So yesterday PW's Publishing Salary Survey went live, and about 84% of book publishing is white (barely a change). But also, re: racial/ethnics group, if you look the past years, most representation, by group, is actually decreasing or staying the same. 
Now, of course, this is data is based on those who actually take their survey but it's also important to note that about the same amount of people take it each year, so it's pretty stable, and having worked as an editor at two major publishers, seems about right to me.
Around this time each year, this survey is released. And around this time, poc talk about how basically nothing is changing (in a big way) and I so rarely see white publishing staff talking about the same. At this point, though, it's not just about staff level changes + convos.
First, before someone jumps in and says, it's shitty for all people in publishing, let me explain. When I was an editorial assistant, on any given day I could I had to deal with my boss's extreme racism that she obviously couldn't see.
I often used as the "Black opinion" but they only listened to me if I said what they wanted to hear, so like I was brought in to consult on Black hair and then when I gave my opinions but they still wanted the girl to have super cute relaxed hair
aka they really just wanted to change the originally white girl on the cover Black, I was sent back to my desk. I had a white colleague on my first day tell me I was a diversity hire even though I had more experience than her.
Oh and I was given very little to no credit for the book I acquired at auction but was still expected to do all the behind the scenes work... I'll just stop here. I know many poc can relate, as so many of us have commiserated about the same things together.
When I moved publishers and became an associate editor in many ways it was better because I could speak up but I had to listen to white colleagues complain sensitivity reads and, in most cases, they just decided to make characters white which honestly proved the point.
I could keep listing things forever, all poc in publishing can. All of that is stressful AF. I hustled as hard as my white colleagues plus I was running @PocPub plus I was dealing with microgressions 24/7. And yes, I spoke up sometimes but it's exhausting to constantly have to.
So what is my point, you're asking? Well, listen, just about every person of color I know is working (at least) double duty. We look out for other poc, giving them tough love & a shoulder to cry on, while also trying to be high achievers, or just make it through the day, at work
POC can't, or shouldn't, also be expected to be the main ones constantly shouting about representation and trying to get more poc in the industry. Where are our allies?
I deeply believe that this, empowering poc by hiring AND retaining AND promoting them has to become an industry-wide effort. Me and my team just planned out a whole slate of programming and such for next year, we doing the grassroots work, as are others. Where's the top down?
Because when I left my editorial job last year, I was the third Black person kidlit editor to do so that year, which should be fine we should be able to leave and do new things without everyone being like omg whats wrong...bc when there are so few black ppl everyone notices.
go read this piece publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/co…
And as Kacen says in that piece, how much are we losing out on by not having diverse editors/publicists/sales reps, etc. publishing is a business right? well this is affecting the business because we aren't providing enough diverse books and to do that we need diverse staff.
Don't tell me the talent isn't there. My org has proved that wrong, we get emails from so many publishers asking us to list jobs to our network bc y'all know it works. What are you doing to give them the tools they need to feel comfortable in house, to be themselves, to grow
I wear a lot of hats haha and I feel very fortunate that my publishing team for PHOENIX really trusts and values my opinion. They're amazing. I really appreciate it. But again, I'm an agent now and I was an editor, I have seen poc totally misunderstood by their v. white team.
The lack of POC in this industry is a systematic problem. And to fix a systematic problem, you have to attack it from all sides. You have to want to fix it, you have to care. And the message I've been getting is that when it matters, most don't truly care.
This is in no way an "all white people" thing (obvi not) it's that more often than not the people who truly have the power agent the ones even plugging in to the conversation. I know because they're never at the events, many aren't online, so in our minds they aren't trying.
I mean, other than diversity committees, what are most publishers doing to address this problem? The lack of POC. The fact so few of us make it to high level positions. What's happening in the publishing house you work in? Heck, even at literary agencies? Seriously.
I have more thoughts. So like we have sensitivity (or authenticity) readers, at least in the kidlit part of the book industry. They're people who are from a certain background who publishers & writers will hire to basically help them strengthen the depiction of something in book.
More often than not, these readers are used by white writers writing a POC to basically help the white writer depict them with more accuracy. Okay now, as an editor your job is to be a critical thinker. You're supposed to ask uncomfortable questions and push your author.
I've noticed things in books that dealt with a racial/ethnic identity I don't share. I've had that discussion with my author. And my author trusting me has made changes. That's your job as an editor.
So like, if you as a writer again and again need many sensitivity reads, I'd say hmm maybe the reason you need so many reads is you're uncomfortable with what you're writing/afraid of getting called out so maybe you shouldn't be writing about that thing to begin with.
IMHO, the same follows if you the editor, fail to notice any of that stuff... those sensitivity readers, should be hired as an editor. I know that's a bit unconventional. But also a lot of readers are bloggers or publishing hopefuls or that poc intern in house. GIVE THEM A JOB.
Okay so people wondering, how do I help if I'm not an industry pro but I'm involved with a book/writing conference/festival etc? @agentsaba and I have thoughts! Please ask questions, totally fine with answering question on here.
