renay: Dear White YA Bloggers: ARG

Renay (

renay) wrote,
@ 2010-01-18 12:16 pm UTC

Entry tags:

There's been some more racefail in the YA community over Magic Under Glass, a book about a PoC whose cover is pretty damn white. Ari has a great post, Really Bloomsbury? I'm Done. The Publishing World Needs to Take Note and the a follow-up, An Open Letter to Bloomsbury Kids USA. Other Publishing Houses Take Note. She links to a lot of interesting posts, but of course, of course, the first one I read about this whole mess was Am I A Bad Person?.

The title immediately made me go, "Ugh, it's not ABOUT you." Man, do I ever not care about the poor hurt feelings of white people when PoC tell them, "You're hurting us with your silence. Please educate yourself." I am so amazed that in one post, this blogger with such a huge following, has managed to make it all about white people and their poor feelings because they are uneducated by virtue of their privilege and also demand that PoC come educate them. If only this was some elaborate joke!

DEAR YA BLOGGERS: NOTE MY LACK OF LAUGHTER.

Then, this:

While we are on this topic. Rarely does a cover accurately depict what a character look like.

The cover designers, I’m assuming, rarely if ever read the book that they are designing for. The author, as I’m aware, rarely if ever has control over their covers. The publishers most certainly know what the book is about, as such, there are are factors that they must weigh in on to determine the cover.

It’s not right, it's not fair, but it’s true.

Am I seeing this? Am I honestly seeing one of the most popular YA bloggers who is white, say "that's just how it is" and maintain that because it's hard (oh wow, not something HARD) to market to PoC (or any other minority group) we shouldn't demand change? That we shouldn't worry because covers never accurately depict the characters? That we all shouldn't get loud and angry and hold the publisher accountable?

Am I reading this wrong? I can't even...what? I am so disappointed that clearly we learned nothing from the Liar controversy. :(

More links on this topic:

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	zachariah 2010-01-18 06:48 pm UTC (link)
	Is there someplace that explains why authors don't get veto control and a majority say in the design/cover of the book? Because that seems like the most natural method for choosing the presentation of the content, but apparently nobody does it(?). (Reply to this) (Thread)

	anatsuno 2010-01-21 08:31 pm UTC (link)
	The simple explanation (that I know) goes something like this: a writer's job is to write books; a publisher's job is to sell them. the cover is a part of the selling process, not the, erm, telling process. (Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent)

inkstone
2010-01-18 07:29 pm UTC (link)

The sad truth of the matter is that the Liar controversy is the exception, the extraordinary exception, not the rule. These patterns are deeply ingrained and it's much easier for people to fall back to the status quo, no matter how failtastic than it is to look inside themselves and institute change.

Especially when we're talking about a machine (in this case, publishing) that is deeply, deeply embedded with structural racism. Because to fight it constantly is wearying and tiring and to be very honest, I'm not sure many white people, who've enjoyed privilege for so much of their lives, are willing to keep fighting when things get hard. Because they can get up and walk away and not have to think about it ever again.

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renay
2010-01-18 07:36 pm UTC (link)

This is all true. Many of the white YA bloggers were silent last time, too. This time, they're not silent, but most of the noise is just static—complaining about not getting it, demanding to be treated a certain way because of their lack of education. I am not surprised, that would be wrong, but I think I expected a little more growth—not one of the most well-known voices of the community coming out to whine that they have white privilege. :(

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inkstone
2010-01-18 07:41 pm UTC (link)

I admit I don't follow the YA blogosphere so my following of Liar was not seen through that lens, and so I don't really know the history. I wish I could say I'm surprised the noise coming out now is such nonsense but that always seems to be -- whether rightly or wrongly -- the first step in such discussions. God knows there was so much of it during RaceFail.

(Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent) (Thread)

	renay 2010-01-18 08:15 pm UTC (link)
	People do a lot of fail-ordering, and then eventually self-correct? I hope I get to see some of that, and we don't just fall down halfway to the latter. :/ (Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent) (Thread)

	inkstone 2010-01-18 08:19 pm UTC (link)
	They will if there's enough pressure on them? I don't know the composition of the YA blogosphere. SFF has a lot of POC authors and fans, as well as their allies, to go HOLD UP, STOP THIS NOISE!! Does the YA blogosphere have that? It's a serious question. I actually don't know. (Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent) (Thread)

renay
2010-01-18 08:24 pm UTC (link)

There are a few PoC bloggers, but there is also a large number of white bloggers asking them to sit down and shut up and whhhhy are you picking on me and asking me to do hard things!, etc. I think it would be different if the white people weren't bumbling out really problematic blog posts, but instead owning up to the fact they've never had to consider these things and are out of their element, and please give them time to learn—not making posts like the one I boggled at for a good two hours. :/

Talking instead of listening, right—then letting their followers shut the PoC down. :(

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bookgazing.blogspot.com
2010-01-18 11:03 pm UTC (link)

See and before finding this blog I would totally have not really gotten this at all, but as soon as I saw that post I was thinking they had better hope Renay does not find this because she will not be happy. I like The Story Siren and I get the place she is in, because it's close to the town of stupidityville where I was last year before I started regularly reading Fledgling, Reading in Color, Justine Larbalestier's blog and of course here, but the fact that she's as uneducated as me about race doesn't excuse her from writing that post once she's aware of the issue and can see how upset it's making others. She just totally removed the focus from the issue and I think it was kind of a pity party move to write that post.

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renay
2010-01-18 11:22 pm UTC (link)

It's one thing to recognize that as a white person, we won't always get it and be embarrassed about it (we should be; there's little excuse for at least being peripherally aware of race issues in our so-called "post racial" society). I've been there, but I've also learned when to sit down and shut my mouth or at least err on the side of "don't say too much about this subject I just admitted I don't really notice."

The best thing she could have done would have been highlight the issue, explain that, no, she is not educated, but she will educate herself, please read these thoughtful posts by PoC because this is the life they live and they are very knowledgeable and I do not know enough about this topic. Easy, but no. No, it had to become about feelings of the hurt white people.

I feel like whamming everyone in that thread who continue to not listen with Derailing for Dummies, but as usual I'd be a big meanie and everyone would pull out the "but why are you so ANGRY" bingo cards and the fail would just continue, indefinitely. So I will just seethe in my corner. >|

(Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent)

	chaosraven 2010-01-18 11:24 pm UTC (link)
	;_; This is why we can't have nice things. The comments on The Story Siren post were MADDENING. I was like, good job guys, go for a bingo blackout why don't you? SIGH. I'm so glad that these are issues that you blog about and that you're so dedicated to speaking out about racism in fandom/elsewhere. <3 You're the best! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	renay 2010-01-18 11:51 pm UTC (link)
	I especially liked when people condescended to Susan. I wanted to rend fabric, no lie. Racism bingo, people! mourns lack of education (Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent)

classicvasilly.wordpress.com
2010-01-19 01:23 am UTC (link)

Renay, you are so smart and awesome. You say the things that other people, including myself, are too timid to say. I quit following The Story Siren a while ago, so I didn't know she wrote a post about the latest Bloomsbury fail.

I agree with you 100%. She did make her post about her. I would have loved if she would have asked her readers for recommendations to books by or featuring POC. Instead she basically let Bloomsbury off the hook.

Thanks for another great post. -Vasilly

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renay
2010-01-19 01:39 am UTC (link)

Well! That's one thing people will never be able to say about me. Timidity is not, er, a selling trait for me and my brand of criticism. Demanding and contemptuous might be better.

There are a lot of people letting Bloomsbury off the hook. It's sad, but time wears on! I become less and less surprised. It's a hard subject, and it's even more of a disaster when someone wanders into what amounts to a minefield and goes, "I don't need a stinking map!"

Thank you for adding your voice. It's always terrifying to speak up when you seem to be in the minority. <3

(Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent)

(Anonymous)
2010-01-19 02:59 am UTC (link)

Hey there -

I'm a middle class white gal and until recently NEVER paid attention to the covers on books. Why should I, really, right? They all mirror the *me* in the world. If ethnicity is not mentioned in the story, of course I picture the character as white. It's what I know; what I relate to. It also makes it pretty simpleminded.

I became more aware of whitewashing covers (is that the term we're using now?) after working in a predominantly hispanic school for five years, and prior to that, a predominantly black school (where I joked that affirmative action got me *that* job because I was the token - and needed - white teacher). So here I am trying to find books for my students because **of course** they say to me, "Miss...all the people are white!" and we as a class know that's not true, even though at times it feels that way.

