Diversity and Inclusion in the Writing Life
Earlier this year, I attended the Festival of Faith and Writing and I’m still thinking about it. I realized that majority of the sessions I was most interested in centered around the topics of race, diversity, equality, and inclusion within the context of publishing and writing; sessions that addressed issues like why men don’t read women authors, privilege and its role in building author platforms, how childhood dynamics determine board meeting decisions and ultimately what books get funded, and the challenges minorities face when writing to white audiences.
I heard from brilliant authors like Brenda Salter McNiel, Jeff Chu, Lisa Sharon Harper, Deidra Riggs, Edward Gilbreath, Sandra Maria Van Opstal, and Austin Channing Brown. The first sentence in the later’s debut book, I’m Still Here, reads, “White people are exhausting.” And in the panel with Brown’s agent Rachelle Gardner, I heard, “White people are exhausting but we don’t have to stay there. We have the responsibility to move forward. Publishers are responsible for bringing forth the voices that need to be heard.” Riggs and Brown challenged the audience saying, “Readers must demand better, more diverse books and voices. They have to vote with their dollars.”
As I followed the crowd out of the panel session, I thought about what I was voting for with my dollars, with my time, and even my social media likes. Pulling up my Instagram account, I grew more convicted and sad as I scrolled past white face after white face, white writer after white writer. I mentally reviewed my book collection at home to find the same thing. Not only was the lack of diversity on my accounts and bookshelves representative of the community I lived in, but it exposed my default, yet still intentional choice to continue unhealthy practices of exclusion, oppression, and ignorance. I knew better, yet hadn’t until that moment, changed my behavior to match my supposed beliefs. As a result, I was a limiting myself as a person, as a Christian, and as a writer. Our task as writers is to reveal and explore truth. But how can we do that if we only listen to one perspective, to only one group?
Starting that evening, I began a kind of cleanse. Though instead of a removal or a fasting, it was a cleanse by addition. I know I’m nowhere near where I ought to be. I know that my consumer votes are still biased and I need to grow. There are many serious topics tightly-connected to this issue that I’m not talking about because I don’t feel I can or should, at least right now. But I’m learning, and I’m working to continue learning. If, like me, you’re realizing the media you consume and the voices you give priority to are off balance with your beliefs, I encourage you to join me in the steps below. Let’s help build a healthy and whole community starting right where we are. With every book we read, episode we watch, or post we like, let’s vote for a better world.
Social Media Feed
Let’s evaluate our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social feeds. What voices are missing, what voices are we excluding? One easy step for me was to make sure that I was following the authors I enjoyed listening and reading to at the Festival. As I listened to these writers and got to know them and their messages, I wanted to support their work and keep up with their projects. But please note, following someone not because you enjoy their words but simply because of the color of their skin and for the sole purpose of diversifying your account is still furthering a racist mentality.
Bookshelf
I believe that reading is an integral part of stewarding ourselves, our relationships, and therefore our communities. Books shape our beliefs, they challenge or affirm the truths we hold, they help us grow. If we only expose ourselves to just one side of the story, we limit ourselves and our communities. It’s not hard to find worthy books by diverse authors. And reading and purchasing these titles is one simple way to help build educated communities that promote peace and truth. To name just a few books on my list, I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown, White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Being a Latino in Christ by Orlando Crespo, Trouble I’ve Seen by Drew G. I. Hart, My First White Friend Patricia Raybon, The Next Evangelicalism by Soong-Chan Rah, and One by Deidra Riggs. I mostly read nonfiction, as this list shows, but whatever genres we love, let’s make a point to explore them through the lens of other cultures.
Music
It’s so easy for me to settle in with my favorites and forget the ever-evolving world of music just bursting with unique sounds. Unfortunately, most music platforms utilize algorithms so you’ll only “discover” what matches your previous history. But you can train the algorithms to offer you diverse suggestions by searching for new artists and new genres. It takes time to find what you like, but that’s part of the fun of music. Ask your friends who they listen to and attend concerts that are outside your usual sounds.
Shows and Movies
I love movies and shows so this category was one of the most fun for me to explore. There are so many artistically interesting, entertaining, and thought-provoking movies out there. And like books, film is a powerful way to grow your character and challenge your assumptions. Algorithms play a role here too and we have to actively search for actors and films in order to adjust the settings. Recently, I watched First They Killed My Father, a powerful movie based on a true story of the Combodian genocide, Fruitvale Station, the first film by Black Panther director Ryan Coogler about the last day of Oscar Grant III. My husband and I chatted long about the movie Blackkklansman (headlining Black Panther actor Michael B. Jordan) and it’s unabashed report on today’s racially charged political scene. I’m also exploring shows like Master of None, and Queer Eye, and I’m on the lookout for more.
It’s a well-known fact the movie industry is predominantly white, like most content-oriented industries. By diversifying our viewership, we tell the industry that we want more than just an echo chamber of our own voices. We want diverse stories that represent the entire spectrum of the human experience.
We are what we consume. And what we are informs our writing. So let’s be mindful of our consumption, and let’s be intentional about voting for equality at every chance we can. Even as I type this, I’m acutely aware that this is not enough. This is not going to mend all my hidden biases. But I believe first steps are better than no steps, that small starts are better than not starting at all. Let’s move forward, offering belonging and inclusion to those around us. Let’s go together.
