
Racism In Romance: “I hate to say it, but I think AA romance is niche reading.”
Thursday, June 26, 2008Posted in: Is It Because I Is Black?, Racism in romance
December Quinn has a racism in romance post over on her blog, which I found interesting, if not earth shattering.
That is until I came across this comment by an anonymous poster:
I know that AA romance is out there, but I just don’t have an interest. It’s too far outside my cultural comfort zone. I’m a white person, so in my head I visualize hot white guy. So why would I go purchase an AA romance? I wouldn’t.
It’s a bit of a “No she didn’t!” comment, but at least she was honest.
She also says that she has a black friend who prefers AA romance to be shelved separately.
I’m not so sure if I believe she has a black friend.
Her comments about AA romance being outside her cultural comfort zone is very revealing methinks. (I guess being friends with a black person allegedly doesn’t count) Basically, she thinks that black people in love are different to white people in love, a theory which is strengthened with this comment:
You are assuming that shelving is what is causing AA romance to have less sales. I don’t think that is the case. I hate to say it, but I think AA romance is niche reading. Seems ridiculous, but it’s true.
She seriously wrote that.
I suspect that her feelings on the subject aren’t a one-off. I suspect that lots of romance readers feel exactly like she does, they just wouldn’t ever admit it in public.
Sad isn’t it?