And here's another kicker...I find books with POC on the cover but oftentimes the characters are from the hood. What? We can't assume that there are middle class, upper class, highly educated POC in the world? Talk about reinforcing and us vs. them mentality.

*shrug* Does this make sense? I have taken some tylenol PM and will hit post without re-reading. Shame on me for any grammatical errors. I guess I'm saying hell to the ya we need more diversity on covers!

(Reply to this)

imadra_blue
2010-01-19 04:56 am UTC (link)

I have very little original commentary to add, but Christ. Is there going to be a point when we can take the bingo cards and shove them down people's throats? Because we all fuck up, especially those of us who are privileged and can't see. And it's our responsibility to learn and try to be better. Not anyone else's. When did people start thinking they don't have to take responsibility for their actions?

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stuffasdreamsaremadeon.com
2010-01-19 06:31 am UTC (link)

Oh, that's a good idea...hmmmm, while we're at it gay marriage just generally isn't acceptable so why continue to fight for it....it's really going to be HARD to have peace in the middle east so why even bother...blow up some more bombs! Haiti?! They're screwed right now, why even bother helping, it's not going to get any better.

*sigh*

If you've taught me one thing, Renay, it's that issues are issues for a reason. They ARE worth fighting for and one voice is more than no voice.

(Reply to this)

valentinasroom.blogspot.com
2010-01-19 08:28 pm UTC (link)

thanks for talking about this. I hadn't heard about this latest controversy and I wouldn't have read the related posts if you hadn't blogged your rage about them.
OK, I get the feeling that The Story Siren wanted to justify herself for her lack of reactions and outrage at a matter that doesn't seem too relevant or at least is not a priority to her, and felt the need to be validated in her lack of reaction.
I understand why she didn't notice. I might not have noticed, probably, I don't know. But what I don't understand is the need to write about your feelings on the matter instead of taking it on board (quietly), and then say "I didn't notice, sorry, let's do something about it!!".
It's more than natural (unfortunately) that inequality issues are noticed firstly by the people who suffer them. And it's in the same way natural (and necessary) for them to fight to obtain change. But without the support of the rest of the population...it's hard.
Take gay rights for example. Straight people (the majority ) won't notice the lack of civil rights, or the lack of representation in literature or in cinema. But if straight people won't embrace the battle for everyone's rights, than change is not gonna happen anytime soon.

People might say that the fact that book covers don't represent PoC is a small issue, but it really isn't for those who feel then inequality in first person. And obviously it's not a small issue for the publishers who actively chose NOT to put a black girl on the cover, and chose a white one. Instead of saying "does it really matter? it's only a cover", we should ask WHY? Why is it still considered unmarketable?
I definitely understand the outrage and we should definitely not let Bloomsbury off the hook this time either!!

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valentinasroom.blogspot.com
2010-01-19 09:20 pm UTC (link)

ETA: Having said all this, I don't think a boycott of the book will be the right approach. We're talking about a debut novel. This writer has put all her lifetime dreams into the publishing of this book. She has after all *chosen* to use a PoC character, showing she's not shying away from diversities. I'd feel really awful if this would result negatively for her.
I've read her blog and she really seems like one of us. A blogger, who has seen her dreams come true.
I'm going to email angrily at Bloomsbury, because they need to stop this. But I won't call for a boycott.

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	linkspam_mod 2010-01-21 07:58 pm UTC (link)
	Your post has been included in a Linkspam roundup (Reply to this)

wingstodust
2010-01-21 10:34 pm UTC (link)

The title immediately made me go, "Ugh, it's not ABOUT you."

OMG THIS, EVERYTHING IS THIS POST. THIS. Her ETA version of the post is really not any better and it makes me want to bang my head against a desk. (woo calling your post "No I'm not a Perfect Person" is STILL MAKING IT ABOUT YOU. a;ldjafj)

Oh man, I'm still pissed. Whole post reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeked with privilege and the comments, ARGH. And then I actually tried to respond and then it was like, woooooooo words just fell on deaf ears. I think, even now, the whole getting POC bloggers to educate poor white bloggers and to make it a lesson is the bit that gets to me the most.

I wished I saw this post sooner. Maybe I would have felt less frustrated knowing that someone had basically the exact knee-jerk reaction as me from reading that post.

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