You know one thing I’ve noticed? Everytime a black author talks about feeling marginalised, (Monica doesn’t count) nobody ever comments, also whenever a black author is interviewed, people just don’t seem to respond, or show any interest whatsoever.
The silence is often deafening.
Just sayin’.
Alyssa
May 24
7:40 pm
There might be a couple of other things at work here–one, I didn’t do a contest with this post (although I’m planning to have one when I post the review of her latest book). Two, I’m a more sporadic blogger than I used to be and therefore don’t get as much traffic as I did.
Your point is well taken, though. I certainly wouldn’t say it isn’t a factor at all.
I hope people will read the interview. Her responses are interesting and thoughtful. I love her books and hope people will try them as well.
Tacoma!
May 24
7:43 pm
Hello- ello- llo- lo
Huh, the silence is deafening.
Long time reader, rare commenter.
Thanks for shining more light on these issues, the more I know about how the world really is, the better job I can do to make a difference!
Karen Scott
May 24
7:45 pm
Hi Alyssa, well Alison Kent has pretty good readership, and when I last looked, there was one comment. This phenomenon first came to my notice when I posted Kayla Perrin’s interview way back in 2005 (or at least early 2006).
Casee
May 24
8:14 pm
Racism in romance is just wrong. Romance is romance. Black, white, even a space alien. Who cares? Characters are characters and the authors that bring them to us deserve to be commended. Unfortunately racism will always be an issue, it’s just really shameful that it has to exist in romance.
Wendy
May 24
11:04 pm
I posted a review of Kayla Perrin’s latest suspense novel recently and the silence was deafening. That said, I gave it a so-so review (in a nutshell, was lovin’ the book until the crappy epilogue). So-so reviews rarely get loads of comments.
I did have better luck though when I posted a review of a Beverly Jenkins historical. So who knows? Maybe historical readers are just more talkative?
Kristie (J)
May 24
11:12 pm
The silence may be deafening but there are trickles getting through. I have been ‘sensitized’ to this issue and have started buying books by AA authors. I’m just starting Sharon Cullars The Object of Love. And I had to special order it because they didn’t have it in the bookstore While not a large number, I have about 5 or 6 now.
So although it may seem like no one is paying attention, they just might be behind the scenes
Laura Vivanco
May 24
11:32 pm
whenever a black author is interviewed, people just don’t seem to respond, or show any interest whatsoever
That’s a shame.
Maybe I’m being over-optimistic, but it’s a possibility that despite the low number of comments there are still plenty of people who read the blogs and were interested in what the authors had to say. I know that I didn’t comment on every single interview that you posted in your Great Racism In Publishing Survey, but I read them all, and then checked out the authors’ websites and bought some of their books.
I hope these authors keep on raising their profiles, and maybe if they do that then eventually more romance readers of all races will get to hear about them, will buy their books, and will be more likely to comment when they guest-blog or are interviewed.
Anne
May 24
11:36 pm
I have to say the reason why I don’t post anything is because I don’t want to get my ass kicked for saying anything out of turn as racism is a touchy subject and sometimes I’m not the most tactful person. I know! Hard to believe, isn’t it?
Another reason is because I don’t really know WHAT to say.
AND generally if I do say something, I feel that others trivialize what I have to say, so I just keep quiet. If authors who are feeling slighted want my opinion, I’m happy to give it in private but not on a blog because someone ALWAYS jumps down my throat. *coughrozcough*
Seressia
May 25
12:49 am
I’m glad the Romancelandia collective consciousness is being raised. I can’t speak for Monica, but I for one am glad that there’s no longer just my own voice echoing back at me when I make posts on this subject.
Anne, I can’t speak for Roz either, or your experience. Say what you feel. I do, though I admittedly attempt to make the post passionless yet pointed posts that I can. I also know I have to be prepared to back my statements up, which I have (anyone remember that someone was going to call all the Borders stores if it could be proven that they deliberately shelve AA romance differently? Wonder how that campaign’s going?)
Generally speaking, in discussions like these saying that one doesn’t “see color” can be just as bad as saying “it’s all in your head,” or “well, no one bought my books either and I’m the whitest white women there is.” or “oh, they didn’t mean anything by it, don’t be so sensitive.”
Even if people don’t agree with my statements about the marginalization of black romance, I at least want acknowledgment that I have the right feel the way I do. No one can decide what offends me but me.
Discounting my perception that it is an issue is like a man saying to you, “why don’t you just sit there and look pretty?”
