When work and blogworld collide...you get a blog entry that's recycled from a recent assignment...
I’m elated that my 16 year old nephew is enthusiastic about reading…but less so when I see that the tome holding his attention is entitled Booty Call.
As a Literary Publicist working in the industry during this current African American book boom, I know all too well that urban fiction is dominating the sales at black bookstores nationwide. While I do believe there is a place for these run and gun tales of drugs, murders, and bling, I don’t believe the place is in the hands of impressionable young people.
Last week at the 2006 Book Expo America – the annual prom of the book-publishing world, this year held in Washington, DC – everyone came dressed to impress. BEA features literally miles of book exhibitors, from small to conglomerate publishing houses, to distributors and media. It is a top-notch affair with all the biggest names present.
So imagine my surprise, and sheer horror of coming face to face with the book that appears to be the crème de la crème of one of the premiere indie urban publishers: WHORE (Triple Crown Publishing, 2006).
The cover features a back shot of a well-built, brown skinned, well, umm… young lady, cloaked in a barely- there, tight, white ensemble, getting into a luxury sedan.
This image, juxtaposed against the surrounding pristine logos of storied and well-respected trademarks like Scholastic and Knopf, was disappointing to say the least. It felt somehow a representation of me, a young, African American reader.
A representation that will soon hit bookstores nationwide, and land perhaps in the hands of thousands of young people with no discernable skills to recognize this as disturbing and inappropriate.
According to the Target Market News, African American consumers spend an annual $325 million on books. First hand accounts from long-time booksellers like Carvelas Sellers in Washington, DC, report that readers are indeed getting younger as the titles and subjects become more risqué and explicit.
Then there are the authors of such titles, who defend their urban genre, sometimes erroneously referred to as “hip hop fiction,” saying that at least they are enhancing literacy among non-traditional, often young readers. “As long as they’re reading,” is the justification.
There must be a better way. J.K. Rowling seems to have found one. But where is our Harry Potter? Is it truly tucked between covers that resemble soft porn? I hope not.
Not only is the content of urban fiction largely inappropriate for young readers, it can also be problematic of readers of any age. Much of it is self-published, and sadly self-edited. So what my nephew and his peers are really exposed to is grammar, syntax and errant punctuation that are as sub-par as some of this country’s failing public schools. They are reading dramatic stories with construction and execution that merits no assessment of standard English or literature for that matter. Reading helps develop critical thinking skills as well as vocabulary. But how is it furthering a young person’s education by having street slang, and underworld politics reinforced via these texts? It is not.
Not all, but some. And if the sales figures are accurate, that “some” is more than enough to further rot the developing minds of students who are feeding on literary junk food, instead of being nourished with more age appropriate work.
It’s great that people are writing, and wonderful to see us reading. But let’s not fool ourselves; young readers of this genre are getting pimped.
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34 comments:
I feel ya on the need for young readers to have access to literary works which are more substantive. Fortunately or unfortunately still being in the throes of academia I am often exposed to books, which make me creep out of my comfort zone.
I too have noticed that young African-Americans are turning towards books which are rather risque.
The only one I feel had substantive literary merit that I myself have read has got to be "The Coldest Winter Ever", I mean Sister Souljah did it big.
I think that young people's choices reflect a decision about what is relevant to them. Young people see those books as being relevant and relatable. I'd rather see them read something else, it just has to be made clear to them what the alternatives are, and why they should read them.
It seems like these authors all went to the Donald Goines school of writing. They want to write about tough urban life, but don't really do it with any substance. While it's not "hip hop" writing per se, I can see parallels. Just like you have some rappers who can rap about this subject matter with flair and those that just regurgitate what everybody else is saying, I think these "novels" are the same way.
Great Post Ohh Wise One...
CNEL hit it on the head, they read books that they feel they can relate to, or about subject matters that they are interested in.
More often than not kids in school are forced to read things that are considered as literary classics amongst the White world. I myself never found a lot of those titles relevant to what was going on with me. So these kids go out and read these "BET Movie of the Week" scripts.
Also you must look at the fact that books get passed down authors popularity is grown the grassroots way. If I like reading and I hear a lot about an author named ZANE then 15 or 30 I'm gonna check them out. So what's easier to find in our community be it in a bookstore or a relative's shelf, a Zane Book or something by a Charlie Hurston?
