Comments on: Get back, get back, get back http://theangryblackwoman.com/2009/07/28/get-back-get-back-get-back/ Race, Politics, Gender, Sexuality, Anger Wed, 23 May 2012 23:58:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Andreen http://theangryblackwoman.com/2009/07/28/get-back-get-back-get-back/comment-page-1/#comment-21683 Andreen Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:37:59 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=940#comment-21683 "I hate it as much as you do. I think it’s one of the worst covers in the history of publishing. I thought I was going to lose my mind when I saw it. I think it was an attempt by the publisher to dumb down the book. Well, this idea is perhaps too scientific. I think they dipped in the design drawer labeled 'Generic novel by black male author writing anything to do with love' and this is what they came out with. Stuff happens, which is why we shouldn’t always judge a book by its cover." “I hate it as much as you do. I think it’s one of the worst covers in the history of publishing. I thought I was going to lose my mind when I saw it. I think it was an attempt by the publisher to dumb down the book. Well, this idea is perhaps too scientific. I think they dipped in the design drawer labeled ‘Generic novel by black male author writing anything to do with love’ and this is what they came out with. Stuff happens, which is why we shouldn’t always judge a book by its cover.”

]]> By: Andreen http://theangryblackwoman.com/2009/07/28/get-back-get-back-get-back/comment-page-1/#comment-21681 Andreen Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:31:40 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=940#comment-21681 Something similar happened to a favorite writer of mine, Colin Channer. On his website, he discusses the fact of his not liking his book cover for his novel, Satisfy My Soul. When asked by an interviewer why that particular cover -- a black male with dreads, his head bent, shirt off, and an image of a fairer skin black woman, dreads tossed to one side, slightly scolding, slightly sad wafting over the male's shoulders -- he responded with the following. <b> <blockquote cite="I hate it as much as you do. I think it’s one of the worst covers in the history of publishing. I thought I was going to lose my mind when I saw it. I think it was an attempt by the publisher to dumb down the book. Well, this idea is perhaps too scientific. I think they dipped in the design drawer labeled “Generic novel by black male author writing anything to do with love” and this is what they came out with. Stuff happens, which is why we shouldn’t always judge a book by its cover. "> <cite> <code> <del datetime="7:30 PM"> <em> <i> Something similar happened to a favorite writer of mine, Colin Channer. On his website, he discusses the fact of his not liking his book cover for his novel, Satisfy My Soul. When asked by an interviewer why that particular cover — a black male with dreads, his head bent, shirt off, and an image of a fairer skin black woman, dreads tossed to one side, slightly scolding, slightly sad wafting over the male’s shoulders — he responded with the following.


]]> By: Em http://theangryblackwoman.com/2009/07/28/get-back-get-back-get-back/comment-page-1/#comment-15247 Em Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:13:29 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=940#comment-15247 Robert Heinlein's book, "Friday", has a female protagonist who is a woman of color, and I believe every cover of ever print run has shown a white woman instead. Robert Heinlein’s book, “Friday”, has a female protagonist who is a woman of color, and I believe every cover of ever print run has shown a white woman instead.

]]> By: Robin http://theangryblackwoman.com/2009/07/28/get-back-get-back-get-back/comment-page-1/#comment-14912 Robin Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:07:40 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=940#comment-14912 It's romance/erotica - the setup being that it's an encounter between a woman and her tattooist, and explores the themes of claiming, bonding through pain, and psychological territory. The publishing company did ask for my input on the cover artwork, and I suggested a major image from the story which doesn't actually involve the full bodies of either characters. The image I suggested was simply of her tattoo (which is a large, vivid piece spread over the entirety of her lower abdomen) partially inked, and his gloved hand holding the tattoo machine. Race would still be obvious though if they go with the image I suggested, since it would show his hand and arm above the glove, and her abdomen. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed. It's actually quite possible that they may use the one I suggested, since a lot of their covers are unusual (they've won awards for some of their covers) and use imagery that one wouldn't expect to see on romance and/or erotica books. You know, it had never even occurred to me to question how many romance books I've come across that featured a white woman on the cover and her romantic interest (who is a PoC) not being pictured. But now that I'm thinking about it (and took a quick glance through my bookshelf to confirm)... that doesn't seem to be at all an unusual phenomenon. o_O And yeah, I agree that it absolutely isn't on the same level as what was done to Larbalestier, but it's still harmful. It's odd, really, from a financial point of view (which is generally what motivates companies). Plenty of Caucasian women (who are generally the target market - of course there are specific imprints, like Harlequin's Kimani, that are specifically trying to target the PoC market) fantasize about MoC, so why *wouldn't* the company want to draw that demographic by prominently featuring the male love interest? Are they afraid that they'd repel more women than they attract? I suspect this is probably more of the phenomenon that the people attempting to market books just aren't as in-tune with what their readership may actually want. It’s romance/erotica – the setup being that it’s an encounter between a woman and her tattooist, and explores the themes of claiming, bonding through pain, and psychological territory. The publishing company did ask for my input on the cover artwork, and I suggested a major image from the story which doesn’t actually involve the full bodies of either characters. The image I suggested was simply of her tattoo (which is a large, vivid piece spread over the entirety of her lower abdomen) partially inked, and his gloved hand holding the tattoo machine. Race would still be obvious though if they go with the image I suggested, since it would show his hand and arm above the glove, and her abdomen. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed. It’s actually quite possible that they may use the one I suggested, since a lot of their covers are unusual (they’ve won awards for some of their covers) and use imagery that one wouldn’t expect to see on romance and/or erotica books.

