Kirkus reviews, for those who don’t know, is a highly influential, USA based body of reviewers. A starred Kirkus review is something that authors fling their hats in the air, squee and dance about. So I was really interested to read this: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/unmaking-white-default/
I think it’s a good move. I also like the fact that they’ve flagged up that one of their reviewers of colour didn’t agree with the decision. Because guess what, not all people of colour hold exactly the same views on what’s racist and what isn’t, what with us all being different people and so forth 🙂 . Kirkus have made this decision to try it this way, and I think it’s a good one. It draws attention to the white default, and that’s a good thing, I think. If you can’t see the problem, you can’t start tackling it.
Meanwhile, Nikesh Shukla has tweeted this relevant piece
“When you only see white folks being glamorous, beautiful and sympathetic in media, it is all too easy to internalise the message that you have to look white in order to be attractive.”
: http://www.rifemagazine.co.uk/2016/05/more-than-mulan-why-representation-matters/
Author Lisa Glass has also kindly drawn my attention to this tumblr: looks worth a read!
http://writingwithcolor.tumblr.com/