Ruining book sales because MC isnt white???

[Alpha Echo]

But not everything implied by what's on the page is a direct choice of the author.

Exactly. Readers can read the words, but they also interpret them the way they want. They add stuff between the lines or take away what the author put between the lines himself.

 

[aruna]

I see where you're coming from, aruna. But if I were writing about you as a character, I wouldn't necessary NEED to say that you're doing this and that because you have a Guyanese background and lived in India.

Well, of course the writer doesn't rub it under the reader's nose at every turn, that the character's background is the reason for certain behavior! That goes without saying; it's just one contributing factor, like age.
I only pointed out that while my skin colour doesn't affect my response to events, my background does. But this needs to be shown, not told.

 

[Samsonet]

Not all stories featuring ethnic characters should deal with ethnic or cultural issues. I say, if relevant, mention it. If not, write them like you'd write about any other white character.

I've been waiting so long for someone to say this. Thank you.