You know, it had never even occurred to me to question how many romance books I’ve come across that featured a white woman on the cover and her romantic interest (who is a PoC) not being pictured. But now that I’m thinking about it (and took a quick glance through my bookshelf to confirm)… that doesn’t seem to be at all an unusual phenomenon. o_O And yeah, I agree that it absolutely isn’t on the same level as what was done to Larbalestier, but it’s still harmful.

It’s odd, really, from a financial point of view (which is generally what motivates companies). Plenty of Caucasian women (who are generally the target market – of course there are specific imprints, like Harlequin’s Kimani, that are specifically trying to target the PoC market) fantasize about MoC, so why *wouldn’t* the company want to draw that demographic by prominently featuring the male love interest? Are they afraid that they’d repel more women than they attract? I suspect this is probably more of the phenomenon that the people attempting to market books just aren’t as in-tune with what their readership may actually want.

]]> By: Alaya Dawn Johnson http://theangryblackwoman.com/2009/07/28/get-back-get-back-get-back/comment-page-1/#comment-14881 Alaya Dawn Johnson Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:11:45 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=940#comment-14881 Robin, I also hope your publisher doesn't whitewash your characters. However, as some romance fans have pointed out, sometimes publishers will take the route of only depicting the white characters on the cover of a book about characters with many racial backgrounds. This isn't at all on the same level as the whitewashing that went on with <i>Liar</i>, of course, and perhaps they could point to specific story-reasons why they made that decision, but as a trend it's also harmful. What's your book? Robin, I also hope your publisher doesn’t whitewash your characters. However, as some romance fans have pointed out, sometimes publishers will take the route of only depicting the white characters on the cover of a book about characters with many racial backgrounds. This isn’t at all on the same level as the whitewashing that went on with Liar, of course, and perhaps they could point to specific story-reasons why they made that decision, but as a trend it’s also harmful.

What’s your book?

]]> By: Robyn http://theangryblackwoman.com/2009/07/28/get-back-get-back-get-back/comment-page-1/#comment-14753 Robyn Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:42:11 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=940#comment-14753 I have not read this book but I am awestruck by the callousness of the publisher's comments. I have read several posts on this topic on our site and yours is profound and spot on, very nice. Thank you for keeping this conversation going. Hopefully with the power of the Web behind us we can shake up that racist regime enough to make a change, ideally with this book cover but more importantly with their thinking overall when it comes to race, readers, and characters. I have not read this book but I am awestruck by the callousness of the publisher’s comments. I have read several posts on this topic on our site and yours is profound and spot on, very nice. Thank you for keeping this conversation going. Hopefully with the power of the Web behind us we can shake up that racist regime enough to make a change, ideally with this book cover but more importantly with their thinking overall when it comes to race, readers, and characters.

]]> By: Robin http://theangryblackwoman.com/2009/07/28/get-back-get-back-get-back/comment-page-1/#comment-14715 Robin Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:18:04 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=940#comment-14715 Wow. That's... something. Cecka's attempt to spin this as not just okay, but a net positive ("but we're starting discussions on race! Go us!") is ridiculous. (Now I'm scared for my first book, due to be published in December... the main characters are a Caucasian woman and a Filipino man in a romantic relationship, and I'm struck with horror that they might try to make him Caucasian too. O_O It didn't even occur to me that publishing companies would do shit like that. I mean yeah, I had to sign in the contract that they have final say over the cover, but I never thought a company would change something so basic to the character. Hopefully my company will be more ethical than Bloomsbury.) I'll definitely be reposting this. Wow. That’s… something. Cecka’s attempt to spin this as not just okay, but a net positive (“but we’re starting discussions on race! Go us!”) is ridiculous.

(Now I’m scared for my first book, due to be published in December… the main characters are a Caucasian woman and a Filipino man in a romantic relationship, and I’m struck with horror that they might try to make him Caucasian too. O_O It didn’t even occur to me that publishing companies would do shit like that. I mean yeah, I had to sign in the contract that they have final say over the cover, but I never thought a company would change something so basic to the character. Hopefully my company will be more ethical than Bloomsbury.)

I’ll definitely be reposting this.

]]> By: Whitewashed « don’t do that http://theangryblackwoman.com/2009/07/28/get-back-get-back-get-back/comment-page-1/#comment-14700 Whitewashed « don’t do that Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:32:03 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=940#comment-14700 [...] that to bring this to your attention. (h/t ABW and [...] [...] that to bring this to your attention. (h/t ABW and [...]

]]> By: Diana Peterfreund Blog | Still Busy! http://theangryblackwoman.com/2009/07/28/get-back-get-back-get-back/comment-page-1/#comment-14692 Diana Peterfreund Blog | Still Busy! Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:45:39 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=940#comment-14692 [...] Dawn Johnson’s take on Angry Black Woman regarding the Larbalestier cover controversy. One of the side issues of this whole kerfuffle to me [...] [...] Dawn Johnson’s take on Angry Black Woman regarding the Larbalestier cover controversy. One of the side issues of this whole kerfuffle to me [...]

]]> By: alumiere http://theangryblackwoman.com/2009/07/28/get-back-get-back-get-back/comment-page-1/#comment-14679 alumiere Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:59:43 +0000 http://theangryblackwoman.com/?p=940#comment-14679 i've been following this since i first saw Justine's post linked on another blog - i am as usual sickened by the ignorance so many people show and continue to show regarding race and other forms of discrimination and entitlement i wish people would at least have honest rational discussions when issues arise, and instead we get bad behavior, racist commentary, and an amazing array of head in the sand denial i’ve been following this since i first saw Justine’s post linked on another blog – i am as usual sickened by the ignorance so many people show and continue to show regarding race and other forms of discrimination and entitlement

i wish people would at least have honest rational discussions when issues arise, and instead we get bad behavior, racist commentary, and an amazing array of head in the sand denial

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