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RE: next round of research and numbers
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From: Deborah Menkart <dmenkart_at_teachingforchange.org>
Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 14:33:46 -0500
My reaction to the term probably comes from the fact that the group I work with runs the independent bookstore at Busboys and Poets restaurant, named for Langston Hughes. We constantly hear people saying that the name was chosen because Langston Hughes was “discovered,” while working as a busboy at the Wardman Hotel by Vachel Lindsay. Problem is, Hughes had been published before in the Crisis and had a reputation as a fine poet. But that earlier history in the African American community is erased by this “discovery” narrative.
Deborah
From: Marc [mailto:bookmarch_at_aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2014 2:24 PM To: Deborah Menkart Cc: Norma Jean Sawicki; Ebony Elizabeth Thomas; Rosanne Parry; ccbc-net_at_lists.wisc.edu Network Subject: Re: [ccbc-net] next round of research and numbers
"Discovered" as Norma Jean used the word is a term of art in publishing. It refers to an editor, art director, or in the wonderful case of Deb Taylor and Tupac, a librarian, finding a great talent and nurturing; launching that artist. Dick Jackson discovered Chris Raschka -- there is no colonialist implication in that. Indeed "discovering" talent is precisely what editors must do. Read about say how Walter's career began.
I find this racially divisive and holier than thou tone not merely false to the creative relationships in publishing but morally wrong. Art must belong to everyone and everyone has a role in creating and sharing art with young people. Any view which divides art by race, class, gender, does the work of the enemies of the creative process.
Marc Aronson
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID
Deborah Menkart <dmenkart_at_teachingforchange.org> wrote:
"The list of black writers and illustrators discovered and nurtured by white publishers then and now is very very very long...."
I don't have a lot of time to write a long response. But I must say I am floored by the use of the term "discovered." From all I have known and heard from writers of color for many decades, none were "discovered" by white publishers, just as no nations what we now call the Americas were "discovered" by Europeans. Instead, it took organized movements to demand and ensure that writers and illustrators of color -- who were already known and recognized in their communities -- could get publishing contracts -- and it took the establishment of independent presses and bookstores. It is not a coincidence that this happened during the time of the modern Civil Rights Movement.
Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 14:33:46 -0500
My reaction to the term probably comes from the fact that the group I work with runs the independent bookstore at Busboys and Poets restaurant, named for Langston Hughes. We constantly hear people saying that the name was chosen because Langston Hughes was “discovered,” while working as a busboy at the Wardman Hotel by Vachel Lindsay. Problem is, Hughes had been published before in the Crisis and had a reputation as a fine poet. But that earlier history in the African American community is erased by this “discovery” narrative.
Deborah
From: Marc [mailto:bookmarch_at_aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2014 2:24 PM To: Deborah Menkart Cc: Norma Jean Sawicki; Ebony Elizabeth Thomas; Rosanne Parry; ccbc-net_at_lists.wisc.edu Network Subject: Re: [ccbc-net] next round of research and numbers
"Discovered" as Norma Jean used the word is a term of art in publishing. It refers to an editor, art director, or in the wonderful case of Deb Taylor and Tupac, a librarian, finding a great talent and nurturing; launching that artist. Dick Jackson discovered Chris Raschka -- there is no colonialist implication in that. Indeed "discovering" talent is precisely what editors must do. Read about say how Walter's career began.
I find this racially divisive and holier than thou tone not merely false to the creative relationships in publishing but morally wrong. Art must belong to everyone and everyone has a role in creating and sharing art with young people. Any view which divides art by race, class, gender, does the work of the enemies of the creative process.
Marc Aronson
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID
Deborah Menkart <dmenkart_at_teachingforchange.org> wrote:
"The list of black writers and illustrators discovered and nurtured by white publishers then and now is very very very long...."
I don't have a lot of time to write a long response. But I must say I am floored by the use of the term "discovered." From all I have known and heard from writers of color for many decades, none were "discovered" by white publishers, just as no nations what we now call the Americas were "discovered" by Europeans. Instead, it took organized movements to demand and ensure that writers and illustrators of color -- who were already known and recognized in their communities -- could get publishing contracts -- and it took the establishment of independent presses and bookstores. It is not a coincidence that this happened during the time of the modern Civil Rights Movement.
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