Last Updated on February 12, 2022
To my recent post on charges of racism in the publishing industy, Georganna asked for statistics that show that black writers are being discriminated against. Millenia responded:
“Take a gander at the mecca of the publishing industry – THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST.That’s all the statistics needed.”
On this point, I must respectfully disagree. While the list undoubtedly shows a disproportionate number of white authors, there are two logical questions that should follow this discovery:
1. What should it show if there were no discrimination?
2. Is discrimination by publishers the only cause possible for the current results?
Many people believe that every statistic must be closely equal to actual population demographic and that if it isn’t, there must be discrimination going on.
Let’s consider the 2000 census, which recorded 281.4 million people in the United States. Of that number, 216.9 million, or 77%, identified themselves as white. An additional 36.4 million, or 12.3%, identify themselves as black and/or African-American. Hispanics made up 35.3 million, or 12.5% of the population.
How many books by black authors must there be on the list to dispel any suspicion of discrimination? Is it fair to say that for there to be no signs of discrimination in the publishing industry, 77% of authors should be white, 12.3% should be black, and 12.5% should be hispanic?
No, unless we have irrefutable data that suggests that the submissions from white authors equals 77% of total submissions agents and publishers receieve; and that submissions from black authors equal 12.3% and those from hispanics equal 12.5%. If there is no evidence to show the racial makeup of submissions, then you can’t judge published works against the population. The disparity in the number of white authors on the list is the beginning of the search, not the end.
I can quickly think of a few reasons besides any prejudice on the part of publishers that could contribute to the proportion of white to black best-selling authors:
1. Education
Are educational opportunities the same for all races? If some races tend to get better education while others go without, is it not possible that those races that don’t get the same quality educational opportunities might have a harder time breaking through in industries like publishing? A poor education disadvantages people in many career fields; a lack of good language arts education could itself be a big reason why some writers don’t get published.
2. Poverty
Far be it from me to point out that in many parts of our country, the number of blacks below the poverty line far exceeds the demographic makeup of a particular location. In pre-Katrina New Orleans, the city was 62% black. Of the total population, 28% of all people in New Orleans lived in poverty. Of that 28%, if the city as a whole is nearly two-thirds black, we should expect that all things being equal, two-thirds of those below the poverty line would be black. Yet we find that blacks accounted for 84% of New Orleans residents below the poverty line in 2000.
If one race is particularly hit hard by poverty, a career like writing, in which the chances of making a real living with no other job to fall back on are already slim, it might not be unreasonable to expect members of those races to be forced to look for work that could guarantee stable income.
Likewise, if one race is hit hard by poverty, members of that race are less likely to be able to afford quality education. This does not in itself mean that it is impossible for them to break into a field like writing, but it does make such an endeavor that much more of a challenge.
3. Empowerment
This is a word I dislike, because I think that it should be an unnecessary concept in our society. But unfortunately, a lack of empowerment exists. For people who have been discriminated against all of their lives, and who have convinced themselves that no matter what, they will always be discriminated against, there may be less of a motivation to try to break into any industry they’re already convinced is discriminatory.
Fortuantely, there are those who are unwilling to accept the status quo and fight for equal recognition. But if there are black writers who do not feel empowered to write because they cannot imagine overcoming the discrimination they sincerely believe exists, then are they not also contributing — inadvertently — to the racial makeup of the NYT List?
I recently saw an advertisement for an Empowerment Conference for one minority. It doesn’t matter whether the minority is gender or race-based. The point of such a conference is to encourage each other not to let labels get in their way. It’s unfortunate that we must have such events, because in the grand scheme of things, no one else can “empower” you to aspire to reach your goals: if you can’t give yourself that power, you won’t possess it.
When it comes to getting published, writing something won’t guarantee that you will see your name in print, but deciding that it’s not worth it to even try will guarantee that you’ll never see your name in print.
Please understand these important points:
First, I’m not trying to come off sounding like some expert on what it’s like to be black in America. As I’ve stated before, I’ll never be able to imagine the subtle types of discrimination people of color must endure.
Second, I’m not saying that white authors are in any way superior to black authors, or that there is any general lack of talent among blacks who do write.
Third, I’m not even saying that racism in publishing doesn’t exist. If the majority of works by black authors, even those works not targeted to AA consumers only appears in that specific market while the majority of work by white authors ends up in “mainstream,” then there is obviously something amiss. And works that only appear in niche markets are obviously going to have a hard time ending up at the top of the best-seller lists which reflect overall (mainstream) successes.
