The Prodigal Blogger
You may have noticed the light posting around here lately. Sorry about that. The holidays kicked my ass, among other problems. Lately I’ve also been feeling pretty blah about doing political blogging, which makes me feel guilty because I said I’d do it. Then I freeze up because I can’t think of anything better to say.
Crazy, I know.
Another issue for me at the moment is trying to put together a book proposal. That’s right, I’m going to do ABW the Book. The main thing there is trying to figure out what I’m going to cover. I think 12 chapters with 2-3K words is about right, but what will my 12 topics be?
So, regular readers of this blog, tell me, what are your favorite posts of mine? If this book were to be published, what topics would you want to see covered?
Once I figure this out I can get back in my groove and be angry about something again. Maybe I can be angry that I can’t turn on the news without hearing about primaries, and I’m already sick to death of them.
Of course you could do a conventional topic-by-topic table O contents. But remember nonfic proposals (to hear pals in nonfic publishing tell it) are all about having “an angle” and working that angle in a way that is immediately apparent in the ToC.
You could have an intro that was called “Why ‘The Angry Black Woman’?”, then ten “Angry at…” chapters and a conclusion. The conclusion (in almost-mandatory American feely-good publishing fashion), should probably end on a vaguely hopeful and celebratory note (“What I’m NOT angry at”, or some such). Twelve chapters right there!
I hate to say it, but reeling people in with a lowest common denominator blurb that subtly plays on their stereotypes works well too. One could imagine, above the back cover blurb in a big font, the sentence “Why ARE Black women so angry?”
A book proposal? That sounds awesome. :D I think Saladin has some good ideas about that, what with the lowest common denominator.
I like your posts about hair, so maybe you can include something on this.
Maybe the post (or an adaptation or expansion thereof) about Color Blindness.
And hair. I vote for hair.
I vote for hair too. You can’t write a book about angry black women and not talk about the hair war that rages within every one of us.
Okay, this si what I have so far: Angry at… People Who Touch My Hair
Angry at… White Privilege
Angry at… Television
Angry at… The Media
Angry at… Racism
Angry at… Conservatives
Angry at… Liberals
Angry at… Sexism
Angry at… People Who Don’t Understand What Racism Is (Yet Declare It Over)
Angry at… The Hijacking of Political Correctness
I need a couple more…
some ideas…
-homophobia
-the internet
-mainstream feminism
-US foreign policy
Tacking on a few more ideas.
-violence
-culture and/or society
-literature
-history
-patriarchy
-religion/religious politics
-misunderstandings/those who don’t or refuse to get it
And I think there should probably be a “Things You Need to Understand” section. But that could just be me and my opinion.
Definitely more posts about what TV shows are doing wrong about race/gender/sexuality. I love this blog, by the way.
Is Hollywood a separate category from Television? Hollywood pisses me off immensely. I think so many people go to the movies and don’t even realize how racist, sexist, heterosexist, etc., most of the big blockbuster movies are. I think it deserves mention, either with television or maybe as a separate category.
You know I think a chapter on the “articulate”: Black woman, First Nations person, Muslim, POC might merit discussion. There is nothing more insulting than someone telling me I am very articulate and presentable “for a First Nations person”. WTF? Why bring my ethnicity into the conversation at all?
Having said that, I am totally impressed with how articulate and patient with ignorance you are “for a Human being”. Your collection of resources and contributors is first class and well worth sharing to anyone interested. The idea that a person can be both angry and full of love is refreshing. When I read articles full of righteous anger presented in a calm articulate fashion I swear I hear divine choruses like Wagner’s “Flight of the Valkyries” trumpeting through my head. I’m sure you can think of a more culturally appropriate example ofr you, that’s just mine.