I need to repost the rules and deadline for our giveaway :) So, I decided to revisit my topic, as there are some things that I should have mentioned earlier.
I've always hated it when folks overgeneralize -- paint everyone with the same broad brush. So here's what I have to say: to those white authors and filmmakers who're trying so hard to be racially sensitive and accurate. We are NOT talking about you. I myself, create Native American, Asian, Spanish and White characters based on folks I've been fortunate enough to meet in my lifetime. As I've said before, I hope that I do a decent job. Only my readers can answer that.
No, the authors we're trying to move forward are those who have no idea how to create a nonwhite character and don't even try to learn. Just dig in their bag of stereotypes and throw something together. Personally, I'd rather be portrayed as a White woman with a deep tan (not perfect mind you but better) rather than a "Yuk, yuk missus... I's a comin'" myth :)
As writers we've all heard too of publishing companies that strong-arm authors into making their characters white or racially ambiguous, so they can attract white readers. Again, all publishing companies are not equal. But these stories have made me glad I decided to self-publish. I'd also like to say (since I HAVE white readers) to these companies (you know who you are): you aren't giving your readers enough credit. And you should stop treating them like children. Folks will read good writing, no matter <em>where</em> it comes from, and <em>who</em> writes it.
And now to Hollywood. Oh man don't get me started! From the stereotypical characters that make us all cringe; to the people of color (yes, not just black folks) who die 15-30 minutes into the film; to the scores and scores of films made with <em>no people of color at all.</em> . . . whatever is going on in the world of SF/fantasy literature, Hollywood is doing that and more.
So what do we do? Like I just said in a comment, like Charles Saunders says, we Keep on keepin on. In 2012 and ever after, they'll be more multiracial books and movies. I said it and I believe it.
So that being said, stay tuned for the giveways rules: and be sure to check out my fellow SF authors on my blogroll :)
To enter the giveaway contest: Post a comment on my weekly discussion here at http://valjeanne.wordpress.com Tweet Tweet #blackscifi2012 #blackspecfic or #blackscifi with my twitter handle @Tehotep Post comments on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Valjeanne-Jeffers-Immortal-Novels/113750871991936 I'll be keeping track of the names of participating readers and will select and announce the first winner on February 6, 2012, as will the other authors.
Winston Blakely, Artist/Writer-- is a Fine Arts/Comic Book artist, having a career spanning 20 years, whose achievements have included working for Valiant Comics and Rich Buckler's Visage Studios. He is also the creator of Little Miss Strange, the world's first black alien sorceress and the all- genre anthology entitled - Immortal Fantasy. Both graphic albums are available at Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and other online book store outlets. Visit him: http://blakelyworks.blogspot.com/ or http://blakelyworkstudio.weebly.com/ L. M. Davis, Author--began her love affair with fantasy in the second grade. Her first novel, Interlopers: A Shifters Novel, was released in 2010, and the follow-up Posers: A Shifters Novel will be released this spring. For more information visit her blog http://shiftersseries.wordpress.com/ or her website www.shiftersnovelseries.com. Milton Davis, Author – Milton Davis is owner/publisher of MVmedia, LLC . As an author he specializes in science fiction and fantasy and is the author of Meji Book One, Meji Book Two and Changa’s Safari. Visit him: www.mvmediaatl.com and www.wagadu.ning.com. Margaret Fieland, Author-- lives and writes in the suburbs west of Boston, MA with her partner and five dogs. She is one of the Poetic Muselings. Their poetry anthology, Lifelines http://tinyurl.com/LifelinesPoetry/ is available from Amazon.com Her book, "Relocated," will be available from MuseItUp Publishing in July, 2012. The Angry Little Boy," will be published by 4RV publishing in early 2013. You may visit her website, http://www.margaretfieland.com. Valjeanne Jeffers, Author -- is an editor and the author of the SF/fantasy novels: Immortal, Immortal II: The Time of Legend and Immortal III: Stealer of Souls. Her fourth and fifth novels: Immortal IV: Collision of Worlds and The Switch: Clockwork will be released this spring. Visit her at: http://valjeanne.wordpress.com and http://qandvaffordableediting.blogspot.com/ <em>purchase her novels at: http://wwwsistermoon.blogspot.com</em>
Thaddeus Howze, Author-- is a veteran of the Information Technology and Communications industry with over twenty-six years of experience. His expertise is in re-engineering IT environments using process-oriented management techniques. In English, that means he studies the needs of his clients and configures their offices to optimize the use of information technology in their environment. Visit him: http://ebonstorm.wordpress.com or http://ebonstorm.weebly.com
Alicia McCalla, Author—writes for both young adults and adults with her brand of multicultural science fiction, urban fantasy, and futurism. Her debut novel, Breaking Free will be available February 1, 2012. The Breaking Free theme song created by Asante McCalla is available for immediate download on itunes and Amazon. Visit her at: www.aliciamccalla.com
Carole McDonnell, Author--She writes Christian, speculative fiction, and multicultural stories. Her first novel is Wind Follower. Her short fiction has appeared in many anthologies and have been collected in an ebook, Spirit Fruit: Collected Speculative Fiction. Visit Carole: http://carolemcdonnell.blogspot.com/ or http://writersofcolorblogtour.blogspot.com/
Balogun Ojetade, Author—of the bestselling “Afrikan Martial Arts: Discovering the Warrior Within” (non-fiction), “Moses: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman” (Steampunk) and the feature film, “A Single Link”. Visit him: http://chroniclesofharriet.wordpress.com/ Rasheedah Phillips, Author--is the creator of The AfroFuturist Affair in Philly. She plans to debut her first spec/sci-fic novel Recurrence Plot in Spring 2012. You may catch her ruminating from time to time on her blog,http://www.astromytholosophy.com/ Nicole Sconiers, Author-is also a screenwriter living in the sunny jungle of L.A. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Antioch University Los Angeles, and she recently published Escape from Beckyville: Tales of Race, Hair and Rage. Visit her: http://nicolesconiers.com/index.html
Jarvis Sheffield, M.Ed. is owner & operator of TheDigitalBrothers.com, BlackScienceFictionSociety.com & BlackCommunityEntertainment.com. Visit him: http://www.blacksciencefictionsociety.com/profiles/blog/list?user=2stjwb1h216fd
Replies