Why Are Writers of Color Underrepresented Among Published Authors? One Poet's Questions and Possible Solutions

Authors

Clara B. JonesFollow

Abstract

On 7 November 2015, The Atlantic published an article by Kavita Das titled, “Writers shouldn't romanticize rejection: in the literary world, talent isn't hiding. It's being ignored.” The article advanced two major premises: that a minority “voice” may be “alien or unrecognizable” and that rejection is a function of “power” relations. In Das' words, “Is my voice going to be somehow alien or unrecognizable to the person I am submitting it to?” Though the author recognizes that her essay might apply to all writers from underrepresented groups, she directs her concerns primarily to “writers of color.” While I agree that racial and ethnic diversity should be a priority in the literary world, I submit this essay to suggest that numerous factors may operate to limit opportunities for underrepresented writers and that Das has overlooked some possible solutions. While I practice poetry seriously, I am neither a professional nor an academic poet. Thus, I cannot claim to have systematically studied the topic under consideration. I hope, however, to broaden and to enhance the conversation about under-representation of some groups among those identifying as writers, particularly, writers competing for publication.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s)

Recommended Citation

Jones, Clara B. (2020) "Why Are Writers of Color Underrepresented Among Published Authors? One Poet's Questions and Possible Solutions," The Review Review: Vol. 1: Iss. 2, Article 50.
DOI: 10.33972/trr.118
Available at: https://repository.gonzaga.edu/trr/vol1/iss2/50