It's indoctrination and mind control meant to steer and taper our destinies and talents and is worse for our younger brothers and sisters. No versatility whatsoever. A lot (some who should know better) of us seem to eat this crap up too. I know a couple of brothers, one here in Detroit, that have been doing literary material which ties in our cultural heritage with things like science fiction for instance/self-help and what if scenarios as far as our experience as a people. No significant response. I know a brother who had an African centered bookstore a few years ago. Even though a good portion of the conscious material sold, the biggest sellers were the Iceberg Slims (cause everyone thinks they can pimp), the Goineses, the steamy bisexual love triangle stuff etc. What's more, even though they offered community events, beautiful art, chess clubs and mentoring for young folks and a whole lot of other contacts, I was horrified to find out from the owner that he counted on their location ( which was on a major street by the Detroit River where everybody cruises) to bring them business based on the visibility they would get from the BET-Uncut crowd. I (unfortunately) predicted to him and the managers that that sort of crowd doesn't have it within them to support anything except slackness. They shut down after 16 months. Anonymous Detroit.
Good post.
But hopefully this trash will be the gateway to other types of literature that these kids will read.
When I was a kid I started off reading books about sex, incest and murder (V.C. Andrews). I eventually started reading books about drugs and prostitution..no wait. As time went on I began reading books about cheating and...ok I'm a bad example. But you get what I'm saying.
I also read V.C. Andrews books at a young age (12 years-old), but I outgrew them after awhile because they become repetitive and boring. The same thing can be said about this terrible sub genre of hip hop fiction. It's like reading a soap opera. Dull.
I whole-heartedly agree with you, Wise. And what is this genre called African American Fic/Non Fic? What makes our writing any different from that of Mexican American? And why is it all white authors fall under general literature? The only difference is our cultural experiences, but we are all American. This has been bugging me for quite some time. It's like going into the National Museum of Art and ending up in the African American section...I think we now have accepted that there is a need for a divide. But I digress.
With regard to literature, I feel the road we are headed down is a cop of out sorts for authors who can manufacture a "page turner." It provides an exit from creating a work that will intrigue and stimulate the mind. I have never heard of a person having a serious intellectual awakening from "Baby Momma Drama."
However the larger question remains--Are we forced to pick the lesser of two evils? The fact is, these works of fic/non fiction are getting our people to read. Period. Do we dare raise the bar and risk losing potential readers because they are not drawn to the subject matter? Are these books as popular as they seem because the readers can in fact identify with the subject matter? I can't help but wonder if the real reason innercity kids are not reading "The Catcher and the Rye," because they can not identify with Holden Caulfield...Thoughts?
argh! one ofmy pet peeves! the trash i see! everyone should not be allowed to write books. them bet arabesque ones are a mess, too. some are ok as black romance-style novels go. but where are our judy blumes and ann m. martins, too? those were my favorite, but i would've liked them a lot more if the former had a black person, and if the later didn't seem to try so hard to add in a negro and an asian. and lets not leave out magazines for young black sisters and brothers (remember ysb?) elle girl, vogue girl, cosmo girl. where's essence girl and ebony girl? i get tired of trying to get beauty tips from becky who throws in a girl who wouldn't pass the brown bag test as the example for dark skin.
and to answer the catcher in the rye query, i think holden has many of the same issue any other kid has. the difference is he's a white kid surrounded by a bunch of other white kids. if it was done the same way but with black characters and issues the ones we're glad they're reading are having, then why not? why can't we have leroy caufield?
we can't afford to just be glad someone's reading. we are already playing a serious game of catch up when it comes to our education and our place in the world.
I wanna respond to everyone individually later, but I wanted to throw out a few points while I have a sec.
First, what about drugs, thugs and whores does my nephew, or any other middle class kid not living in the hood have to identify? Why can they "relate"... bec that also happens to be the same nonsense fed to them via music, video games, etc? This is a matter of following trends that are popular, and not at all about self identity.