Millenia adds this point:
“Niche marketing. Yes, most genre writers have issues with this. They’re valid issues – BUT – it’s a completely different issue when it’s done solely on the basis of the author’s skin color. That’s called racial discrimination. Not just misclassifying a book because they think it will increase its changes in the marketplace.”
But is every book in the AA niche market a case of racial discrimination, or are there some books there that fit this category better than any other? Though it is a genre defined by race, it is still a valid genre. I suspect that some books there do belong in the that market. It’s important that we not group every work by a black author into the category of being a target of discrimination. After all, placing a book there doesn’t mean that it is unaccessible to everyone.
Instead, I think focusing on the books that are more “obvious” fits in mainstream but that never get placed beyond AA would offer a better chance of changing public opinion about this.
In other words, if we’re going to look at the whole problem and search for solutions, should we not consider the possibility that this problem is at least in part a reflection of flawed marketing strategies that give publishers reason to believe that books by black authors will sell only in the AA market; rather than entirely a conspiracy to keep black authors off mainstream shelves?
What if there is some of both in play here? Shouldn’t this affect the way a solution to the problem is reached? I still don’t have a solution to offer, but at this point, I think the discussion itself is the best way to find one.
This is your site, and it’s cool that your replaced the N-word because of that reason, but . . .
Charge racism and it’s quickly translated by a certain segment as the Race Card, whining by blacks. It’s something that’s pervasively denied.
“I’d never would use the N-word, no, never. So I can’t be racist. Only bad people are racists and I’m a good person. Good people are not racists no matter what they condone and practice. You’re the bad person for bringing racism up in the first place. Whiner.”
But if you treat me like a N-word, I’m not going to grin and bear it to make you comfortable.
Black authors are being treated like N-words. I’m treated differently solely because I’m black. What is that? Name it.
Name it. Otherwise it’s too easily denied.
Comment from Monica Jackson (Edited to substitute one word):
If you are black aspiring author or a black published author, you will be treated and regarded differently than a white author regardless of the content of your work, based on your race.
When James Patterson or any other white author writes black characters, they are not relegated to the [AA] Niche.
But if you were black, your work wouldn’t be considered suitable for the greater white market, no matter what you wrote, with the possible rare exception of literary fiction–unless you concealed the fact of your blackness.
That is the outrage. There are no excuses, no stuttering rationalizations, no worrying about who or who not makes the NYT list that can adequately excuse that ugly fact.
It is institutional racism and if it’s not decried and condemned, we of all races including fellow blacks, are guilty of condoning the practice.
Based on the other comment she left and plainly on what she says as I quoted above, that’s exactly what she’s questioning, “whether or not” it’s being done. Not “whether or not” it’s wrong and SHOULD NOT be done.
Other factors? No it is not improper to identify other factors, however, why does it seem you are trying to point them out as some sort of relief to the condemnation of the publishers that don’t allow the work of a black author to be just as commercially viable as if it was of a white author?
I suggest you talk to black authors, new and old. If you really are interested to help “whether or not” publishers have a hand in this. It just seems to me that you want to bring in other factors as a way to say, “hey black writers, quit putting all the blame on your publisher. Some of you aren’t as educated, don’t have the drive, or there just aren’t enough of you, so quit complaining.”
I don’t believe anyone is denying the “other factors” exist and can be identified, but they pale in comparison to a publishers blatant market restriction. I’m living proof that this is done. The subject matter of my books have nothing to do with race, yet my publisher takes one look at my skin and decides they are AA fiction, AA niche, etc, and I’m restricted to the AA pond. Highly inappropriate when my books have no AA characters or subject matter. But, maybe you and Ms. Hancock here would say no, quit complaining, look at the “other factors”.
With respect, Bestselling Author, I don’t read in Georganna’s comment that she’s saying black authors aren’t slotted into the AA niche. She’s questioning the sole reliance on the NYT list as definitive proof.
I agree that this one piece of data alone isn’t the only statistic that should be examined: not to decide whether the problem exists, but at least to determine how big the problem is and what can be done to correct it.
If there are other factors that are contributing to the problem, is it improper to look for and identify them as well?
Hey Patrick…..
Here you are. Ms. Hancock is a perfect example of what I think Millenia Black meant about white authors that “choose” not to know what’s going on.
