Thread by @JBurtBooks

So, with all the AMERICAN DIRT controversy going on, I thought I’d post a little thread about how I was nearly THAT AUTHOR, and how I learned not to be. I’ll title it “I’M WHITING A BOOK!” or “TOSS A COIN TO YOUR SENSITIVITY READER”

Back in 2015, I was hard at work on my second novel, THE RIGHT HOOK OF DEVIN VELMA. It’s set in Los Angeles, and it’s about friendship and fame in the age of social media. My two protagonists were PoC.

Oh, and in case it’s not obvious from my profile picture, I’m Caucasian.

At the time, I thought I was writing with the best of intentions (don’t we all?). I’ve since learned that I was MISintentioned, and I want to talk about how I learned that, so that other folks can too.

I did my research. Oh, boy, did I do my research. Demographics. School populations. Reading books and blogs and threads by Hispanic authors. I was bound and determined not to portray my boys as stereotypes.

“Just two all-American boys who happen to be PoC and Hispanic!”

That was my goal.

Of course, you’re probably already guessing what the problem is…

/My/ problem? I didn’t see it yet. I sent the manuscript to my second readers, several of whom were Hispanic. I asked them to tell me if I had portrayed even a smidgen of a thing as stereotypical. That was my fear. I wasn’t going to be that guy. Nope. Not me. No way.

And my second readers? They reassured me! Told me I had not portrayed my characters stereotypically. WOOHOO! I was so pleased with myself. Elated.

So elated, in fact, that I utterly failed to ask the second, and equally important question: “Have I done their heritage the service it deserves?” (parallel question for a broader discussion: as a white author, /can/ I?)

Enter the sensitivity reader my fantastic editor at @Feiwelandfriends approached...

Person, I don’t know your name, but I am grateful for what you taught me. Because you read my manuscript, and you, too, assured me that I hadn’t used stereotypes. In fact, I was so careful not to that I really hadn’t written Hispanic characters at all…

I received that feedback and was, at first, perplexed. Then indignant (But I did research! And I had Hispanic second readers! And I’m /well-intentioned!/). But I was also willing to listen and to learn, and DID I EVER LEARN.

You see, I went back into the manuscript and decided to find out what it would be like to change my Hispanic, PoC characters into white ones.

Reader, the entire process...Through the whole manuscript... took me four hours. That’s it. And most of it was Find/Replace monotony. Four measly hours, and I was able to convert my Hispanic characters to Caucasian.

And that’s how I learned.

I never really did my boys (and, by extension, my readers) justice at all, because removing their heritage should have been impossible. If I had done my job as an author, that authenticity should have been hard-woven into every word of that book. Instead, it took me four hours.

So I took the sensitivity reader’s advice. We published the book with two white protagonists, and it was absolutely the right move.

You might hear people ask of white authors, “Is that your story to tell?” It’s a damn good question, because authenticity and representation MATTER. I see it every time one of my students finds a book that mirrors them, and their eyes LIGHT UP.

The book about two Hispanic boys in Los Angeles? That wasn’t my story to tell, and I don’t think it’s a knock on my ability as a writer to admit that. In fact, I hope it makes me a better author /to/ admit that.

And my good intentions? I still have them, but I understand now what to /do/ with them. Find #ownvoices authors. Champion their books. Put them into the hands of my students. Elevate them, so that everyone can learn from their authenticity.

I don’t write this story to pile on AMERICAN DIRT; I’ll freely admit that I haven’t read it.

But what I have read are lots of books by #ownvoices authors. I’ve taught my students about diversebooks.org. And I’ve learned to seek out critique by scholars and reviewers who are of the same heritage that a story represents.

And right now? Those educated and invested and motivated people have a lot to say about AMERICAN DIRT, and I'd humbly suggest we listen.

Because the most important thing I’ve realized is that there’s a whole lot I don’t know, especially about what I don’t know. And I’m always looking to learn more.

So if y’all have book recs, or advice, or see something I’m still overlooking, and you decide you have the time and energy to be gracious enough to further educate me, I’d be humbled and honored if you did. That’s all.