Comments on: Readers and Race http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/readers-and-race/ Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:06:23 -0500 hourly 1 By: Etta Wilson http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/readers-and-race/comment-page-1/#comment-3079 Etta Wilson Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:48:51 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/?p=5390#comment-3079 Rebekah, I'm so glad you mentioned your experience with Mexican-American youngsters. I read they will soon be the largest minority in the U.S. We now have a lot of books with Hispanic characters and many picture books with Spanish on one page and English on another. It's a changing world! Etta Rebekah, I’m so glad you mentioned your experience with Mexican-American youngsters. I read they will soon be the largest minority in the U.S. We now have a lot of books with Hispanic characters and many picture books with Spanish on one page and English on another. It’s a changing world!
Etta

]]> By: Etta Wilson http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/readers-and-race/comment-page-1/#comment-3078 Etta Wilson Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:43:01 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/?p=5390#comment-3078 Lucy, it's good to hear that you're writing with two nationalities in mind as the audience. More publishers are thinking up front as they make purchases about foreign rights for their books. No doubt, the Internet has had a role in this too. Etta Lucy, it’s good to hear that you’re writing with two nationalities in mind as the audience. More publishers are thinking up front as they make purchases about foreign rights for their books. No doubt, the Internet has had a role in this too.
Etta

]]> By: Janet Ann Collins http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/readers-and-race/comment-page-1/#comment-3077 Janet Ann Collins Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:47:27 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/?p=5390#comment-3077 Nicole, that's a difficult problem. The term, African-American, wasn't used at all in those days. Neither was "Person of Color." "Negro" was considered the polite term, as opposed to the other 'N word' and "Black Person" was okay but "Blackie" was insulting. Prejudiced white people used "N---r" all the time, but it would be hard to get a book published with that word in it today. Maybe reading some books written at the time, like "To Kill a Mockingbird," would help you figure out what words to use. Nicole, that’s a difficult problem. The term, African-American, wasn’t used at all in those days. Neither was “Person of Color.” “Negro” was considered the polite term, as opposed to the other ‘N word’ and “Black Person” was okay but “Blackie” was insulting. Prejudiced white people used “N—r” all the time, but it would be hard to get a book published with that word in it today. Maybe reading some books written at the time, like “To Kill a Mockingbird,” would help you figure out what words to use.

]]> By: Lucy http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/readers-and-race/comment-page-1/#comment-3075 Lucy Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:35:24 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/?p=5390#comment-3075 Writing for more than one cultural audience is an interesting idea. My current work-in-progress is Cold War historical fiction, and I expect it to be published in Russia as well as the U.S. So as I write, I try to keep the sensibilities and expectations of a Russian audience, as well as an American audience, in mind. That doesn't guarantee that I'll completely succeed in reaching both readerships. Still, I'm making an intentional effort to do so. It makes for some interesting challenges, sometimes. Writing for more than one cultural audience is an interesting idea. My current work-in-progress is Cold War historical fiction, and I expect it to be published in Russia as well as the U.S. So as I write, I try to keep the sensibilities and expectations of a Russian audience, as well as an American audience, in mind. That doesn’t guarantee that I’ll completely succeed in reaching both readerships. Still, I’m making an intentional effort to do so.

It makes for some interesting challenges, sometimes.

]]> By: Rebekah http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/readers-and-race/comment-page-1/#comment-3074 Rebekah Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:20:44 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/?p=5390#comment-3074 Interesting. I taught middle school English for seven years before I took a break and became a mama. Two of my most powerful units were on the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement using Roll of Thunder as our reading base. The students found the information shocking, but they were very much aware of issues of race and of their own race and ethnic backgrounds. This might have been because in the school I taught there was a large Mexican-American population. They were able to share much about their experiences of racism toward them and their families. I loved teaching this age of students because they were open and honest and not too jaded yet. Another book that many of my students related too was The Outsiders. This book actually tackled class, which many of my students related too. I think we tolerate open discrimination against lower SES. Something to think about. Interesting. I taught middle school English for seven years before I took a break and became a mama. Two of my most powerful units were on the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement using Roll of Thunder as our reading base.

The students found the information shocking, but they were very much aware of issues of race and of their own race and ethnic backgrounds. This might have been because in the school I taught there was a large Mexican-American population. They were able to share much about their experiences of racism toward them and their families.

I loved teaching this age of students because they were open and honest and not too jaded yet.

Another book that many of my students related too was The Outsiders. This book actually tackled class, which many of my students related too. I think we tolerate open discrimination against lower SES. Something to think about.

]]> By: NikoleHahn http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/readers-and-race/comment-page-1/#comment-3073 NikoleHahn Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:48:32 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/?p=5390#comment-3073 Thank you! I had some of the same advice, but needed to hear it from someone who works with books. lol. I will make a note of this. Thank you! I had some of the same advice, but needed to hear it from someone who works with books. lol. I will make a note of this.

]]> By: Etta Wilson http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/readers-and-race/comment-page-1/#comment-3072 Etta Wilson Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:46:31 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/?p=5390#comment-3072 You're right about the problem of know how to address other races in historical fiction. It's a problem. I suggest you use the term that was in use at the time you are writing about. If the editor feels strongly, he or she can change. You might want to mention the problem in your submission letter. Etta You’re right about the problem of know how to address other races in historical fiction. It’s a problem. I suggest you use the term that was in use at the time you are writing about. If the editor feels strongly, he or she can change. You might want to mention the problem in your submission letter.
Etta

]]> By: NikoleHahn http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/readers-and-race/comment-page-1/#comment-3070 NikoleHahn Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:56:07 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/?p=5390#comment-3070 I've always wondered how to address other races in fiction books. I have a partially done book that does take place back in the day when segregation existed. I am trying to put myself into their place. It is a difficult project because I am a white person writing it and trying to use the language (within reason) people used. Some say to call them black as they did in the day and some say to use their politically correct name, African-American. How do you address these issues while staying realistic to the time in which you are writing? The story premise is based on a developing friendship between a black person and a white person. I’ve always wondered how to address other races in fiction books. I have a partially done book that does take place back in the day when segregation existed. I am trying to put myself into their place. It is a difficult project because I am a white person writing it and trying to use the language (within reason) people used. Some say to call them black as they did in the day and some say to use their politically correct name, African-American. How do you address these issues while staying realistic to the time in which you are writing? The story premise is based on a developing friendship between a black person and a white person.

]]> By: Samantha Bennett http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/readers-and-race/comment-page-1/#comment-3069 Samantha Bennett Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:45:01 +0000 http://www.booksandsuch.biz/?p=5390#comment-3069 I needed this reminder. Thanks! I needed this reminder. Thanks!

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