RACISM
White Man Claims It's Too Hard For White Men To Get Writing Gigs
Why do some White people see diversity as an existential threat?
Diversity is not a personal attack on White people, but good luck convincing award-winning novelist James Patterson of that fact. In an interview in The Times, he expressed concern that it's too hard for old White men to get writing gigs. It's as if he just arrived from an alternative universe, where White people are constantly subjected to racial discrimination. Furthermore, Patterson suggested the uptick in diverse voices in literature is a form of racism against White men. His perspective is reminiscent of The Great Replacement Theory, which asserts that Black people, immigrants, and other marginalized groups are actively, intentionally, and maliciously replacing White people. But, of course, none of that is actually happening. So, why do some White men view diversity as a visceral threat?
For years, White male authors dominated the industry, and many don’t want to give up that power. In 2020, #PublishingPaidMe began trending on social media as writers and editors of color and their White counterparts shared the dollar amount of what publishers paid them. In response, publishers made various statements pledging to do better, insisting that "Black Stories Matter,"…
