Should white people be allowed to write books about minorities?

So, I'm not going to post the video I watched that sparked this conversation among my friends, because I kind of know the woman who made it, and I don't want anyone to like go harass her or something. But this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a while.

Apparently, there is a sort of "movement" arising that dictates that some people shouldn't be telling some stories. In other more simple terms, if you are a white person, you shouldn't be writing a book about a black main character. Or if you're straight, you shouldn't be writing about a gay main character, etc. Some publishers have actually come right out and said they will not publish a book if its written by someone with a different background than the main character, or if they feel the author is "not the right person to be writing that story."

My question is, wth kind of idiocy is this? I completely disagree with this. There have been so many great books about diverse characters that were written by straight, white people, and they have gone on to make people see new perspectives and learn and grow.

The girl who made this video actually said, and I quote, "There have been so many good books written by white, able-bodied people...," she goes on to explain how those books have changed her world view and shown her new people's perspectives and made her thing, introduced her to new cultures, etc. And then she follows that up by saying, "... BUT... it's 2019, and we're critically examining who can tell these stories."

So... essentially her perspective is that even though all these books she's mentioned are great and well-told stories that aren't offensive in any way... they shouldn't exist, because white people wrote them.

Someone please tell me this is all just a freaking nightmare. I'm so sick of this racist, sexist, ridiculous crap. I don't understand how someone can go on and on about all these amazing books that have done so much good in the world, including in the world of race relations and expanding people's world views between races and cultures and sexualities, etc.... and then go on to say "but, this is all wrong and bad and we shouldn't do it, because it's racist."

Sorry, I just had to rant about this, because it's driving me insane. So many people in my community online think this way, and I can't stand it. It's idiotic, backwards thinking. They act as if a white person writing a book about a black person is taking away black author's abilities to write their own books about black people, too. Even though there are millions of books in existence, and they still have all the same opportunities. Nobody is taking anything away from anyone. We can all write whatever we want to write. And if the book is good, why does it matter the race of the person who wrote it? If you care about that over the quality of the writing, then you just might be a racist, yourself.

 

All people should be allowed to write books about anyone or anything they want. If it's a news source it shouldn't be lies unless it's made clear it's for entertainment purposes. The End.

 

I agree. I don't know why that is such a difficult concept for some people to grasp.

 

This makes me so angry, I can feel the muscles in my back tighten. The very fact that we are discussing people being allowed to write at all in an allegedly free society is appalling.

That this assertion is not being met with savage derision from every quarter is proof of a totalitarian mentality on the increasingly powerful progressive left. Just as ominously, it is also proof that the right is just pretending to be an opposition party. This will not end well.

 

I know you're not legitimately asking this question and instead, it's a title to the thread and topic itself, but that has to be one of the most ridiculous questions I've ever heard. It's funny, I was just in class today and we were discussing censorship and sensitivity readers and whether or not we were for or against them. My point was that because people's perceptions can be flawed, how do we know they know what's offensive or not? Anybody can be quick to call something offensive when it actually isn't.

Your example is exactly what I'm talking about, but taken to another level.

May we see this video, though?

 

Right?! That got my blood boiling as well. I mean, they aren't technically saying you CAN'T write certain things... but that's pretty much what they're saying.

I definitely agree with that, and I think you should always keep in mind that you can't please everyone when talking advice about something you've written. However, I DO think sensitivity readers are a good idea. If I were going to write about something really sensitive, like a protagonist who is a victim of rape or severe racism, or a gay protagonist coming out of the closet, I would definitely want someone who has that background to read it and give me their feedback. I think that's just part of being a good writer and making your work realistic.

I suppose I will link it, but please don't be too harsh if anyone decides to comment. I was pretty dang harsh in my comments, so I think if a bunch of people were to start commenting harsh stuff, she might know they came from me. Lol and the authortube community is VERY rarely controversial/argumentative, so I don't want to be the one person who starts a bunch of crap. Although I am going to post my own response to this subject, just on a different YouTube channel than my main account, so as to lessen the backlash.

The point we are discussing is the last point in the video, and it starts at about 18 minutes in.

As is my plan. This is one of many reasons I'm self published. I'm not a fan of the way publishers work and their arbitrary "rules" about how long a book should be or how much it should sell for or, now apparently, who is "allowed" to write about certain subjects.

 

I also just have to say (since I posted the video) that I really love Alexa. She's a really great person, gives a lot of good writing advice, she's brutally honest about the publishing industry and what it's like to be a traditionally published author, and she's pretty much the only sort of "big name" authortuber who actually speaks to us lowly creators with under 200 subs, which I really appreciate. She also is someone who seems to be really open to communication and disagreements, which I think is important.

On this particular issue, I think she's being a bit dumb, but in general, she's actually really great!

Alright, carry on. Lol just had to say that first.

 

Yeah, also I'm pretty certain I don't have the background of a murderer, and yet I just finished writing a book about one. I mean where does that line end? Writers are always writing about people with different background than them. If they didn't, then all their books would be the same.

 

But you might not have portrayed murderers in an accurate light.