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Why Aren't Mainstream Writing Magazines Doing More To Highlight Black Authors? (646 hits)

I have been putting pen to paper for most of my adult life. Because I am becoming more serious about the business of writing, I have maintained subscriptions to "Writer's Digest" and "The Writer" for over ten years. The tips and advice contained in these magazines is exceptional, but I have a problem with them.

While I give these publication partial credit for my growth as a writer, I don't feel they're doing enough to highlight black authors. I also don't think they're doing enough to diversify the group of writers that provide content for their glossy pages. If an increasing number of us Blacks are getting published, serving as literary agents and publicists even, why aren't more of our stories being told, our expertise being tapped into?

"Poets and Writers" magazine seems to be an exception to my criticism. They highlight black authors on a somewhat regular basis. A few years ago, I was blown away by an article written about Percival Everett, the author of "Erasure" and several other novels. I commend P&W for their efforts, but, again, why hasn't "Writer's Digest" and "The Writer" followed suit. It can't be because we're not knocking.

Does anyone share my concerns? If so, what can we do about it? I know we have "Black Issues Book Review", the "Mosaic Literary Review", and the "African American Literary Book Club", to name only a few, but they were established to counteract this problem. Truth be told, I think we black authors do ourselves a disservice by not respectfully questioning these two industry giants about their ongoing marginalization of black authors. They need to include a little more color in their tapestry, don't you think?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this matter.

Jeffery A. Faulkerson, MSSW
www.jefferyafaulkerson.com

Posted By: J. A. Faulkerson
Saturday, December 6th 2008 at 1:26AM
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I feel you, too. Been there for a minute and simply came to the conclusion that I did not even want to read them anymore. Is it racism? Is it that they are determined that we will never "take over" their pages like we do sports?

It becomes frustrating and I do not personally know the answer except to say that there are many alternatives for the black writer these days so we "overcame" them anyway.

Stay focused because if I had given up when I got frustrated, I would not be commenting to your post. Smile.
Sunday, December 7th 2008 at 10:56AM
agnes levine

It is frustrating that we as a people are still not given the recognition we deserve for what greatness we contribute. Honestly, though, prejudice, racism and favoritism will never end. That's why we have Black mags, biz, and other venues.."they" did not respond when we knocked on the door. They have not invited us to the table for a very long time in most publications therefore it is up to us to make our own table and build our own dining room around it to showcase our excellence! I will not subscribe to any publication that glorifies or caters to the majority; I am a minority and I do count...therefore my money and time is spent on what I value most; me and my people...call it what you want. (Frankly,) they don't care and neither do I.
Tuesday, December 16th 2008 at 10:24PM
Sun Smith

Why do we as a people expect main stream white anything to do right by us. They look out for their own self interests. Please do not tell me Senator Obama won because racism is a thing of the past. The President elect won because of the financial melt down and all white Americans from every side of the fence knew that only a a Democratic regime would open the flood gate to the kind of funds needed to bail out wall street and prevent middle class white America from falling into the abyss of poverty that Black America has been living in. The polls swung in favor of the Democrats the day their was a slaughter on tenth avenue - Let us see what the Democrats do for all of the people living below the poverty level - the homeless the unemployed young adults living in the inner cities and rural communities.

We all need to understand what it means to work for the self interests of our communities and stop hoping the mainstream is going to float us to the top. Peace, Power & Bessings
Monday, January 5th 2009 at 4:08PM
F. A. Young Esq.