Comments on: On Reading: Seg-book-gation

By: Books on Screen: The Princess and the Frog

Books on Screen: The Princess and the Frog — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:00:47 +0000

[...] just a couple of days after posting the letter from Bernice McFadden about how books by and about African American authors are often only marketed to these groups, I [...]

By: Virginia DeBerry

Virginia DeBerry — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:29:46 +0000

Brava to Bernice and to all the readers who "get" the marginalization that is happening, has been happening to us in the marketplace.

Please also check out Carleen Brice's blog and video- http://welcomewhitefolks.com as well as my Open Letter to Oprah http://twomindsfull.blogspot.com on this very subject.

Thank you again, for believing that books should be windows, not just mirrors.

Virginia

By: Margaret Hull

Margaret Hull — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:56:42 +0000

It is very interesting to read this today (11/23/09 as I was just thinking the oppostite about the movie Blind Side. I live in the Orlando Fl area and went to see it 2 times this past week end. There were no AA in either viewing. Hopefully it was because Precious was released at the same time and was actually showing in the theatre next door.
I am White and work witha AA staff in a Library in Eatonville… We have a very open and loving relationship. We go to all of Tyler Perry's movies together.
Actually I should include here that my Manager (AA)went to see Blind Side, but in GA. Good for her and she is raving about it.
Thanks for the post, and hopfully more publishers will eventually see this and start targeting their advertisements to all races.
Penny

By: Bee

Bee — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:49:13 +0000

That post made my day! I'm definitely gonna spread the word. If you don't mind, I'm gonna post the letter on my blog..so that people read it, know and go get the book.
Good luck, Bernice!

By: Dawn

Dawn — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:28:03 +0000

What a powerful post, Bernice! Living in the Washington, DC metro area, I can most definitely see the differences in marketing toward different groups, and the ideas of what will sell, sell, sell, are clearly different in various cities and counties.

Thanks for this valuable reminder, and I look forward to reading some of your work!

By: Irene

Irene — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:56:49 +0000

The phone rang and disrupted my brain patterns … THE should be THIS BITTER EARTH.

By: Irene

Irene — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:51:41 +0000

Jennifer, thank you for sharing this. I will definitely buy a copy of SUGAR, and will pass this information on to my friends. THE WARMEST DECEMBER and THE BITTER TRUTH are also going on my list.

By: Katy (A Few More Pages)

Katy (A Few More Pages) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:23:58 +0000

I've never really thought about this, but it's true.

By: edj

edj — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:10:32 +0000

How annoying! And odd, too, because I've noticed the sheer number of books coming off the Asian subcontinent, describing India and growing up Indian and the Indian expatriate experience. If we can all enjoy and relate to those, how much more stories from AA writers!
I've heard of Bernice McFadden before but have not yet read her. I'm looking forward to picking up one of her books next time I'm in the US.

By: Jennifer @5 Minutes for Books (and Snapshot)

Jennifer @5 Minutes for Books (and Snapshot) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:49:21 +0000

This is so true Bernice! Actually I love reading literature that is written from a different cultural or experiential upbringing from mine. It adds to the reading.

However, after reading this, it brought to mind that entertainment is the same way (TV and movies), and I've heard similar arguments about trying to sell non-violent films — but in thinking about myself, I have to agree (honestly –yet not proudly) that I do shy away from movies with predominately AA casts, for whatever reason (thinking wrongly that I won't "relate.")

Maybe my HW for myself is to rent an "AA movie."