And why can't young black kids be receptive to something that is not black? Why can't we simply read Shakespeare or other "classics" as such? By assuming that kind of ethnic division, our kids are left out of basic academic discourse. We're selling them short. As a kid I read lots of stuff I wouldn't have read on my own volition. Watched a lot of films I wouldn't have watched. Saw lots of theater, etc. And it's made me well rounded and appreciative of other cultures. We're making their worlds seem a lot smaller than they already are by not exposing them to "white" things.
I also think it's a mistake to not allow there to be a spot for work by black authors that isnt Morrison, or Hurston or Wright. There's a place for Arabesque (and I'm not just saying this bec a client of mine writes for them). We should be allowed to have our Candace Bushnell and Jackie Collins without reproach.
Are we upset at the content of street lit, the marketing or the mere existence?
Great post.
It's a sad sad thing that kids/youth/teens are inundated with the smut they see in the movies...it's now (and has for a while) reached commercials, tv shows, videos, music and yes! books.
It's always the catch 21... However, parents need to step up to the plate. We leave it to everyone else to monitor our childrens intake. Granted, there are instances that no matter what...it's going to be inevitable that they run across some things we wish they hadn't.
~Can we blame a publishing house for publishing what sells? After all, is that not their goal?
What is our goal?
Maybe it should start off with directing our kids to sites like Streetside.org Or starting book reading groups among your family and friends that have young children. Seems as if we are always talking about the problem...but exerting little effort in trying to make a change. If not world-wide, I am sure we could start with a neice and nephew OR here is a novel idea....we could always start with our own kids.
@ so wise Let me answer your last question. I'm mad more at the quality than the subject matter. I have no problem with the thugs, drugs and sex, It just is so poorly done and the book jackets reek of exploitation.
i agree with t. cas. the execution of some novels are terrible.
i worked at a b. dalton's for 8 years. i saw my share of young african americans readers come through. i did my best to steer them to books in enjoyed growing up.
as an adult, i do indulge in some fluff. but i'm grown enough to diffentiate reality from fantasy. young folk today are so impressionable, it's scary.
The fact is that publishers are going to sell what makes money and unfortunately these poorly executed books do make money. The Coldest Winter Ever is street lit at its best, because it's well-written, with a good plot and lots of action.
I don't mind street lit, but that shouldn't be the only thing out there. There needs to be a balance with the classics, contemporary fiction, street lit and anything else.
Collectively we can all do something about this. We sit here and write stories on our blogs effortlessly. Why not take some of that energy and put something positive together. I say we start encouraging one another to write the stories Black Folks need to read. Stories about struggle and triumph. No more Hustle Books, No more She licked my pussy books No more They killed my drug dealer boyfriend Now I get to keep all the money books. Lets start a movement People. Lets write our own books.
I refuse to buy or read books like that. I only read books that I feel expand my thinking. I think there is more to African-American readership than street lit.
yo.. black people are doomed.. let's accept it.. lol.. j/k but for real, until the values change within the community, this bullshit is going to continue to no avail
wise... to address your other query, you know they, esp. middle class black kids, get that kind of exposure, shakespere etc. in school. i know i did. richard wright and langston hughes were about it when it came to black lit. so yeah, we want them to be exposed, but they get that. they need something else.
no it ain't all gotta be wright or hurston, or channer for that matter :) but you know as well as i do that some of those arabesque books should've stayed on someone's computer.
**sigh** Makes me so sad... As Black writers who are horrified by the trend, it's going to be up to us to change the tides. Just have to get a foot in the door & that's the hardest thing...
"Whore." I cringe.
DP says..."at least i know they wont be dehydrated."
I knew you'd have some provocative comments on the subject, and of course you didn't disappoint. I tried to find the Nick Chiles NY Times op-ed of which you speak, but of course it's no longer available. I guess the merits of his, or anyone else's novels are a matter of opinion, which tends to be a big factor in this "debate". Some bemoan the depth of AA fiction. Others would rather not see T&A on every book cover. etc. etc. And for that reason, the debate will probably rage on for quite some time.
CNelly says..."I think that young people's choices reflect a decision about what is relevant to them. Young people see those books as being relevant and relatable."
I tend to agree...but what is disturbing is that the same can be said of music and movies, and yet is it really that relatable, or is it just that it's been fed so forcefully and with such savvy, that kids believe it's their reality?
