Cheyenne Roche: Be intentional in diversification
Feb. 15—This year, I want to be more intentional with my reading. After reading "Yellowface" by RF Kuang, a novel that dives into the world of publishing, I realized minority authors are often under represented by both publishing companies and in the social media stratosphere.
I don't pay too much mind to the author I'm reading when I select a book unless it's by one of my favorite authors. If I've read something by them before, I pay attention. Otherwise, I just read what sounds good and what I've heard good reviews of.
February is Black history month. While I have book club books and series I'm in the middle of, I decided to dedicate a portion of my list to Black authors.
In 2023, I read two books by Black authors. I read more than 100 books and yet only two were by Black authors. One wasn't even my choice, it was the Gibson Memorial Library's book club book.
I'm ashamed to say that's all I read. I did read several books by Asian and Latina authors as well, but my diversity was still lower than it could and should have been.
I'm guessing many of us readers have neglected to read diversly and it's not out of malice. It's simply a lack of intention. With the way POC authors are under advertised, we need to work harder to let their words reach us.
In 2024, I'm on my fourth Black-authored book, but it didn't just happen.
Three of the four books I had never even heard of. The first was "Do You Take This Man," by Denise Williams, an Iowa author.
She recently came to The Latest Edition Bookstore in Creston to do a book signing for her latest novel, "Technically Yours." I was at wrestling and didn't make it to the signing, but she was kind enough to sign a bookmark for me in my absense. Williams writes contemporary romance you can find at the bookstore.
I'm grateful to Reese Witherspoon because two of the books on my list I found because they both have her book club sticker on the front. That's also how I found my second book last year, "The Proposal," by Jasmine Guillery.
The first book, "Such a Fun Age," by Kiley Reid, is about a young Black woman who is at the store with the white child she babysits when she is detained by security after patrons believe she has kidnapped the child. My favorite part of this book is the way it explores many facets of racism, including fetishizing Black culture.
The second Reese pick is the one I just picked up, "Honey and Spice" by Bolu Babalola. I'm only 20% in, but I like that the setting of this book is in Great Britain, giving me a different viewpoint of what Black people experience around the globe.
The novel is another contemporary romance, one of my favorites to read.
The book I just finished is one highly recommended to me and one found on many banned books lists. "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas addresses the many ways Black men and women are required to go about their lives differently than their white counterparts.
Starr Carter, the main character, is a witness as her friend is killed by a police officer during a traffic stop.
Obviously, this book is difficult for me to read. I'm with Starr 100%, but my husband is an officer. I love that Thomas makes this a book not about hating white people or hating the police. She says, not all cops are bad just like not all Black people are thugs.
There are good and bad white characters in the book. There are good and bad Black characters in the book. It's an excellent deptiction of how chaotic life is.
I encourage you to seek out Black authored works this year. Set a goal and then recommend the books you enjoy to friends. Help share the word. It's such a simple thing we can do to be an ally.
RECOMENDATIONS:
Fantasy — "Skin of the Sea" by Natasha Bowen
"Legendborn" by Tracy Deonn
"Children of Blood and Bone" by Tomi Adeyemi
"The Fifth Season" by N.K. Jemisin
Romance — "The Mixtape" by Brittainy Cherry
"The Fastest Way to Fall" by Denise Williams
"The Proposal" by Jasmine Guillery
"Honey and Spice" by Bolu Babalola
Fiction — "Such a Fun Age" by Kiley Reid
"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
Historical Fiction — "Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?" by Crystal Smith Paul
"The House of Eve" by Sadeqa Johnson
Editor's Note: I have either read or been recommended all of the books listed above, but I have not read them all. I welcome other recommendations to add to my list.
