The fish is the last to acknowledge the existence of water.” - African Proverb

Disclaimer: This is not an attack on the authors of the books that will me mentioned here today, this is an attack on the system that has propelled said books into the literary and cinematic spotlights.

(Clearing throat)

“Until the Lions have their own historians, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter. - African Proverb

It is not that African-Americans do not have our own historians or writers; it is that these historians and writers are operating within a system where we are not represented in the boardrooms. And the few that are there – sorry to say- have little to no power.

To the wider, whiter reading audience, characters written by Af-Am writers deal with issues that are not relevant to their way of life, even though
African Americans write about varied and universal experiences.

But the confining and stereotypical portraits of African-Americans have largely apprehended the attentions of publishers and movie producers. I.e., The hoodlum, the ghetto rat and the sex-a-holic.

A decade ago Debbie Allen walked my novel, Sugar, into Steven Spielberg’s office and placed it in his hands. Ten years later, Spielberg is bringing Kathryn Stockett’s novel, The Help, to the big screen.

I can spend the rest of my living days asking why her and not me, but that would be a waste of time because it is a well known fact that books written my white women inspire respect – while the equivalent goes ignored.

This goes back to African Proverb about the lion and the hunter.

Now, I love Spielberg’s work and I know that if he had chosen to direct or produce Sugar that the movie would not have been anything short of amazing. So to make myself feel better I will take the stance that he may have found the The Help intriguing – but I’m sure that it made natural sense to bring a book, which sold 1Million copies - to the big screen. The audience is already in place. This of course is called commerce.

Now let me reiterate that I have not read "The Help" - I've only read the glowing reviews written by readers – but the fact still remains that Kathryn was afforded an opportunity that very few Af-Am writers who have cut and created stories from the same fabric were granted. And that was a publicity and marketing machine.

Not unlike many first time authors, I’m sure Kathryn spread the word of her upcoming release amongst family and friends and maybe she even reached out to some local organizations. I did the same for Sugar back in 2000. But the key to her success was not only that she wrote a wonderful and enthralling story, but that the publisher made sure that that story was placed into as many hands as possible BEFORE publication. Black and White hands.

I was not given that opportunity. Sugar was placed in “black” hands – and only black hands.

So here I am a decade later, desperately trying to right a wrong that was done ten years earlier.

A very wise man (whose name is escaping at the moment) once said, “You have to create your audience.” And that’s what I have spent the past six months doing and it’s working.

Writer, Mary Helen Washington said, "There is a wisdom one derives from suffering and disllusionment."

Truer words were never uttered! I will never again leave my career in the sole care of....anybody...publisher, agent or manager.....

Am I mad at publishing and Hollywood for how we are marketed and portrayed? Frustrated would be a better word. Disappointed would be an even better word.

The fact the we Af-Am authors are absent from the end of the year best books lists, or from the short-lists of major literary awards are no coincidence. We Af-Am authors who are active on Twitter – did not even get a mention on the Mashable: 100+ Best Authors Who Twitter.

You would think that we were invisible! Us -- with our brown-hued skins..... LOL

Writing duo Deberry and Grant received calls and emails from readers around the country who could not find a copy of their newest release Uptown and what the authors discovered was there book was only available on order in most “non-urban” bookstore chains.

If that confuses you, let me break it down:

If you are white and live in a predominantly white neighborhood – your Borders or B&N would most likely NOT have the book in stock because it was written by black authors.
Makes you sick to your stomach don’t it?

I sent Sugar and This Bitter Earth off to a publisher in the UK and this is the response I received:

"You are a fantastic writer and these are two very compelling novels which I enjoyed reading very much. But I'm afraid I don't feel confident enough to consider taking these on to publish in the UK as I worry that they don't quite have the wide appeal that THE HELP did."

I asked if she would explain exactly what that meant…I’m still waiting for a response.

Black and White writers need connectedness, a connectedness that would automatically seep down to the reading audiences. I cannot imagine that the wails and shouts of marginalization from the Af-Am writing community have not made it to the ears, doorsteps and emails of Kathryn Stockett and Sue Monk Kidd.

Have either woman reached out to at least one AF-Am author in the spirit of sisterhood or author-hood – taken that author under her wing and introduced them to her readers?? Please let me know if this has happened.

White readers listen up – publishing is picking and choosing what they deem fit for you to read and because of that you are missing out on some wonderful stories. You are being mind-fucked into believing that you would not and could not enjoy a stories written by Af-Am writers – simply because we have different skin tones and so based upon that and that alone - you as the reader would not be able to "relate."

How come this theory was not applied to The Kite Runner or Life of Pi?

I suspect with those stories it wasn’t about relating, it was about discovery, it was about being entertained and educated. It was about being swept up and away by great writing and superb storytelling.

I know what "real" readers want - i know this because I am a "real" reader and so I began reaching out to those voracious bibliophiles (who were not Black) and who devour more books in one month than I do in a year and guess what....they loved Sugar – even those who were resistant to reading it could not deny the affection they developed for the story and the characters.

This of course shattered the aforementioned theory and I soon discovered that the publisher was sending copies of Sugar to white bloggers/book clubs - without my prodding.

What was the ten-year delay? Did they need more than twenty white readers to give it the thumbs up? The seal of approval? Was it commerce?

Here is another African proverb: “The fish is the last to acknowledge the existence of water.”

White readers/bloggers/bookclubs ask the publishers to send you works written by African-American authors and help this country to truly become a post-racial society, one book at a time.

And so I will end todays rant with a quote from the wise woman who gave me life:

“Never let anyone tell you how you should feel, or what it is you should like—you go out and discover it for yourself.”

Bernice L. McFadden