PS - I'd recommend Coldest Winter Ever to just about anyone. lol
TCas...another thing that troubles me is the insistence some have on claiming their work "hip hop". Nikki Turner calls herself the princess of hip hop fiction or some nonsense. I've never read her books, but from what I understand she doesn't write about the music or the culture in any way. She writes about bitches in the hood who love gangstas. (her words, not mine). So to naturally equate that with hip hop is another shortsighted and easy way to simplify that prolific artwork. As if to say that anything that has to do with bling, bitches and booty shaking is hip hop. So I guess King Hussein's stripper niece is about to collabo with Remy Ma. lol
And we wonder why The Roots dont go platinum.
Young Montez...yup they read what interests them. As do I. But I'm not feeling the idea that a kid who refuses to read in school, who reads at a 5th grade reading level is supposed to be applauded for reading "Dime Piece." The white literary canon is another topic altogether, but I think it's important for kids of every socio-eco to be exposed to Hemingway and Ellison and the like...if for no other reason than to see proper grammar in use.
Detroit...oh please don't even get me on our black bookstores. I'm all for the conscious community centers and all, but there has to be a level of biz savvy in providing a service that is relevant to its community and that is profitable...otherwise, file for non-profit status.
TV & Liq says..."hopefully this trash will be the gateway to other types of literature that these kids will read."
Doubt it. And I dont think that's all that bad..except that it would cool for our culture to not be identified BY US by junk.
Miz JJ says..."I outgrew them after awhile because they become repetitive and boring. The same thing can be said about this terrible sub genre of hip hop fiction."
You might be on to something! Bec Lawd knows a lot of it just the same story recycled...and not just the street lit either.
Scarlet...lots to ponder. I think that kids are not into "Rye" bec it's not marketed as sexy like this other stuff. If Coldest Winter Ever had a dull tan cover, with just the title in plain azz text, do you think kids would want to read that either? And frankly, my teacher friends tell me that they're not even requiring that their students read ANY books bec they either won't do it, won't bring them back or don't have enough to give out. A mess. I think the goal is to get people to read...why? Bec reading helps with writing, communicating, learning and critical thinking and comprehension. Now should THESE books be used for those purposes? Not any more than Jackie Collins novels should.
Jameil says..."but where are our judy blumes and ann m. martins, too?"
Well, we do have some. One in particular is Walter Dean Myers. His young adult stuff is like a great cartoon...a grown up can read it and be enthralled. But I agree, there aint shit for young people, yet we're quick to call them "grown."
"Rye" is the equiv of Eminem. Black kids "relate" to him too.
"we can't afford to just be glad someone's reading. we are already playing a serious game of catch up when it comes to our education and our place in the world."
EXACTLY!
Blah says..."~Can we blame a publishing house for publishing what sells? After all, is that not their goal?"
EXACTLY. Funny, a friend of my older sister's asked me for "more of those books" I had, bec her daughter couldnt put them down. She doesn't seem to mind that content. And that's cool, bec she strikes me as the kind of parent who has open dialogues with the kid about what she's reading. But if a parent thinks that their kid will become a better reader for it, they are sadly mistaken. :(
TCas says..."I'm mad more at the quality than the subject matter. I have no problem with the thugs, drugs and sex, It just is so poorly done and the book jackets reek of exploitation."
Me too. And the packaging is getting more and more outlandish in an effort to "stand out"...when in essence they're all done by the same photogs and graphics folks (I know most of them. All very nice people making a boatload of cash). And it says a lot about how we like to market to ourselves.
Aqua...Lawd, as a former bookseller you def know what I'm talking about. I have no prob with fluff. It's necessary and fun and great. But SMUT as a means of accelerating literacy is preposterous.
Urban...you get the gold star today for the best quotable:
"I don't mind street lit, but that shouldn't be the only thing out there. There needs to be a balance with the classics, contemporary fiction, street lit and anything else." :)
Oh Slishy...you were an Eagle Scout werent you? lol You bring up a good point and this is something I've been wanting to do for a while now...join forces with the folks I read daily. I've unofficially been doing this with a few already, and I've recently come across some others that I know I would love to see take it to that next level. So you've given me the motivation to take that initiative again.
