I REALLY WISH I GAVE A DAMN
From time to time, people have asked how I feel about the lack of white readers reading African American books. Almost always my response is a shrug of the shoulders while my mother’s voice plays in my head, “One monkey don’t stop no show.”
Now before everyone get all up in arms I’m not calling white people monkeys. It pretty much means the show must go on. I like white people. Some of my best friends are white. 
(I’ve always wanted to say that.)
But I didn’t choose to be a romance writer because I wanted to impress white people. I write because that’s who I am. I write because I want to share the stories that stream through my head about handsome men and smart, and sometimes stubborn, women falling in love. And I invite everyone who wants to read them to read them. That’s as far as my job goes.
I have very little control to how the books are published and no control where they are stocked. Do I feel SOME bookstores are segregated? Yes.
Do I think it’s right? No.
Do I think it’s white writer’s fault? No.
Do I think it’s white reader’s fault? No.
Do I think it’s bookseller’s fault? Yes.
Movin’ on.
One thing I’m not going to do is spend my career obsessing over the things I don’t have or opportunities denied to me. I’m going to get up every morning, write my stories and create my OWN opportunities. I’m going to ignore both the black crab (because they are out there too.) and the white crab trying to pull me back down in the barrel and get the hell out of there. I’m going to nurture and appreciate the audience I do have and not bemoan the one I don’t. Yes, I would like to tap into the white audience, but there are successful AA authors who have made the NYT Bestseller List and USA Today without pandering to it.
I’m inspired by people like Tyler Perry-who don’t play the Hollywood game but absolutely stuns and mystifies the powers that be on how he pulls the numbers he does. He spent 15 years touring, nurturing and growing a fan base-HIS fan base and, in turn, he’s done the impossible.
I’m not dispelling how others attack this issue. There are the Malcolm Xs who want to bash people over the head and demand equality by all means necessary. And there are the Martin Luther Kings who are going to overcome by non-violence.
I’m not going to judge either tactic. I just know what works for me.
For those that don’t want to read me BECAUSE they don’t want to read about AA characters: Your loss.
For those who do: pull up a seat, I have a wonderful story to tell you…
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This has definately been a hot topic on the net as of late.
I like your statement – “I’m going to get up every morning, write my stories and create my OWN opportunities.”
In order to survive, that’s what you have to do.
by Shelia
on October 29th, 2007 at 10:52 am
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I couldn’t agree more. All I want is an audience (preferably one that’s growing) who enjoy my stories. It’s the writing I love. The rest of it is often a pain in the ass.
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Very encouraging. I couldn’t agree more.
by dana
on October 29th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
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Great post, Adrianne. I feel you. There are things that we will never have control over. And the best way to deal with this is to write the best stories we can and keep in moving. As a fan of your work, I know that white readers who haven’t read you are missing out big time. As an avid reader of romance in general and African American romance novels specifically, I know for a fact that the majority of romance readers are missing out big time. But it’s their loss. Not mine. Yes as a writer, I could be missing out on sales. But they are sales that I never knew for certain I would get anyway. I’m for promoting and growing the African American romance community. I’m for spreading the word about the great African American romance novels I’ve read. I would love it if we had equal opportunities to get readers… I would love it if racism no longer existed… But, I can’t let that stop me from writing and sharing my stories, from reading and enjoying the stories my sistas are putting out there. I can’t let this foolishness steal my joy and drive me crazy… because if you let it it will.
Dana thanks for e-mailing me about this great post. I’ve been in deadline mode and staying away from the blogosphere.
Gwyneth
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Adrienne,
I am totally with you about the whole article. I am going to write my books and allow those who purchase them read and enjoy…Great Post.
angelia
by Angelia
on October 29th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
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[...] 29, 2007Colored Only: How to cope with it being the equivalent of 1952 in Romanceland Adrianne Byrd put it in a nutshell what black romance authors must do to make it in this society and maintain our [...]
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Well said, Adrianne, and greatly appreciated. Let the choir say AMEN!
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Well said, Adrianne, and greatly appreciated. Let the choir say AMEN!
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I like white people. Some of my best friends are white. (I’ve always wanted to say that.)
Roflmao. Excellent post. I think with all the attention the issue has been getting some good will come of it. Or I might just be incredible naive.
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Couldn’t agree with you more. The way I see it, stressing about lack of white readers only takes time away from my writing.
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Hi Adrianne!
I love romance. It’s why I write it as well as devour it by the bushels. I read If You Dare and Deadly Double and loved them both (got a weakness for romantic suspense). 
Personally, I don’t give a crap about the author’s race/creed/nationality. I just want to read a good story and be swept away from the doldrums of everyday existence. That’s what I hope to provide my readers as well. I’m a romance aficionado, period. I’m Hispanic, but does that mean I’m only going to read hispanic romances (not that there are any out there)? Hell no. Why limit myself like that? It’s just my loss in the end if I do.
by Karyna
on November 3rd, 2007 at 1:25 pm
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Who cares if there are still folks ignorant enough to think the way they still do. Unfortunately, that’s just a part of life that we must look beyond and keep on truckin’ as you have already said. The show must go on. This is how you make a living and enjoy doing so. If they cannot look past the color of skin and realize the full potential and God given talent that you have, then so be it. Regardless of how far you go, knowing that you have came this far is far more than a rewarding experience in itself. I wish you nothing but joy and congrats on doing what you needed to do to establish yourself as a damn good writer.
by Angie
on November 6th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
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ok so my question is do black author’s feel less than if white folks dont’ read their books. I just don’t think Danille Steel is wondering why all the soul sister’s are not running to get her books. 
I think about when Oprah started, man you couldn’t say NOTHING about Oprah she looked like a old counsin, sister, mama or even grandmother, and then all of sudden “the great white hope” start liking her and she changing she stop being OUR OPRAH AND became everyone OPRAH! For me somthing changed. I hope that is not what would happen with AA.author’s if they start writing for white folks. I hold AA. to a higher standard because they give us the real about love, romance, stress and happy ending. We dont’ see it in t.v or movies. etc so I depend on author’s is it fair ? maybe but it’s who I am . 
by KIMMI
on November 16th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