Alison
May 25
12:52 am
I had a guest post by NYT and Oprah author Jacquelyn Mitchard. Four comments and one pingback. I had another guest post by NYT author Susan Wiggs. Three comments, a response and pingback from Susan.
Sometimes there are posts that just don’t get comments, regardless of who the blogger is.
Dionne Galace
May 25
1:24 am
Irony would have been if no one had commented on this post. 😉
Anne
May 25
2:09 am
Sometimes there are posts that just don’t get comments, regardless of who the blogger is.
I agree with Alison. I MISSED when La Nora posted on her blog and I could have shot myself. Sometimes the posts aren’t seen (I missed Susan Wiggs’) and sometimes they just don’t warrant comments or you just don’t have anything to say on the topic. To me, I read a lot of blogs but don’t comment a whole lot. I guess I don’t have a whole lot to say. *shrug*
roslynholcomb
May 25
2:12 am
Geez, first I drove people to drink, now I’m muzzling people. I really need to start using my powers for good.
Anne
May 25
2:22 am
You didn’t muzzle me. I’m just tired of being told I don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about, so I quit talking about the whole racism subject.
Monica Jackson
May 25
6:19 am
(Trying again)
Why don’t I count? Folks tend to respond to what I write [chortle!]
I posted something from another blog on my sidebar that really applies in the romance community when listening to what blacks have to say about our experience in romance. This is why I personally get upset when I read some things people post in response to something I’ve written who are not black and will never be black.
That which does not affect you, you often do not see or understand
In other words, if you are White, 99% of the time Racism doesn’t affect you. Therefore, you may not see nor understand Racism when it happens.
If you are a Man, 99% of the time Sexism doesn’t affect you. Therefore, you may not grok Sexist behavior when it occurs nor will you always see Sexism when it is plain to others.
This goes for any -ist or -ism or -phobia you can think of. This goes for you, even if you’re a minority, when it concerns people who are not like you.
What does not affect you personally often will not impact on your consciousness unless you’ve trained yourself to see and understand.
Therefore, the next time you feel yourself declaring something “not racist” or “not sexist” or “not offensive”, think about whether you feel that way because you’re not the one on the receiving end of racist, sexist, or offensive behavior/words/actions/images
Think when you invalidate someone’s feelings or experiences.
I still resent some authors who stated they were sick of hearing about racism or racism didn’t exist.
Of course the insensitive, awful bitches were sick of hearing about it because institutional racism in publishing doesn’t exist for them and never would. I will never regard them and their books the same way again and can’t see many blacks doing so either.
Just think when you get on your high horse pontificating how things are for black authors and it’s this way for us because we’re this way and did this or didn’t do that, when you aren’t a black author and don’t have a clue.
That’s when you get the anger and folks saying you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. You don’t.
Bestselling Author, Pontif.
May 25
12:37 pm
Alison said:
Sometimes there are posts that just don’t get comments, regardless of who the blogger is.
Is this not stating the obvious? It’s assertions like these that are the most telling, IMO. I don’t think Karen’s post meant to imply that there wasn’t a single non-black writer/blogger who may not garner much response either.
Alison
May 25
1:34 pm
It’s assertions like these that are the most telling, IMO.
Telling of what? That people are busy and are nodding their heads and reading along, but feel no need to put in their two cents? Sure. I’ll agree with that.
Monica Jackson
May 25
3:34 pm
This is not an attack, but I think I feel where BSA is coming from.
Instead of hearing what Karen is saying, something I’ve observed myself over long years. I saw commenters saying, well it happens to the other authors too, not just black authors.
Nobody was saying it never happens to the other authors, but that it happens more consistently to black authors. It does. I know it does. And if you’re honest, you know it does too.
So can’t you see that your comments come off to us as
Your statements and feelings are invalid. What you’re saying doesn’t have anything to do with race. It never does. Racism doesn’t exist in my world, ergo, it doesn’t exist.
And that’s why you get the angry reaction of “Bullshit, Bitch!” in case you wondered why.
Just helpin’ out.
Tate
May 25
4:30 pm
Were you feeling lonely and ignored Karen? I take it you needed some attention ie. bringing out the race card…again.
Monica Jackson
May 25
4:42 pm
Race card? Rest assured if you had to live the race card my dear, you would blog about nothing else. Nothing else at all.
Fall on your knees and thank your higher power that you have the blessing to be so ignorant about the so-called race card to be irritated and discomfitted about it merely being brought up.
