Pointing out racism in books is not an ‘attack’ – it’s a call for industry reform | Monisha Rajesh

I was called aggressive for criticising passages in Kate Clanchy’s memoir. But the real problem lies deep in the overwhelmingly white world of publishingIt started with a tweet. Kate Clanchy, author of Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me posted on her Twitter account that a reviewer on Goodreads had “made up a racist quote and said it was in my book”. She urged her almost 40,000 followers to flag the review that claimed she had bigoted views on race, class and body image, and had used terms such as “chocolate-coloured skin” and “Jewish noses”. Prominent authors and columnists swooped in to offer support, decrying how Clanchy could possibly be subjected to such inhumane treatment – including the current president of the Society of Authors, Philip Pullman, who declared: “But of all the people and of all the books to have had this happen … It’s hard to stay optimistic about the human race sometimes.”However, it soon emerged that those terms were, in fact, in the book. Incredulous that antisemitic and anti-Black tropes could have made it into a book published as recently as 2019, I downloaded and read it. I recoiled as a Somali boy is described as having a “narrow skull”, while one Muslim girl is “very butch-looking … with a distinct moustache”, and another “looked brilliant because she has such a strong skull shape”, which sounds more like something a eugenicist might observe than a trusted teacher. There is a troubling exchange where Clanchy is baffled by a boy who,... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-08-13 13:51:20 UTC ]
News tagged with: #inhumane treatment #current president #philip pullman #ableist tropes #memoir #book published

Other news stories related to: "Pointing out racism in books is not an ‘attack’ – it’s a call for industry reform | Monisha Rajesh"


Pointing out racism in books is not an ‘attack’ – it’s a call for industry reform | Monisha Rajesh

I was called aggressive for criticising passages in Kate Clanchy’s memoir. But the real problem lies deep in the overwhelmingly white world of publishingIt started with a tweet. Kate Clanchy, author of Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me posted on her Twitter account that a reviewer on... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-08-13 13:51:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book published #memoir #ableist tropes #philip pullman #current president #inhumane treatment


Industry Professionals Talk Racism in Book Cover Design

The pros are here to remind us that racism persists in publishing. Plus: an adaptation from a queer icon and an MCU-style romance enterprise. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-08-15 15:15:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book cover


How the Book Industry Turns Its Own Racism into a Marketable Product

The failure of progressive change in contemporary book publishing is so total that there is now a whole string of books about the failure of progressive change in contemporary book publishing, often backed enthusiastically by big corporate publishers, in an elaborate circuit of denial and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-04-20 08:55:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book industry #book publishing


UK Book Industry: Publishers Call for Aid, Reporting 2019’s Success

Exports in 2019 rose 3.3 percent over those of 2018 for the UK market, as revealed in today's report on last year's pre-pandemic performance. The post UK Book Industry: Publishers Call for Aid, Reporting 2019’s Success appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-07-22 13:29:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk book #uk market #publishers call #success appeared


Jacqueline Wilson calls for books industry plastics ban

Dame Jacqueline Wilson joins author Lauren St John's campaign calling for the book industry to ditch plastic. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2018-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ditch plastic #book industry #campaign calling


Fifty authors call on book industry to ditch plastic

Fifty of the UK’s authors and illustrators, including Sir Michael Morpurgo, Chris Riddell and Jacqueline Wilson, have pledged their support for a campaign encouraging the book industry to ditch the plastic. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #campaign encouraging #jacqueline wilson #chris riddell #book industry #ditch plastic


World Book Day: EU to Exclude Book Industry from Late Payment Regulations

Publishers and booksellers worked together to secure an exemption from the EU's late payment legislation, a decision that protects the publishing's unique business model. The post World Book Day: EU to Exclude Book Industry from Late Payment Regulations appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-04-23 23:25:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book industry #world book


Texas Officially Bans So-Called “Sexually Explicit” Books; Demands Book Ratings from Vendors

Texas's Governor signs a bill into law that gives him power over what books can be in libraries *and* forces ratings on books. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-06-15 10:40:00 UTC ]
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UK Book Publishing Industry Raises Copyright Alarm: ‘Save Our Books’

'The biggest threat to our industry post-Brexit,' says the Publishers Association, is an 'international copyright exhaustion framework.' The post UK Book Publishing Industry Raises Copyright Alarm: ‘Save Our Books’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-06-07 17:22:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishing #uk book #publishers association #biggest threat


Industry Notes: UK-based Book Aid International: 1.2 Million Books in 2019

The charity last year was at work in 23 refugee camps, 38 prison libraries, 1,567 schools, 635 public libraries, and more. The post Industry Notes: UK-based Book Aid International: 1.2 Million Books in 2019 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-08-14 17:51:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book aid


Industry Notes: 2020 World Book Capital; Political Book Sales in the US; PRH Names New CFO

Kuala Lumpur is the 2020 World Book capital; more political books in the US released and compete with growing sales of Woodward's 'Fear'; and PRH has a new CFO. The post Industry Notes: 2020 World Book Capital; Political Book Sales in the US; PRH Names New CFO appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #growing sales #political books #kuala lumpur


Industry Notes: Amazon ‘Prime Book Boxes’ for Children; National Book Festival September 1

Having tested the program on an invitational basis for three months, Amazon rolls out its children's book boxes offer to the US Prime membership. And the Library of Congress holds its annual National Book Festival this weekend. The post Industry Notes: Amazon ‘Prime Book Boxes’ for Children;... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prime membership #amazon rolls


Dutch Book Review of Books on Racism Lost in Translation

A debate has ensued over the use of an illustration of a man in blackface and a headline using the "N word" in a review of several US books on racism. The post Dutch Book Review of Books on Racism Lost in Translation appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #translation appeared


Book Publicity Is a Call to Action for Bev Rivero

The senior publicist at the New Press finds working for an indie press with a social justice focus particularly rewarding professionally, politically, and personally. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-11-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indie press #senior publicist


Remembering Mike Shatzkin: Book Industry Commentator

Longtime consultant, book-business analyst, and conference producer Mike Shatzkin has died in New York City at age 77. The post Remembering Mike Shatzkin: Book Industry Commentator appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-11-07 19:14:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book industry


R.F. Kuang Has Called Out The Publishing Industry With Satire. But The Truth Is, She’s Ready For Change.

The “Yellowface” author is using her voice to bring Asian and Asian American histories to life on the page, and advocating for others to do the same. Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2024-10-22 15:00:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry


Frankfurt: Guest of Honor Italy Reports Book Industry Slowdown

Days before opening its guest of honor week at Frankfurt, Italy's publishers' point to a €100 million loss in public funds under the Meloni government. The post Frankfurt: Guest of Honor Italy Reports Book Industry Slowdown appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-10-10 02:46:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book industry #public funds #post frankfurt


The Black List Upended the Film Industry. The Book World Is Next

“I was loath to jump into it,” Black List founder Franklin Leonard says of expanding into publishing. “It’s not a great look to be like, ‘I'm from Hollywood and I'm here to save you.’” Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2024-10-04 15:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Review: ‘Revenge of the Tipping Point,’ by Malcolm Gladwell

In “Revenge of the Tipping Point,” the best-selling author looks back at his old theories. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2024-09-29 09:01:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #best-selling author #malcolm gladwell #tipping point #book review


AAP StatShot: US Book Industry Was Up 6.2 Percent in June

A 26.8-percent decrease in returns was a factor in the US market's trade net sales in June, according to the AAP's new StatShot report. The post AAP StatShot: US Book Industry Was Up 6.2 Percent in June appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-09-19 21:48:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book industry #statshot report #aap statshot #june appeared