Tayari's Blog: You Said It, Not Me
Posted by TayariJones on September 15, 2006 04:22 PM
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Recently, Sara Gran wrote a NYT article about Brooklyn writers and the only African Americans she could think of were Colson Whitehead and Toure. And she wonders why she is unaware of Black literary authors-- living in Brooklyn or anywhere else-- who are not "super-Pulitzer-winning-brilliant." (By brilliant, I think she means famous.) She wonders if it is because she is "being an idiot", if it is because black people are less literate and book-writing, or if it is something else. (You can read her full post here.)
Oh Sara, where to begin?
If you, as a self-described "non-black" writer, wants to find black authors, Barnes and Noble makes it really easy for you with their handy-dandy "African American" section. You can just zip right over there and find works by all sorts of black folks from all over the diaspora!
For kicks, score a copy of Black Issues Book Review.
There are about a zillion websites devoted to black authors. Get wild and crazy and throw BROOKLYN in the search engine. You'd be amazed.
You can also check out some friends of mine in Brooklyn. They are really nice people. Explain your predicament and they can help you out. Martha Southgate is the chair of the MacDowell fellows committe. Maybe you saw her letter to the editor in last week's NYT? She identified herself as an African-American novelist AND Brooklyn resident. She's friendly. Shoot her an email. Eisa Ulen who we featured on this blog last month: Brooklynite. Nellie Rosario: Brooklyn. If you're willing to venture out to Manhattan-- Lord. Buckle your seatbelt.
If you prefer more insitutional resources, The Hurston/Wright Foundation gives awards each year to new books of literary fiction by black authors. Check them out. It's easy. Just a click.
I don't mean to sound so testy. As everyone knows, I run a civil and welcoming blog. I do understand the larger point that African American and African diasporic writers do not get the attention, press, etc. as white writers. I agree. Of course I do. (I've even blogged about it.) But the information is so easily accessible, that it disturbs me when otherwise resourceful people suggest that they have no idea where to start.
Identifying the problem is a nice guesture. But raising the question is just the babiest of steps. Come on, Sarah. I'll meet you half way. Email me with your address. I'll send you my book. The rest is on you.
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There are 7 comments on "You Said It, Not Me". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by Michael Fischer ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
Good grief. I actually find myself overwhelmed with literary information/resources. There are so many good literary blogs these days that I often don’t know where to start; and as you say, Tayari, there is this thing called Google, ha.
I don’t want to pile on; she appears to mean well, but common sense should tell one that in this day and age of “information," one can find what she is looking for fairly easily.
September 15, 2006 06:46 PM
Comment #2, by Ladylee
Well, famous and brilliant get confused all the time.
But here's what bothers me about that article... Forget about googling info... She's FROM that area. So shouldn't she be in the know of the not so famous authors around there, moreso than someone unfamiliar with the area?
Hmmm...
September 16, 2006 05:41 AM
Comment #3, by Michael Fischer
^Yeah, I agree. I find it a bit strange that someone who works in the literary world of NYC--the suppossed "literary capital of the world--is so disconnected.
Just proves how overrated NYC'ers are. I’m so sick and tired of these know-it-all NYC literary hipsters who run around acting like the literary universe revolves around them...when they can’t even recognize the universe in their own backyard.
September 16, 2006 11:29 AM
Comment #4, by Jackie
I read her blog entry and her article in the Times. I could hardly contain myself when I finished reading your blog entry Tayari (actually I was so annoyed I hopped over here to comment first).
This Sara Gran is what used to be referred to as "disavantaged." We should give her kudos for admitting in print that her educational opportunities have failed her, that all her education and experience in the world have left her bereft of knowledge about black writers. I am suddenly frightened to consider what else this poor, poor woman has missed. Poor, poor Sara. Until your blog, Tayari, I had never heard of HER. Certainly I will read her, though I refuse to support her financially by buying anything she has written.
Maybe we should all send her a list of, oh say, the first 50 black writers we can name in one sitting, complete with library call numbers or Amazon links just to get her feet wet or her mind opened. Or something. I pray (really) that she is not a teacher anywhere.
My anger has subsided. I just feel so sorry for her and all that she has missed by not being aware of talented black writers. If she never heard of any of us, it only goes without saying there are huge groups of people she has missed, gaping holes in her knowledge of the world, Grand Canyon-like wideness in what she doesn't know. Her article/blog is so sad. Her world must lack the depth and breadth and richness of color.
I am over my anger. Now I am only sad for her. Give me a moment until it passes. There. I'm all done now.
September 16, 2006 12:04 PM
Comment #5, by Darbs
This is my first time to your blog and I absolutely love it. Kudos!
Now onto my comment.
While I want to commend Sara for wanting to be informed and for her interest in African American writers, I cannot help being completely dumbfounded. Is she for real?
As others have mentioned, she is a part of the literary world, she lives in NYC, she obviously knows how to use the internet and seems, otherwise, mentally competent. So what gives? Is she lazy? Was she trying to create controversy? Was she trying to take a blow at the Black literary world in a very "nicety" kinda way?
I'm utterly confused...but certainly not as confused as Sara. Bless her heart.
September 16, 2006 03:33 PM
Comment #6, by Jackie
You got a mention on Sara Gran's blog for taking her task for her ignorant comments. She has ignorant fans also. Steel yourself if you are going to read those comments. Better yet, remember that you have a sense of humor and the benefit of a Spelman education.
She still doesn't get it. Now she thinks she would be better informed about black writers if she could just find a good black bookstore.....
September 18, 2006 03:22 PM
Comment #7, by tom l
This could be one of those cases where you don't want to know the artist if you like their work. I liked one of her books, so I went to check out her blog and oh my gosh there were many reasons why I wanted to run screaming from the place (if it were possible to run screaming from a website). As for this particular shortcoming, I think that laziness can be the only explanation.
September 18, 2006 05:12 PM