It Is Personal Invalidating the struggles faced not only by BIPOC writers but also by LGBTQ, neurodiverse, and other underrepresented, marginalized communities is not the way to tackle a systemic problem. Denial perpetuates exploitation and victimization. It fuels modern racism and internalized prejudice, allowing decision-makers to mask their biases under the guise of "it's not personal." Yet, the same books, featuring the same ethnicities and non-BIPOC stories, have been favored since the 1950s, despite America's increasingly diverse population, with its beautiful biracial children, burgeoning migrant communities, and varied demographics. But we're told, "Sorry, we passed on your BIPOC story because it's not personal. We just couldn't 'connect with it.' It's not what's currently trending. It's not the kind of story our publishing company is buying." Translation: You want more Colleen Hoover? More Frieda McFadden? Both talented, but both white. I don't have a problem with these authors per se, except that more of the same perpetuates the denial of ethnic cultural elements in stories that are "just not the right fit" and "that's not what's selling." The formula has been predominantly white since the 1950s. That's a fact. "Oh, but that's because there are more Anglo people in the country." Maybe so, but there are still plenty of talented BIPOC writers being rejected because their stories are too unique or don't fit the Anglo-centric formula. I'm not fixated on one story. I have many that have been rejected, and many new ones I'm working on. But will they ever be enough for the Anglo-centric formula that has been "what's selling" since the 1950s? I keep bringing this up because the statistics from the Big 5 publishing houses haven't changed significantly. Maybe smaller and indie presses are publishing diverse voices, but the stats still show 75-80% of major book deals, with the huge advances, are given to Anglo writers. But racism isn't real? But prejudice doesn't exist anymore because we're all "woke"? The only thing "woke" is the marketing language on websites that further conceals true sentiments and hides modern racism. And it's not just racism; it's ageism, sexism, and prejudice against working mothers. How do I know? I've experienced all three. It became personal when, during a job interview, I was repeatedly grilled, not about my skills, but about my age. It was so egregious I reported them to the EEOC. It was personal when, at a previous job, I faced discrimination for requesting a private area to pump breast milk. The outcome? Let's just say I have a pending lawsuit against them. It was personal when I faced discrimination as a mother, as an aging woman, and as a biracial writer who has written cultural stories that didn't "fit their list." It was personal when I used Korean names and words in a story, and those who requested to read my work mocked the words I used here on X in such a specific way that it was unmistakably about my work. To foster inclusion, we must embrace and celebrate cultural language as a valuable and beautiful aspect of diversity, rather than disparaging it. For those proclaiming on social media that discrimination isn't real, you are perpetuating the very systemic problem that wants us to believe that racism doesn't exist in the twenty-first century, that ageism is a myth, that all working mothers are treated equally, that all LGBTQ people answering our "woke" surveys weren't dismissed based on their responses. Racism very much does exist, but now it's just camouflaged with insincere marketing language. Look at the gatekeepers: who they represent, who is getting the big book deals, who is paid the most, who receives the largest advances. It isn't the marginalized communities. But it's not personal, right? It is unequivocally personal. #WritingCommunity #BIPOC #OWNVoices #Diversity #BookTwitter #AuthorsOfTwitter #WOC

Is A Call For Diversity In Publishing Real? As a BIPOC author, I am biracial. That means I don't fit in one box. Being half-Puerto Rican & half-Korean, I've written both cultures in my books. What I find most discouraging about this industry is their call for BIPOC stories. However, no matter how well written, how good it is, or how interesting the premise might be - I still see the mega book deals given to non-BIPOC authors. There are still fewer ethnic stories getting acquired. There is a call for BIPOC stories. I've written a Korean-themed thriller, and I can't tell you how many people thought the premise was "fantastic" and the writing was well done, but they're still passing. Regardless of who writes a story, yes, it still has to be executed well. However, when we give them diverse stories, BIPOC writers will often hear: "Sorry, we didn't connect with it." So, as a biracial author, I must ask an honest question: Is it really the writing you don't connect with or the culture that isn't yours? Here are the facts: institutional racism and subconscious racism still exist. This is evident in that 75-80% of big contracts are still given to non-BIPOC authors and their non-BIPOC stories. True diversity should go beyond exploitative marketing language. #WritingCommunity #BIPOC #WOC #OWNVOICES