Eps...thank God we all have the option and freedom to purchase whatever floats our boat! But isnt it annoying having to dig for the "good stuff" while the smut is posted up at the front of every bookstore? lol
EqOpp...ahhh, a cynic of my own heart! lol
Jameil...I know as a middle class kid I was exposed...but I suspect that's bec my teachers deemed me "gifted" and could handle it. What I meant was that all kids should be exposed to classics bec there are valuable lessons in them. And lots of teachers say that they won't teach it bec the kids cant relate to it, but that's bullshit. Broke kids cant possibly relate to long division and money, but they still have learn it! lol
"but you know as well as i do that some of those arabesque books should've stayed on someone's computer."
Then lets also clear some Harlequin shelves too! lol
Free...Good luck to every Black author out there not writing the sequel to "Blood Money." lol
That shit is fucked up,excuse my french...
Talk about explotation...
Not only do they exploit the african american community in "rap" not to be confused with hip-hop, but now they are taking it to the books...this is sickening...
As I sit in front of my book shelves, taking a look at my collection I think back to what I read a youth and in truth, because I was young and horny I liked young horny books, books I wasn't supposed to read and books where people had sex, talked about sex and things sex related.
That is apart of being young and it will not change.
Although society has become somewhat desensitized to the images we're drowning in, the story just repeats itself.
VC Andrews was smut. Judy Blume taught me and every girl I know how to masturbate and all those books were marketed to young white kids, now our dollar is large enough to have books marketed to us.
Next time you're in a book store and see smut in the youth section, ask the manager to put those books in the adult section where they belong!
i think the reason why many of those kids are flocking to those books is not just cuz they identify with the stories but because those books glorify their neighborhoods and the lifestyles of folk they know. we're living in a society where everyone outside of their neighborhood is talking about how 'broken' and 'fucked up' the hood is, how their neighborhoods aren't good for anything except churning out criminals. i've dealt with kids from those neighborhoods who tell me "well at least someone thinks we're good enough to write about"
also, while i do think good grammar is important, i'm not sure if i agree that language is something that should be converted from street speak to 'proper' english. i mean, if that's how those folk communicate in their neighborhoods and they do it effectively amongst themselves, who am i to say they're speaking ignorantly?
that said, it's important for these kids to be multi-lingual, i.e. have the ability to speak the required language for the setting they're in. sure, the parents are accountable for instilling the importance of reading in their kids. meanwhile, the reality is that many parents are also from an environment where reading was scarce. therefore, it's up to the teachers to instill a love for reading or at the very least letting kids know how important it is to read books other than the ones depicting life 'in the hood'.
and it's the responsibility of the authors to not assume the audience is so stupid as to not demand quality writing. not just the grammar, but the story-telling overall.
the young people in this country always get pimped. every generation of africans in america got pimped of some part of their culture.
at least with these books kids are having to picture and imagine this world of gun's and girls, where as if you turn to BET you don't. you kinda gotta go in there with one boxing glove on. the bare and to pat them on the head, and the glove to smack 'em upside the head, and toward more literarily insightful readings.
peace.
NSane...a lot of people see the ramifications beyond the entertainment value as being exploitative. I'm on the fence, really. But mostly I just think it's trash. lol
Miss Ahmad...Judy Bloom was a rather horny son of a b, no? lol Smut is one thing...but smut that reads like a "correct the incorrect spelling and grammar" pop quiz is a whole 'nother thing.
Nikki...I got no qualms with the self-identification. But I find it curious that people associate hood with young people...as opposed to hood with hood. ie...106&Park caters to a decidedly young audience. That audience is fascinated with the hood, even though a great majority of them aint from nobody' hood. Yet the argument is often, that the young folk like to see themselves. Huh???
"also, while i do think good grammar is important, i'm not sure if i agree that language is something that should be converted from street speak to 'proper' english."