There has never been a question as to “whether or not publishers slot books written by blacks into AA niche.”
There is no question about that. They do. It is a very well established and accepted business practice.
I understand the question to be whether or not it is just to do so. Whites are not segregated by race in book stores or book marketability. I think Ms. Hancock should get a clue. She looks old enough to know better…….and why the insulting tone? Reeks of choice to ignore….and perhaps even to be indifferent. This is the type of attitude that keeps the discriminatory practices alive and well. It’s unfortunate to say that we even have many blacks that do the same thing. It’s all out of sheer and utter ignorance.
Unfortunately using data from the New York Times bestsellers list is quite misleading and irrelevant. It doesn’t pertain to an issue of whether or not publishers slot books written by blacks into an AA niche. The Times’ list reflects which books publishers push. It’s my understanding that, contrary to popular belief, Times’ bestsellers are the books that are bought most by book stores (and many of those books are returned, but that isn’t factored in).
I think you deserve an award for genuinely taking an interest in this matter and contributing to the dialogue. It’s greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, not too many are so inclined. 😉
Thanks, Patrick. I guess I can give you the Millenia Black Medal of Honor, LOL.
The problem is that publishers want to lump ALL authors of color into that AA niche, without any regard for the CONTENT of their work. This is what primarily keeps more black writers from being successful enough to land on the bestseller list. Access to a good 85% of the marketplace is stifled.
Understood.
Thanks for your further explanations. In some cases in my commentary, I wasn’t so much trying to imply what you were or weren’t “really” saying as much as trying to play devil’s advocate to certain issues that arose in my mind.
I appreciate the dialog.
Patrick
Hi Patrick – Conspiracy by publishers? I think you’re oversimplifying and overbroadening the core issue.
New York Times Bestsellers
1. What should it show if there were no discrimination?
—It lists 35 books every single week. The list has been in existence for 71 years and counting. Of that 35, you’re lucky if you ever see 2 that happen to be black. Ever. Remember it’s published every week. It should show more authors who happen to have colored skin than it has. Of course, no one is saying it should be more than whites, but it would certainly be more.
2. Is discrimination by publishers the only cause possible for the current results?
—No. Who said that? It is, however, the prevailing and most damaging cause.
How many books by black authors must there be on the list to dispel any suspicion of discrimination?
—This question oversimplifies. No one could ever give a quantifiably sufficient answer to that – black or white. The more appropriate question is this: What business practices must publishers cease and desist to dispel any suspicion of discrimination?
But is every book in the AA niche market a case of racial discrimination, or are there some books there that fit this category better than any other?
—No. Who said the AA market wasn’t a valid category? The assertion is that a work should not be placed into this market inappropriately, i.e., simply because the author is black. As I said before, when niche marketing is done SOLELY on the basis of an author’s skin color, that’s called racial descrimination. It supresses that author’s commercial viability. This would not happen if that author was Caucasian.
Instead, I think focusing on the books that are more “obvious” fits in mainstream but that never get placed beyond AA would offer a better chance of changing public opinion about this.
—Right. This has always been the focus. Who implied there wasn’t a culture-specific AA market? Or that some black authors (and some white I might add) don’t write for those interested in it?
The problem is that publishers want to lump ALL authors of color into that AA niche, without any regard for the CONTENT of their work. This is what primarily keeps more black writers from being successful enough to land on the bestseller list. Access to a good 85% of the marketplace is stifled.
If you haven’t, you should check out Tess Gerritsen’s commentary on this issue over at her blog. She’s told me that ethnic marketing is like being relegated to a “publishing ghetto”. If they tried marketing her as Asian-American fiction, she’d be sunk. Certainly wouldn’t have the commercial success she enjoys today.
The points you raised about other contributing factors are very valid. Not at all in dispute as to the probablity. Never have been. The dispute is in the fact that race should not be brought into the categorizing equation when the work itself is race neutral and universally applicable.
There is no question that 1) publishers practice racial descrimination as a regular part of their business models, and 2) they don’t handle work acquired from Caucasian authors the same way they do when it’s acquired from authors of color – regardless of the nature of its content.
I’ll say this much. One of these days a publisher just may be sued for racial descrimination under Federal Statute 42 USC 1981. Black authors are not allowed the same benefits of the contractual relationship that white authors are when they create works within which race is of no relevance or consequence. Stay tuned.