Think how you’d feel if you had to actually experience it.
Many protect their blood pressures and reputations (because they would have the urge to drop-kick your ignorant ass, understand?) by going nowhere near you. Nowhere. That needs to change. We need to speak up.
Sorry, your comfort isn’t paramount anymore.
Tate
May 25
4:48 pm
Name calling? You are smarter than that Monica. Next you’ll say “f*ck you” and then I’ll know that you know that I am right about this attention getting blog technique of trumping with the race card.
roslynholcomb
May 25
5:28 pm
Karen’s blog gets attention around the clock. Why the hell would she need anything to draw people to her blog? This is yet another typical maneuver from the ‘Shut the Race Discussion Down’ handbook. Pathetic.
Karen Scott
May 25
6:18 pm
Were you feeling lonely and ignored Karen? I take it you needed some attention ie. bringing out the race card…again.
Race card?
Dearie me, Tate, walk a day in a black person’s shoes, and I’m guessing you wouldn’t take that stance. If this isn’t something that interests you, then you know you have a choice as to whether you go or stay, right?
As for feeling lonely, you’re here, so I guess I’m not so alone, am I?
Karen Scott
May 25
6:37 pm
You know Tate, I didn’t understand your cynicism seeing as I have no idea who you are, so I followed your link, looked at the sidelinks, then it all started making sense to me. Your comment about the ‘race card’ made perfect sense.
Don’t bother posting again, because I will delete you. I usually don’t judge people by the company they keep, but in your case, I will make an exception.
Seressia
May 25
9:20 pm
LOL. Karen doesn’t need to blog about race to get attention. All she needs to do is state her opinion on EC and erotic romance in general.
Or she could find out who has the most rabid fangirls and post a negative review of that author’s latest.
PS to Karen: I hope you love that J.R. Ward book, I really do.
Anonymous
May 26
1:12 am
I am so tired of the term race card. It seems to be the way that people get out of dealing with racism. It’s such a provocative issue, and I think people dismiss others feelings by saying of they’re just playing the race card.
Back to the actual post, I think people don’t comment because we feel sort of powerless to stop racism. I mean what can I say? I’m sorry. I am, but I don’t want to come across as if I’m trivializing other peoples difficulties. I certainly can’t say that I understand, because I am lucky to never have experienced racism.
I have found posts about racism in publishing to be enlightening and I was able to discover some new authors. I for one always assumed that the AA literature section contained literature. I never imagined that it contained genre fiction. I feel really guilty about this, but I never even realized that I read very little by AA authors. Hopefully there are other people like me who don’t really post much of anywhere, but are reading and learning.
AJ
Dalia
May 26
2:29 am
People don’t post/read/comment about racism because its not important to them. They may recognise its importance to ‘others’ but its only a few humans the world over who take up causes not directly affecting themselves.
For e.g.: I realise the tragedy of Darfur (hell, the tragedy of Africa) but it doesn’t affect me directly and, to be honest, I don’t care. If I ‘cared’; if I thought it important *to me*, I’d have done something – donated some funds; campaigned for some cause etc etc. But I’ve done nothing except cry when watching shows like Hotel Rwanda.
When I hear about car bombs or suicide bombers in Palestine or Israel; when I see crying mothers in Iran – I realise their tragedy. But as above, I don’t really *care*. I don’t seek out blogs which talk about their strife and if one of the blogs I frequent were to have a post about it or a guest speaker, I wouldn’t comment because I have nothing, or not much to say.
If someone were to speak of Grenada’s redevelopment after Ivan or the growing incidence of drug and gang-related crime in Trinidad, well then – this is someting that affects me directly and this is something I care about. In the 24 hours metered out to me for one day, I’d take a few minutes of that to comment on that topic.
I suppose there’s just too many issues in the world for one person to go gungho on all of them. You have to pick and choose. If the majority of romanceland decides to leave the topic of race in romance publishing on the bench, then so be it.
Those who choose to take it up, good for you. But don’t expect mass support for something so niche (…if marginalisation of a race can ever be described as ‘niche’). Don’t even begrudge a person for having nothing more to say about your strife than ‘oh…I never knew that. How unfair.’ And they may even say that in their head because racism in romance is not important enough for them to dedicate two minutes to comment on it in a blog. It doesn’t make them racist but apathetic.
I suppose apathy could be a dirtier word than racism when you consider the fall out of each.
chandy
May 26
10:22 am
Ditto what Dalia said!
