Thursday, March 29, 2012

Whitewashing Discussion (and a giveaway)

I still haven't seen The Hunger Games, but I have seen so many different reactions. This one caught me off guard. Call me crazy, but I find it shocking that people who have obviously read the books are angry that Rue is portrayed by someone with dark skin. She looks exactly the way that Collins described her. In fact, when I saw the first preview, I knew her immediately. She's hiding, and she looks way too young. I thought, Wow, she's perfect.


I almost didn't write this post because Adam Heine beat me to it"If we want to fix racism, we do need to point these things out, but we need to keep our anger in check. If we don't, then we're as much a part of the problem as they are. Racism isn't killing us. Hate is." 


No one is perfect. We all have strengths and weaknesses that are part of who we are, and racism is something that can be unlearned. I've seen it happen. But it's the kind of lesson you have to learn through love. Love. Education. We have to be aware.


For some time it's bothered me that most of the covers in the YA section feature skinny white girls. Seriously, most of them look like they have eating disorders. I suppose the vampires and zombies do. And where picture books, middle-grade, and adult sections have a beautiful variety of skin tones, the teen section looks pasty. I don't think editors are doing this on purpose. At least, I hope they're not. But those of us who care could say we'd like to see more variety reflected on the covers.


Ahem. I'd like to see more cultural diversity reflected on YA covers, please. Thank you. 


If this is not something that has ever bothered you, please read this post, by Ellen Oh. Or if it does bother you, you could read it anyway and tell her you agree and maybe continue this discussion in another time and place.


To celebrate the YA covers that DO reflect cultural diversity, I would like to give away a signed paperback of BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS, by Shannon Hale. 


Book of a Thousand Days


Dashti is one of my favorite characters, not because she's beautiful, but because she's clever and loyal and honest, even when she's pretending to be someone she's not. "I'm right aware of the red birth splotches on my face and arm, not to mention my dull hair and lips thinner than the edge of a leaf." But as a reader, you fall in love with Dashti's character and you think she's beautiful in spite of the way she's described herself. 


Is that not how we should fight racism? Once you love someone, you see past the differences between you to how beautiful they were all along. 


To enter, all you have to do is comment (no hate or spoilers, please). If you tweet, FB, or blog about the contest, I'll give an extra entry for each. You have until midnight on Wednesday, April 4th, to enter. 


Thanks for reading my longish post! 

14 comments:

  1. Awesome, Myrna! What a great post (the vampire/zombie eating disorders made me LOL). I do kinda want this book, and I RT'd your tweet. Hope that counts :-)

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  2. I agree with your point, Myrna, completely! But have one tidbit for thought: For the YA covers to reflect cultural diversity, the stories need to do the same because you can't put a character on the cover whom the book does not represent. I hope that makes sense.

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    1. PS: as I was thinking about my comment, I should clarify that I'm not widely read in YA and don't know if the genre is culturally diverse or not. So your post begs this question from me: Is YA culturally diverse and the covers are not properly reflecting that diversity?

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    2. It does make sense. There have actually been a few instances (that I know of) where they've had a white model represent a character with darker skin. Authors and readers were upset.

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  3. Great post, Myrna! I agree. Racism is about hating something that isn't like you. When we really take the time to get to know someone, we stop noticing the differences and see the beauty.

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  4. I think you're right, and I am quite drawn to this cover.
    Maybe I'll read the book!

    =)

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  5. Looks like a great book! I love the post and agree with al previous comments.

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  6. Rue looked very much like what I had imagined...well written!

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  7. Did I make it in time for the giveaway?? (I am a little behind here. I blame spring break.) I had to ask my hubby just now, "What day is it?" ha ha.

    I had not heard of this book. Thank you for bringing it to my attention! It looks fabulous!

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  8. You were. I hope you check it out from your library or something. I think you'd love it.

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  9. Obviously I'm not here to enter the giveaway, just to comment on the post. I had not really noticed the trend you were describing; maybe I'm not that observant. However, I just started reading Magic Study, the sequel to Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. MS features the type of cover you are describing here, but what I found to be particularly odd is that the main character describes herself as having dark skin. That just doesn't add up to the creamy white cover photo...Made me think of your post while I was reading.

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    1. Thanks for pointing out another instance, Hil. I haven't read those. I really liked Snyder's INSIDE OUT, though.

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