I see we're back to white writers insistent on writing characters of color because they think diversity is them getting paid. As someone who has seen this play out 987 times in fiction? Most of you are terrible at writing people who are not white. You don't understand why? Okay.

You don't have any connection to the culture. You grew up in a segregated area. You refuse to unpack your internalized bias. You refuse to do any meaningful research, much less accept any feedback along the way. You're fixated on your ego at the expense of quality.

I mean, the list goes on & on. And most importantly the only reason you want to do it is because it lets you have your own white savior narrative. No communities of color need representation via white voices. No, not that one. Or that one. Your partner, adopted child, etc? Nope.

You already know you're going to get paid more & you're fine with taking up space at the expense of the communities you claim to support. That's why when you do this (because you will) and your book gets dragged to hell? No one will have any sympathy for you except white people.

I know, you really think you're different. And you think you're writing something important & you definitely don't intend to do any harm. But you're not willing to hear that this is harmful until well after you're cashing a check. Bare minimum stop lying to us & yourself.

You want to write characters of color because you're just bigoted enough to think that writers of color have an unfair advantage in publishing. You know who told you that? Racists. Maybe not the kind who burn crosses, but definitely the kind who loathe seeing BIPOC succeed.

So when you climb on your "I'm an artist & no one can tell me what I can create" high horse? That banner you're waving isn't creative freedom. It's a literary version of the Confederate flag. You're repping for your right to help drown out the voices of writers of color.

You're not the hero. You're not even the primary villain. You're one of the faceless henchmen. And the funniest part is that when it blows up? You think you are the victim. Because you have lied to yourself more than anyone else. It's ridiculous. You should be ashamed.