Considering probably 80% of the bookstore is filled with NON minority authors I have to agree that there should be a section for Latina/Black... etc authors.

Right now I'm reading Divas Don't Yield by Sofia Quintero who is actually actuallys shares both heritage. She's also written a few hip hop based books by the pen name of Black Artemis. You should check her out! I"m featuring her Divas book at my ONLINE MAS BOOK CLUB for the month of March.

I don't think there shouldn't be a section for black authors, but one problem I see is that, as you point out, people have their own preconceived notions about what black authors write about.  Unfortunately, I feel that by labeling them "Black Authors" you are still pigeonholing them.  There could be more variation in the writings of black authors than white ones, but by segregating them in the bookstores, it seems like we're just rearranging the living room, rather than cleaning up the mess that is in there.  I am actually writing a piece right now that deals with that idea though.  Its a difficult situation to figure out.  In the goal of trying to bring us together and forget about skin color, we are trying just as hard to show how much it matters.

I agree  Chase, I think there are probably a lot of black writers. I find it intriguing that  now that segregation is now longer  the norm we  meaning all of us segregate ourselves still yet,  Think of a black college like Moorehouse.  I can understand if was setup  as if to show "anyone" the "black experience"  and whites would be there to learn as well as blacks. Perhaps it's because  blacks had such a struggle for their collective identity a(culture wise) that they would want to have exclusive black organizations. Or maybe it might just mean they still don't trust whites. Or maybe a little of both.  Either way, I'm glad we had people like Martin Luther King Jr.  to stand up for my black brother and show that  we should be able to have the freedom to come together as one.

NO!

When are we going to end this segregation?

We ought to come together not apart...........

When are we going to learn that segregation is splitting us apart?

Thanks for your feedback guys.  Morehouse and other Black colleges weren't set up to be segregated though.  They were set up because our government saw Black people as 2nd class citizens.  (The Constitution STILL has us as only 3/5 a person) We had to fight and die to gain the right that every human is BORN WITH!  Freedom.  So instead of waiting for our government to wake up and grow a brain we decided to do something about it!  Back in the day we HAD to have Black only stuff because we were treated with distain and genuinely hated.  And for what?  Having darker skin?  Having kinky hair?  I think a lot of the practices that were started back in the day are still in practice because there is still some mistrust.

I see the point you guys are tyring to make but it's a fact that Black authors get don't get the props that they should.  We can go back and forth all day but remember... I work in the book industry and see it.  I see how many copies of James Patterson we sell and how many Toni Morrison sells.  I see how many Eric Jerome Dickey sells vs. Vince Flynn.  All I'm asking for is that it be balanced.  If that's too much to ask then that's your problem.  Until it becomes fair I'm going to do what I need to do to help it out.  If that means having a Black author section in our store then so be it.  And you know what?  It's not that bad.  In a lot of stores there are authors like Stephen King, Nora  Roberts, Nicholas Sparks, Robert Jordan, and Danielle Steel that have thier own spot.  Why?  Because they sell and are well known.  Is this segregation?  No.

I said that part of my reason for wanting and getting a Black author section is to sell the books because I know I can.  Anyway, thanks for your thoughts guys.  Keep em' coming!

  The constitution is still considering blacks as 3/5 human? I thought some where between the emancipation proclamation and the LBJ's Great society this has been changed. I still am yet to hear a president to stand up and say, "I'm sorry for slavery and please forgive those that may have been apart of that process. Until then, TRUE healing  can't start. I think  this nation had real true hero's during those times, those people that were slaves are hero's in my book. THEY built this nation!

  As for me I don't pick a  book because it's a black writer or whatever the  color of the person is. I like a few styles and genres and if blacks write them that's great. I suspect the reason why some of these others don't sell is because perhaps they write of things that mainstream whites or other cultures  wouldn't understand. Blacks as I  understand are still a minority in numbers nation wide (correct me if I'm wrong please) If this is the case that might be why the author's books aren't selling as much. But I can see your stand point. To show case "this a black writer"  Then more black might be interested in reading what they have to say. I personally think , not that i think about believe it's the publisher at fault here. Maybe they are supporting more 'known" white writers than blacks. If that's the case they need to start advertising the black author more. Not simply because he's or she is black, but because they are a  good writer.

