practices. I know that is particularly difficult in our capitalist, money-driven culture. But there are lots of good people who work in publishing, who care about books, children, even access. It would be incredibly helpful to have more open conversations, where people feel able to reflect and listen. I feel that's how I learned when I was an editor. I've written before about the Native American woman who told me that in her culture, a boy having a conversation with a rock would be not be considered fantasy.

Ebony made an interesting comment (either on Child-lit or in response to my post) about how academia was much more open and inviting to different perspectives than the publishing industry was. I wonder if there's something with that comparison, though I'm not sure where to go with it. How could the publishing industry be pushed or encouraged to really engage with these questions, and in an open and visible way? Zetta, you mention the Equalities Charter in the UK, but I'm not sure how much that is really being pushed at the moment. DIPNet has a new coordinator and he seems to be interested in different activities and events. Some sort of gathering with key people in publishing would be interesting, I guess, to talk about some of these issues. But this only matters if there is a deep desire on the part of publishers to change their practices. And if those at the top (making money-based decisions) are interested in supporting new initiatives and approaches. And let's be honest - publishing is in a crisis already with the shifts in electronic publishing and distribution, the failing economy, etc. As I wrote in my reply to Zetta's post, I think there are exciting possibilities with digital publishing. We just need some visionaries to take advantage. I'm quite interested in the Unbound model (http://unbound.co.uk/) and wonder if some sort of children's pubishing venture could work this way?
elliottzetta

26 Nov 2011 Reply

Hey, Laura. The academy is a problematic place, too, but at least *some* people there are theorizing around difference and social justice--and training others to do the same. NO ONE in publishing is doing that, it seems to me, and the corporate model could actually exploit difference for profit but it's not even willing to do that! This is why diversity is so important--not just on the level of race or gender or class, but the narrow perspectives that keep publishers doing the same thing over and over again. Now is the perfect time for them to explore new models precisely *because* so much is in flux. Instead, they're digging in their heels and refusing to embrace change--fighting it, even. That's partly why I have no real sympathy for them. If these big houses have to fail in order for new models to emerge, then I'm fine with that. Occupy Publishing! Stacy Whitman at TU is starting something similar to DIPNET; we'll see how/if they're able to get publishers to 'fess up to the practices that led us to this point. I'm not worried about "Anonymous Editor" feeling railroaded. People who hide behind their privilege aren't the victims here--and it's the lack of courage, the lack of daring that keeps the industry from becoming more vibrant and open and dynamic.
Amy Reads

13 Dec 2011 Reply

Wow absolutely fantastic response by Laura. Unfantastic response from editor. HOW are ppl still so ridiculously clueless about stuff?

elliottzetta

13 Dec 2011 Reply

They live in a bubble, Amy. When I look at my white allies, I'm always struck by the way they refuse to live in a bubble, they way they actively reach out to people who are different---with humility---and express an earnest desire to learn. AND to explore and expose their own privilege. I think many gatekeepers are simply drunk on their own power---it's virtually impossible for them to accept that they are NOT the expert on everything b/c they *do* have the power to marginalize and/or dismiss anything that rubs them the wrong way...

Amy Reads

13 Dec 2011 Reply

Hmm... great point. Though I still don't understand HOW people can keep up a bubble!! I mean, we all have blind spots and mess up and learn but... to completely bubble that badly? Yikes. Makes me wonder how they live, you know? What do you do all day that you miss so much? And... and... yeah. Power goes to people's heads I guess - though it isn't only those with power who seem to be so far removed from reality.

elliottzetta

13 Dec 2011 Reply

I think part of it is that privilege enables people to remain comfortably oblivious...if you don't *have* to notice difference, then you don't have to engage with potential inequality (and your own unearned advantages). I think that's why most people---esp. in Canada---don't want to talk meaningfully about race...because it inevitably leads to a conversation about RACISM. So Canada promotes multiculturalism but is having a hard time explaining inequity in Canadian society. Think of that moment when you were at Roy Thompson Hall and you looked around and noticed that almost everyone was white. Most people with privilege never have that moment of recognition; they only see themselves ALL the time, and it is made to seem natural and right and fair. It would be great if we ran a blog series on whiteness---I'd love to hear how you, and Laura, and Jill, and my other white allies came to consciousness. It could be really instructive for others, too...I think we need to be real about the risks and rewards of owning white privilege.

Amy Reads

14 Dec 2011 Reply

I suppose that is true... and I know that sometimes I probably don't notice when I really should. Always growing. BUT... to completely notice nothing? I still don't understand.

The blog series idea sounds fascinating, would definitely be in on that!

attitude & gratitude

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rhapsodyinbooks

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Laura Atkins

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