Something on race.

I had planned to post something on race. I was going to look at how it has affected me, including the friendships I have (and don’t have) today in real life. I was going to explore race in story and the occasionally troubling reaction to my book from certain readers. I was going to highlight some of the microaggressions experienced workshopping my culture’s writing in mostly white academic spaces. I was going to point out how harmful it was to be told early on that middle-aged white women were the book readers and buyers in this country, and that I should write with them in mind. I wanted to reflect on my experience with the publishing industry, as well as what it means to perform at some events and festivals to largely white audiences. I was going to give thanks for finding community, and that wonderful feeling of shared or similar experience. But I can’t. If you haven’t been paying attention to the news in the past few days, please do. It’s heartbreaking and infuriating. Please recognize that racism normalizes violence. It continues to lead to the systemic death of Black folx. It can only begin to change if we demand it.