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When writing POC in epic/second world SFF, two things can simultaneously be true:
1. Real world bigotry doesn’t always inform your world-building, nor should it.
2. Fiction isn’t written in a vacuum, so writers’ implicit biases are often unconsciously represented in their work.
1. Real world bigotry doesn’t always inform your world-building, nor should it.
2. Fiction isn’t written in a vacuum, so writers’ implicit biases are often unconsciously represented in their work.
I once read a second world fantasy for a white writer who truly seemed to want to put in the work.
They didn’t write POC POVs because they didn’t want to steal a seat at the table from POC.
They hired sensitivy readers whenever possible.
And still their portrayal hurt me.
They didn’t write POC POVs because they didn’t want to steal a seat at the table from POC.
They hired sensitivy readers whenever possible.
And still their portrayal hurt me.
I’m going to break this down.
For the most part, this book was a lot of fun. There weren’t many POC in important roles but I didn’t mind.
Then I came upon a particular scene that has stayed in the back of my mind since I read this book.
For the most part, this book was a lot of fun. There weren’t many POC in important roles but I didn’t mind.
Then I came upon a particular scene that has stayed in the back of my mind since I read this book.
Context: this person and I had CP’d for each other so they’d read my work, too.
In the scene, their white heroine comes upon a servant who is described exactly like one of the heroes of my book.
This character is poor and starving and do not get the dignity of even being named.
In the scene, their white heroine comes upon a servant who is described exactly like one of the heroes of my book.
This character is poor and starving and do not get the dignity of even being named.
The only purpose of including this character was to show how greedy the villain was. A critique of capitalism.
But to this white writer, who meant well & even cheered on the story I’d written about a character exactly like this...the character was a servant.
A means to an end.
But to this white writer, who meant well & even cheered on the story I’d written about a character exactly like this...the character was a servant.
A means to an end.
There was no reason in the story for this character to be described this way.
I can only imagine it was the writer’s implicit bias reflecting in their work.
Although I saw this person as a friend, their words and portrayal still hurt me deeply.
I can only imagine it was the writer’s implicit bias reflecting in their work.
Although I saw this person as a friend, their words and portrayal still hurt me deeply.
This is one reason I personally strive to uplift authors of color telling our own stories.
Anyway, my hands are shaking, so just go buy/read books by authors of color, especially Black authors!
The first step to writing us well is listening to us.
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Anyway, my hands are shaking, so just go buy/read books by authors of color, especially Black authors!
The first step to writing us well is listening to us.
