I am an inner city kindergarten teacher. I also tutor fourth and fifth graders in an afterschool program. I tried to get my boys interested in reading, but there weren't any books with main characters they can relate to. I've searched and searched my bookstores for middle grade books featuring black boys as main characters that aren't historical. I couldn't find any. So I wrote a book about a black boy embarking on an adventure with aliens. My students were with me through the whole process as I wrote it and read chapter-by-chapter like serial. They loved it. They wanted more of it. Most importantly, they wanted me to publish it. I decided to take their advice and query. I've gotten well over 10 rejections now. I'm not mad about the rejections, but I am irritated by the reality of the fact that the publishing industry says it wants diverse characters and yet the industry itself isn't diverse nor do the bookshelves reflect even after this continuous campaign. Is that wrong of me?
Sometimes, I am wondering if I am fighting against a wall.
I am a black educator of black children querying white literary agents hoping they understand the importance and impact of representation of young black boys. I know I am not the only one who writes for young black boys, but as a writer and educator, I ask: where is everyone? I consistently ask where are the stories of young black boys. Are writers not writing them or is the publishing industry not giving it a chance even if they pretend they are?
Is the publishing industry ready for black boys? I don't know.
Sometimes, I am wondering if I am fighting against a wall.
I am a black educator of black children querying white literary agents hoping they understand the importance and impact of representation of young black boys. I know I am not the only one who writes for young black boys, but as a writer and educator, I ask: where is everyone? I consistently ask where are the stories of young black boys. Are writers not writing them or is the publishing industry not giving it a chance even if they pretend they are?
Is the publishing industry ready for black boys? I don't know.