10th Anniversary 10,000 Book Campaign

[Bernice McFadden]

Dear Book Lover:

You may not know me, or my novels, because I am a member of a growing band of African-American writers of literary fiction who are slowly disappearing. And not because I am lacking in talent and credentials; in fact I have already published a number of books with major publishing houses and have been reviewed by national newspapers and well-respected literary journals, and have received critical acclaim and awards for my efforts. My work has been hailed as vivid, thought provoking and brilliant. I have been compared to Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston and Gloria Naylor.

The fact that my novels may disappear is not due to the downward spiral of the economy or the pound of flesh it has taken from the book-publishing industry. No, my demise began long before the floor of the housing market began to rot away and the stock market crashed through.

Why?

I don't rightly know why publisher’s market fiction written by African-Americans ONLY TO African-Americans - but it has become common practice. And by doing this, they've placed all AA authors in one box forcing them to compete for the attention of ONE audience.

The word that has been coined to describe what is happening to AA writers is: Seg-Book-Gation

Segregation is an abominable practice no matter how you slice it - but when you apply it to art -- it becomes a sin. Art of any medium should transcend color, race, class, religion and ethnicity, but alas, that is not the case in the publishing world.

AA literary writers like myself are being pushed out of the industry all together as we are no longer able to secure book deals, because publisher claim that AA readers are only interested in buying books about sex, street-life and drugs. We know that this is not the case. We are a diverse people, interested in a variety of subjects.

On January 9th, 2010, my debut novel, SUGAR will celebrate its 10th anniversary. In order to commemorate this occasion It is my great hope that this moving story of friendship and acceptance will sell 10,000 copies between now and the anniversary date.

It is my dream that the surge in sales for this decade old novel, will send a message to the publishers that we readers desire ...crave and DEMAND a variety of literature from our AA writers because their stories are just as riveting, thought-provoking and universally appealing as the stories coming from their non-African-American counterparts.

***STOP PUBLISHING FROM RACIALIZING LITERATURE***

I’m urging you to purchase at least one copy of SUGAR for yourself, a friend or family member and spread the word as far and wide as you can.

Peace & Light,

Bernice L. McFadden

www.bernicemcfadden.com
www.firstborngirl.blogspot.com
[e-mail]

[M. J. Macie]

I had no idea! I always believed a good book was a good book, whether written by man or woman, and didn't consider the author's race. I studied wonderful AA writers such as Walker and Baldwin and wasn't thinking about the author's race but instead about the story and how that story effected the characters (and me).

I agree that "any medium of art should transcend color, race, class, religion and ethnicity," and my eyes have been opened to learn it's not. If we can't put our own cultural experiences into our stories, then where is the unique viewpoint of the author?
M.J.
http://m-j-macie.blogspot.com/

[Verlina Adame]

I'll add this to my 2010 reading list.
I'll go shopping for some books after Christmas, so this is on my list to pick up!! =)

[June Goodwin]

Wow. I'll be looking for your novel when it comes out. I'm in the process of writing a Ya novel and the girl is biracial. It's not an issue in the novel just a fact.No different than if one said she lived in a green house. I have been concerned that if I can get representation and get the book published, I didn't want the book to be "ghettoized" in the "black" section of the bookstore. I have a problem with the very existance of such sections in the first place.