Chandra
Indy
May 26
11:42 am
I had to comment after reading Dalia’s post. Not to comment on the original post but to say how disheartening it is to read someone who can say they don’t care in the face of some of the most horrific atrocities known to man. To wear your badge of apathy is nothing to be proud of.
With that said maybe a few people who sit back and agree with that mindset should watch the video “If Everyone Cared” by Nickleback…
It only takes one person at a time… No one is asking people to jump up and take a hard stance but sometimes even small steps lead to a change for the better of all human beings on this earth. In the grand scheme of things racism that affects black people is only a cherry on a sundae when you consider some of the horrible acts committed against people everywhere… women, children, elderly….
Please people soften your hearts and open your minds just a bit you might be surprised at how you can help.
roslynholcomb
May 26
2:06 pm
Personally I’d rather hear a sincere ‘I don’t care’ than all the bullshit excuses we usually hear. At least its honest.
Dalia
May 26
2:24 pm
Indy,
I think you misunderstood me – or maybe you didn’t, I don’t know.
I’ll try again. I chose to say ‘I don’t care’ because though it makes me look bad, it is also the fact of it.
If I cared – truly cared – I would *do* something about it/to it/for it. With respect to AIDS and genocide in Africa, and religious strife in the middle east – I do nothing. Nothing proactive that is.
I recognise its importance; I recognise the injustice of each situation; I recognise the suffering of those people – but they’re not on my priority list of: Things to Really Care About.
My TTRCA list includes, as I said above – local and regional issues. Also, breast cancer research as I have lost three family members to breast cancer. I can honestly say – and back it up with proof – that I care about the above, because I’ve actually *done* something about it, however small.
How could I truly say I’m fighting for the people of Africa if all I do is flip past the infomercials, argue about nasty despots after a few drinks or about UN, the white elephant if I’m in that sort of company? Obviously, given that sort of passive interaction with the issue, I couldn’t have too much care.
I suppose my definition of care includes the necessity of a verb. You have to be doing something to demonstrate the ‘care’.
In addition, I never said I was proud of my apathy. But damn straight I’m aware of it. I’ve selected it for certain issues. Is this sad, is this depressing? Certainly. But it is also fact. Fact fact fact fact fact. Why lie to myself?
I care more about breast cancer awareness and research than the issue of poverty, gang violence and disenfranchisation in the Caribbean. With respect to poverty, gang violence and disenfranchisation, I care more about Trinidadian citizens than citizens of Haiti. I care more about Haitian citizens than Grenadian citizens. I care more about Grenadian citizens than the people of Africa. I care more about the people of Africa than the people of the Middle East.
And so, I will distribute my time, energy and money in that order.
Anonymous
May 26
2:43 pm
I guess I come down on the side of, ” I don’t know what to say”…
I remember the last time we had this discussion on this particular blog (I am so behind on all the other blogs, thank you Karen for not posting too much so I can keep up!). I sympathized with the plight of black female authors because I have faced a lot of difficulties as a woman breaking into the all male electricians unions back in the 70s, early 80s.
My point then, was that racism and sexism are alive and well, but I remember saying that JUST because I was white, I didn’t have rose petals strewn in my path either. Not to take away from the racism issue, but to call me “the establishment” is kind of laughable to me, since I definately don’t identify myself in this way.
I was told at the time (nicely, so I don’t take offense) is that I can’t know, so I can’t really relate to the extra added problem of racism on top of sexism..
So what am I supposed to say now? Look like someone who is talking out of my ass, if I comment? Or look like I don’t give a shit if I don’t comment? I am stuck..
By the way, I have found several new favorite authors by the way of these discussions.. I have raised hell in my local Borders (the only store near me) about their pathetic selection and its crazy product placement (LA Banks should be over in Sci Fi or Horror, like LKH, Harris, Armstrong or Harrison)..
Luckily for me, Amazon is where I buy most of my books, and since I bought Lynn and Roz and Beverlys book from them, similiar books show up in my reccomendations files now.
sallahdog
Anonymous
May 26
10:52 pm
I already buy ANY book I think sounds interesting. I don’t care about the color of any author or character’s skin.
I am already vocal about shelving in bookstores.
I SUCK at commenting on blogs because I just don’t have a lot of time. I have a bad tendency to lose track of time in blogs and have had to put myself on a blog “budget” of an hour a day – so I mostly read.
I was raised and currently work in extremely diverse environments and, while I certainly have prejudices, I don’t think race is one of them.
