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I saw someone on Twitter say that white authors shouldn't be allowed to write about QPOC when there are so few published QPOC writers.
I'm of two minds about the statement.
If publishers have no quota, official or informal, when it comes to publishing books featuring QPOC, then I disagree—white authors should be allowed to write about QPOC because we always need more books featuring characters of color and QPOC.
However, if publishers do have a quota—which, again, could be unwritten/informal, or even a subconscious bias—then I think publishers really need to prioritize publishing QPOC authors, not just publishing books with QPOC. Because it's true that there are very few published QPOC authors/authors of color writing about queer characters.
Increasing the diversity of published authors involves an active commitment, not just a passive one. And while more QPOC representation is always neede, prioritizing novels about QPOC written by white authors rather than by QPOC authors doesn't send a great message about that publisher.
I'm of two minds about the statement.
If publishers have no quota, official or informal, when it comes to publishing books featuring QPOC, then I disagree—white authors should be allowed to write about QPOC because we always need more books featuring characters of color and QPOC.
However, if publishers do have a quota—which, again, could be unwritten/informal, or even a subconscious bias—then I think publishers really need to prioritize publishing QPOC authors, not just publishing books with QPOC. Because it's true that there are very few published QPOC authors/authors of color writing about queer characters.
Increasing the diversity of published authors involves an active commitment, not just a passive one. And while more QPOC representation is always neede, prioritizing novels about QPOC written by white authors rather than by QPOC authors doesn't send a great message about that publisher.
