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Thank you @SimonSchusterCA. We& #39;ve noted that you are among few publishers in Canada to make a statement thus far.
However it is more important & useful to know how you& #39;re actively supporting Black people beyond the books you publish.
Below are q& #39;s for you & others to consider. https://twitter.com/SimonSchusterCA/status/1267488913909616640">https://twitter.com/SimonSchu...
However it is more important & useful to know how you& #39;re actively supporting Black people beyond the books you publish.
Below are q& #39;s for you & others to consider. https://twitter.com/SimonSchusterCA/status/1267488913909616640">https://twitter.com/SimonSchu...
What grassroot Black organizations or groups have you supported? @SimonSchusterCA @PenguinRandomCA @HarperCollinsCa @kobo @chaptersindigo @HouseofAnansi @wattpad
How are you addressing the abysmal representation of Black people working in publishing? @SimonSchusterCA @PenguinRandomCA @HarperCollinsCa @kobo @chaptersindigo @HouseofAnansi @wattpad
How are you supporting Black employees currently within your company? @PenguinRandomCA @SimonSchusterCA @HarperCollinsCa @kobo @chaptersindigo @HouseofAnansi @wattpad
And if you don& #39;t yet have the answers and no such tangible plans currently exist, what are you going to do about that? @PenguinRandomCA @SimonSchusterCA @HarperCollinsCa @wattpad @kobo @chaptersindigo @HouseofAnansi
There is so much injustice against Black people in the world and so much work to be done. We recognize that publishing is a small part of that. But it is a crucial piece: the stories we tell are important and make a lasting impact on our individual and social psyche.
Therefore we must address the fact that Black people are systemically blocked and pushed out of the places where they can make the decisions and influence the stories being put out there for the world to consume.
We tagged a selection of companies on this thread but make no mistake, this is a problem throughout the industry and in every corner. From major international houses, small and medium publishers, retailers, agencies, and more.
It& #39;s a problem with no easy solution, that we recognize. But the lukewarm & #39;efforts& #39; to deal with it (looking at you, Diversity & Inclusion committees) are not getting anywhere and often put the burden of the issue on the very people suffering from it.
We& #39;d also like to take a moment to discuss the first gatekeepers in publishing: literary agents.
The situation in Canadian agenting is abysmal when it comes to BIPOC, and specifically Black people. There are maybe 2 Black literary agents actively representing authors.
The situation in Canadian agenting is abysmal when it comes to BIPOC, and specifically Black people. There are maybe 2 Black literary agents actively representing authors.
This goes back to who has the agency (pun absolutely intended) to decide which stories & whose voices are heard.
How can you keep representing and profiting off of Black authors and at the same time turn a blind eye to this?
How can you keep representing and profiting off of Black authors and at the same time turn a blind eye to this?
What are you doing about that @CookeMcDermid @WCA_LitAgency @TransLitAgency @TRFNews? Consider the questions at the top of this thread.
This absolutely should be at the top of PACLA& #39;s (The Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agencies) agenda.
This absolutely should be at the top of PACLA& #39;s (The Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agencies) agenda.