On the other hand, I do get a bit defensive about being lumped in with a group of people whose values and opinions I may or may not share, based on the fact I am white. I certainly don’t think I treat an interview with an AA author differently than an interview with a white author – I read both with interest but rarely comment.
So – here’s a question specifically for the AA authors – for READERS (I’m not an agent or publisher), what do you want to see that I am not already doing? I feel helpless and bothered that I do not do enough, yet I don’t know what else TO do.
I feel like I have to prove than I’m not a shallow middle-aged white chick but I have no idea how. And then I sometimes have to ask – why do I feel like I have to prove it?
(Hopefully that makes sense, lol)
Anonymous
May 27
1:19 pm
There is a catch 22 about questions like this as others have pointed out which does lead to a certain reluctance to contribute in any way which translates into silence.
Personally, I do all my book buying on line so it doesn’t matter to mewhere a book is shelved in a brick and mortar. I also tend not to even look at covers. Pretty much, I buy on word of mouth, blurb, and ultimately an excerpt. If the book is marketed online in any of the general venues, has a plot line I’m interested in and I can get an excerpt to read, I’ll buy.
I’m the ultimate in the selfish reader. I don’t want to know about the author’s personal life, never read bios, don’t care if the author routinely swings from the rafters or dresses like a nun. I’m only interested in the finished product so any author that markets their books through the common internet channels has a real shot at my buying dollar. For whatever that’s worth.
Monica
May 27
1:55 pm
All sorts of sticky/controversial topics are eagerly debated by romance readers such as formerly taboo eroticism such as anal sex, BDSM, homosexual romance and sex, any other race, including Arabs and shiekhs, sexism, ageism, weightism, the never-ending topic of reviews, publishers with hurt and injured feelings, mean publishers, authors with hurt or injured feelings, mean authors, ad nauseam.
Romance readers can talk about anything BUT a huge segment and subgenre of their very own–blacks and black romance.
Get to those black issues and here in the U.S. so many have deep-rooted negative feelings about blacks they’d rather not deal with. So nonblacks have increased feelings of reluctance and difficulty addressing or becoming interested in black issues rather than even, say, gay issues.
Things didn’t change for us until a few decades ago and many laid everything on the line just so we’d have basic civil rights. Just as many have forgotten the importance of principle and civil rights today.
We had just as many whites right beside us who stood up for what was right back in the day.
But it will take the same sort of sacrifice to make change in publishing today and I simply don’t see it happening anytime soon. It’s not a battle many are going to invest in, black or white. Black authors don’t want to anger the PTB, screw up their next contract, or possibly mess up the possibility of their lucky chance to break out mainstream to ALL readers (a dream of all writers, including marginalized black ones) by alienating white readers.
I believe that individual authors can get lucky and break through, and a black one eventually will in romance, maybe in a generation or two, provided we write the right book at the right time and again–get, real, real lucky.
Laura Vivanco
May 27
10:50 pm
If the book is marketed online in any of the general venues, has a plot line I’m interested in and I can get an excerpt to read, I’ll buy.
But unfortunately, from what a number of black romance authors are saying, and from what I’ve seen when looking at the reviews available at many of the ‘general venues’ for romance, there’s often a distinct lack of reviews there of romances by black authors, so that means that it’s much more difficult for them to get the exposure for their books that’s going to be required to set off the process of you reading about the plot line etc and getting to the point where you want to buy the book.
kardis
May 27
11:14 pm
Hi Karen!
I am generally a dedicated lurker but I just wanted to say, right on! I think that you have really hit the nail on the head, thank you and the other lovely people who have commented on this and several other threads.
Seressia
May 28
3:20 am
What Laura said!
If y’all could give me a list of what you consider “general venues” online, I swear to get every black romance author I know to try to get their books reviewed there.
Most of the time though, the books disappear in a black hole (no pun intended) because they “can’t find anyone to review those books.” To that I say, “What? You mean you have no one who likes to read contemporary or paranormal or inspirational or erotic romance?”
And to those who have read an AA romance and liked it, please tell someone or two or eight. Thanks.
Anonymous
May 29
3:28 am
Monica,
I agree with what you’re saying. However, very few people have as strong of an emotional investment in any of the other topics you mentioned. With the possible exception of homosexuality, but people seem less heated about that. Not to say there aren’t injustices injustices in that realm. We have made race a central part of our identity. I say made because besides physical appearence there aren’t any biological differences. People are always sensitive when they talk about their identity. If you’re the least bit empathic then you are sensitive when you talk about other people’s identites. On this blog people tend to be pretty willing to talk to each other, with the exception of some of the trolls, but on some of the blogs it can get pretty nasty.
