For some time now, “diversity” and its various iterations have been buzzwords in the US publishing industry, especially in the online writing communities I follow. On the face of it, I don’t *not* support diversity, if we define diversity simply as, “a variety of interesting things.” Interesting things are good and there is always room for more of them. Organizations like We Need Diverse Books are working hard to bring more of these interesting things to the table. Publishers like Lee & Low Books are putting their money where their mouths are, by disclosing internal diversity stats and soliciting submissions from marginalized creators through contests like New Voices and New Visions. BUT.*

It is not enough. Recently, I watched a nonwhite agent champion two books featuring nonwhite characters and cultures, written by white clients.** I watched Twitter and the blogosphere explode as white and nonwhite readers gushed over these books. I got curious, so I dug a bit deeper and looked at the authors’ backgrounds and at reviews of the cultural representations in these books. Personally, I always find it an iffy process to gather information about someone online, as you never really know if they just posted what their agent/publisher told them to post, or what they chose to leave out for reasons of their own, so bear this in mind as you read the next part.***

One of the authors gave no information whatsoever on her website (though to be fair, it looks relatively new) about the cultural research she did. The reviews seemed overwhelmingly positive, though I haven’t yet found a review by a reader from the nonwhite culture represented. Nor did I find any assessment of the book’s cultural representations, beyond a quick mention that yes, it features a nonwhite MC who does not align with stereotypes. Side note: You do not get cookies simply for writing a nonwhite, non-stereotypical character. NO character of ANY color should be written as a stereotype. This is Writing 101. Next.

The second author had spent some time in the nonwhite country she wrote about and offered a few blog posts on her website detailing her experiences. The reviews seemed fairly positive, though I did see a few reviewers (unclear whether they were from the nonwhite culture represented) note discrepancies in the book’s cultural representations. Again, I’d be interested to hear from this author how exactly she did her cultural research.

Both of these books are being heavily touted as “diverse” reads. Hmm.

As a nonwhite reader, if a book about a nonwhite culture is being recommended to me, especially if it is being recommended as a “diverse” read, it sure as hell better be written by a nonwhite person, preferably (strongly preferably) by a person from the culture being represented. Why? Because true “diversity” ≠ white people writing outside their experience. No. What you have there is nonwhite cultures depicted through a white lens. The white-as-norm framework is still in place. You have not gone outside the box. You have simply added glitter to your box, or maybe hung some mirrors on the inside, to make it seem bigger than it is. This is why, whenever a white writer says they write nonwhite characters to be “inclusive” or “realistic,” I cringe. Yes, the world comes in all colors. But you, white writer, will always be white. Your do-gooder “inclusivity” is glitter. Your book’s “reality” is a fantasy. You don’t know how not to be white.

It’s not your fault for being white, just like it’s not my fault for being nonwhite. It is, however, your fault when you thoughtlessly assume the privilege of writing “realistic” stories that, to you, will never be more than a fantasy. It doesn’t matter if you lived x number of years in y country. It doesn’t matter if you “feel” you belong to m culture in mind, body, and soul. Your voice is a white voice. And white ≠ nonwhite.

If you still disagree, let me remind you that the nonwhite people in this country have heard and experienced this message our entire lives. White ≠ nonwhite. Your failure to understand that you are exerting privilege by writing nonwhite characters is a symptom of the White Supremacist Box you call home. You may know it better as, “The Way Things Are,” “Status Quo,” “Normal,” “Colorblind,” “Post-Racism,” or some other equally uninformed term.

Inside the Box, you feel safe. You feel comfortable. And it is from this position of safety and comfort that you find yourself writing nonwhite characters without questioning your privilege. It is from this position that you tout your nonwhite-character-book as a “diverse” read, without questioning whether your voice is really the one that most deserves to be heard in this conversation (hint: it’s not). It is from this position that you erase and dislocate nonwhite voices writing their own stories, and allow your agents, editors, publicists, and fellow white authors to do the same.

Some of us don’t have the safety and comfort of a Box. Some of us live the “realities” that you imagine from inside the Box. Hmm. Lived experience v. imagined experience. What sounds more convincing? What sounds more informed?

“Diversity” is not and should not be, White People Writing Nonwhite People. Those of us working to “diversify” the US publishing industry are not doing it so that white people can have glitter and mirrors. We are not doing it because we like being fetishized, stereotyped, Orientalized, and otherwise fantasized about by outsiders. It is not about you and your do-gooder ideals. Your “diversity” is our reality. So sit down, close your mouth, and let the rest of us talk for a change.****

*This is probably a good point at which to say, this post will be written in the context of race representation in the US publishing industry. Check out the Resources page for discussions of other marginalized representations!

**I’m not going to name the agent, the authors, or the books. I’m not here to make specific people feel bad unless they personally attack me first. Ha.

***It appears I’ll have a post about author accountability in the future. Since I have opinions.

****If you don’t like the way I say things, a ton of other people have said similar things. Check out the Resources page!