I hope I didn't leave this impression. I think the essence of these books is the language of the characters. But grammar is different than vernacular. Funny thing, the first thing I ask an author who comes to me for consultation is, "Who's your editor?" And a great number get completely indignant at the mere suggestion, arguing that an editor will change the slang, etc. But I explain that the slang shouldnt be compromised, but those dangling participles and spell check gotta be handled up. lol
Verse...You calling these kids hoes? lol It would be nice to expose kids to some classics, but alas hood books are here to stay. So al I ask it that there be some literary standards applied. Get a developmental editor, and don't make me have to pull out a red pen every time I go to read your shit. That's all I'm sayin! Inside a book should be the LAST place you expect to see some ole hooked on phonics bullshit.
yes lets! but they have way more to choose from when it comes to books geared toward them so its a lot less glaring.
I believe everyone should read black literary classics. My favorite is Black Boy from Richard Wright. I would also recommend "Their eyes were watching God" from Zora Neale Hurston for sistas. I gave it to a friend about 2 1/2 years ago. Nevermind my endorsement or the gift, she did not read it until right before Oprah aired the movie...
i think you make some excellent points, sowise. there are a large number of young folk who are not from those environments who are fascinated with all things violent and masochistic and materialistic as glorified by alot of rap music and videos.
i remember a couple of months back a popular 'urban' radio station was premiering the new joint by india.arie. someone called in and was like "how come you don't play more music like that on your station?"
the dj said "cuz the listeners don't request it. i play what the listeners want to hear."
meanwhile, if folk aren't exposed, they won't know they wanna hear it. kinda like the situation with the books. if kids are only exposed to one thing all the time, how da hell they even know if they would like something else?
the existence of bet has created a generation of kids who are overexposed to only one genre of music talking about a limited number of things. it has made them extremely vulnerable to the messages found in that genre and even more unwilling to venture out of that genre to see if they would like something else because they don't know something else's out there.
that, on top of the segregation of classes that further limits the exposure to variety for alot of young folk and i can see why its difficult for them to even consider reading something that doesn't have an obvious connection to them.
that's why i think it's really important for those of us who have been exposed to different things to do mentoring work with young folk. i mean, we gotta come up with solutions or we'll be complaining about the same shit in ten years.
I know I'm late on this, but I SOOOO agree!
Even still tho, look at some of the things that grown black folk read. It's the same smut. I recently had a post about Zane. Her novels that I read thru were redundant and predictable, BUT the sex scenes were off the hook. Even after that, they were predictable. The same with the Sex Chronicles. ... Nevertheless, there was a brief discussion about the purpose that these types of books serve, including what a friend of mine refers to as mental masturbation.
SoWise writes:
"but what is disturbing is that the same can be said of music and movies, and yet is it really that relatable, or is it just that it's been fed so forcefully and with such savvy, that kids believe it's their reality? "
I definitely agree that the choices of today's generation reflects upon what they find relatable to them. It does not matter what class these young people find themselves in (I grew up in the hood and went to high school with the rich folk), they still turn towards "urban, hip hop, ghetto" inspired books, movies, and music. Why? Because that is what time and again is said to be authentically black. The choices as has been said repeatedly are made given what the young people find relatable to them. These choices most certainly do not reflect original thinking. We need to look at why these young people link their identity and blackness with cliches and stereotypes.
An issue is how do you get published if you're not writing these kinds of books? It's hard as heck to get anyone to look at your manuscript... especially if you're not writing what's 'popular'. But is street lit really what's popular or is it what's readily available?
that's true. if there are literary errors in these books, then somebody should check them on that. i already don't know what to do with a semicolon, and i hardly use my periods in the right place. LOL
peace
I must agree with you, So Wise on all of your points. But most especially the point about black folks selling themselves short.
For instance, why, in some black social organizations, is high scholastic aptitude labeled as a C+ at minimum. I have heard some argue that we shouldn't be making our children "feel bad" if they are C students and then throw in "look at the President, he was a C student." When are we going to stop making excuses about why we cant do this or that. And why is it is okay for our kids to read graphic novels, play graphic video games and repeat all the word to Young Jeezy's latest single to us (and think that shit is cute!) When will we start expecting the best from our children in all things that attempt? When are we going to stop toting the line that " Our kids are not receptive..." to this that or the other?
As you mentioned, if we don't expose them to new things regularly, how can we expect them to be receptive to anything that isn't shown on BET or written in those terribly written books by a rack of terribly wack trash published under the guise of being a literary publication.
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