It’s obvious what the publish companies should do about this situation, but let’s be honest here, right or wrong, publish companies won’t take action until consumers, through their puchases, tell them to.
What then should a reader do? It seems to me that a reader should make an effort to purchase more books with black charaters, tell their friends about the one’s they enjoy, and if one comments on blogs, respond to posts about books with black characters and/or by black authors just as they would to books with white characters and authors. Beyond that what can we possibly do?
Just out of curiosity, what should a writer do? Does what a black author should do differ from what a white author should do?
On a side note, is anyone else irritated that African-American, Latino, Asian, etc. seems to be a satisfactory discription for a minority character in some books written by whites?
AJ
Jane
May 29
2:39 pm
When Karen emailed me about this post, I replied that many of my blog posts get 0 comments regardless of the nationality or race of the author. In fact, Just About Sex by Ann Christopher had 7 comments which is pretty good for a review. Andrea Pickens, a book about Regency spies, had 1 yesterday.
Interviews that I do rarely get comments unless the author has a big fan base that is used to online interaction so I can’t help but wonder if that isn’t partly what is going on.
But to respond to some of the above comments, I know that Monica was disturbed?angered?frustrated? about the post I made a while back about my applying an affirmative action program to my reading curriculum. In fact, I have been trying to be more pro active about reading AA authored books. Unfortunately, these days, I read alot of ARCs and ebooks so unless it is a Kimani book, I am not likely reading it.
To some extent, I think lack of AA reading has to do with the effort it takes to read AA authored books. It’s in a different section of the bookstore and I can’t tell whether it is a romance because its shelved by author.
The etailing reader is still small (but growing) and so the majority of people buying books are doing so at brick and mortar stores. If a book isn’t easily found, it is not going to be purchased and that, in turn, generates less conversation.
Angela
May 29
3:26 pm
The more I examine this situation and read blogs from all over the blogosphere, the connection has to go both ways (authors and readers). But you cannot deny that there is a stigma that “black” (fiction, tv shows, movies) are for blacks only.
Black authors are marginalized from the publisher level, but that can only happen if the consumers have made it quite clear that black authors and non-black authors are two distinct “types” of writers.
Despite the fact that yes, any and all authors can suffer from neglect in the biz, the silence rings much louder for black authors, who, incidentally, start at a much lower playing field than your average non-black mid-list author.
All that’s left to say (as many have said so) is: what can I do? Take a trip over to SORMAG or Rawsistaz when you feel yourself typing in the url of a review website you only visit out of habit. Stop by Blogging in Black if you’ve already visited Romancing the Blog that day. Do the same thing you would do for a new-to-you non-black author you happen to stumble upon. Above all, don’t give into the delusion that black faces equal alien. If you can put yourself in the place of a TSTL Regency hoyden, how much harder can it be to slip into the mind of a woman whose upbringing and walk of life may be just as foreign to you as that TSTL heroine, and even that of your neighbor.
Monica Jackson
May 29
3:27 pm
I wasn’t disturbed/angered/or frustrated by your efforts, which I actually took as honest efforts, and your intentions good.
I was very frustrated and angered by the discussion on your site, the tone I believe wouldn’t have been tolerated if it were any other topic but black race–say homosexuality, ebooks, any flava or eroticism or any publisher or author with any degree of insanity or drug/alcohol usage.
You had KKK level racist posters ganging up on the lone person speaking for blacks who wasn’t an outright white apologist (e.g. saying things such as ‘I’m not really black, y’all’) and you were allowing a degree of unprecedented attack on a single individual and opinion.
There was no way to get a reasonable black point of view from an opposite (non-white supremist) side.
I can take it. I don’t really give a frick what names KKK/Nazi/white supremacist supporters call me, whether they are gay are not, but this shuts down any other blacks who don’t want to get lynched from speaking out on white forums. I see this as the major problem–our silence and fear. So far, our fear is justified.
I can’t see you letting one of those “God Hates Fags” folks from Topeka have free rein on your site (they got debate and what they think are reasonable points) so why the equivalent against blacks?
Even a feminist academic (Ph.D. and everything) blogger noted and commented on this–stating romance readers cannot discuss their genre, blacks and race.