I do a lot of research on cultures. Most of it is done online. On ocassion I have to read a bookstore full of books. So I spend a great deal of time in Bookstores for some of my research projects. I have noticed that there are sections for different cultures, Most of them all clumped together on one isle of the bookstore. 2/3rds a shelf for Chicano, 1/2 shelf for American Indians, 1/2 a shelf for Chinese, Japanese, and so on.

I think it would be wonderful to INCLUDE AUTHORS and as you state true STORY TELLERS in with these sections on culture. Taking pride in ALL culture by making it ready available to the public at large,  does not always mean its an attempt at segregation, its called CONVIENCE! At least thats how I see it.

I personally do not view it as segregation, I veiw it as a smart retailer doing their best to help out customers who do not have a lot of time to run the length of a store searching for what they want or need.

Segregation would be an all black bookstore where nothing else was allowed, or an all Chinese bookstore with all Chinese authors. However when you have a WHOLE AREA DEDICATED to ALL the DIFFERENT BEAUTIFUL CULTURES of this world we all SHARE, I see it as a TIME SAVING good thing.

Education is broken down into MATH, SCIENCE, ENGLISH, and so on, So whats the big deal about organizing certain books the same way, In a SECTION DEDICATED to ALL CULTURES.

Instead of 2/3rds of a shelf for Chicano studies, how about a whole shelf for books about the Culture as well as Chicano Authors,  A whole Shelf for other Cultures and their brightest Authors.  Convience is the number one reason most busy customers return to stores. After all we do not shop at AM PM for the prices..............

I am ashamed to say I have read very few Black Authors mainly because outside of the name Langston Hughes I do not know of any Black Authors, Writers or Storytellers. If I did I would probably read a lot more of them.

Thank you very much for this post and for finally solving in my mind the age old question, Is it Black, African American, Colored or just plain old Tryshon Johnson, the guy who lives next door.

I would be happy to read any book you suggest. I can not make the in store event you have posted as I am out of state, but I will check out the mans work next time I am in a local book store here.

I totally agree that the field should be balanced.  And I am not saying that you shouldn't have that section, as an independent bookstore owner.  I think my issue would be if it was a required section.  Corporately dictated.  If it is you personally making that call for your own business, I think that is great.  It is your personal statement.  Also, I agree that the mistrust is still there.  I am still struggling with ideas on how we can get beyond that vanishing color line and finally get behind what really separates us: culture.

(by separates us, I don't mea just whites and blacks, I mean people in general)

* to sistersheree

I get what you are saying about the convenience issue.  And I agree with that as well.  That is part of the problem with an issue like this, is that the subject matter is so controversial that it is impossible to find ground that cannot be misinterpreted.  Like I said though, I think the sectioning off of those books should be at the discretion of the bookstore owner, and not some chain, although I do know that I'm getting into different territory now.  Haha.

I SAY NO. i believe 1 reason racism still exists is because people separate us by our race. why should black people get a special section, why should Mexican get a special loan for school? I haven't heard of A Caucasian scholarship? WAIT yes i have, that school was accused of being racist. hummmmm.

what do single white males get? nothing special. this world is very imbalanced. I don't think you should get anything based strictly on race, that's racist. There should be no Check this box section on paperwork.

Huh?  What?  How is it racism?  Racism = a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.  Having a Black author section IN NO WAY means that those authors are better.  And as far as why there should be one... well, I very clearly state why in my blog.  To bring up the topic that "white men get nothing" totally takes this into another direction and into another discussion.  Try looking at it this way: I want only 1% of my store dedicated to Black authors.  The other 99%... AREN'T!  So to say a section is racist when it only takes up a minute part of the story is really stupid, especially when you completely ingore the rest of the store.  If 1% of my Black author section is racist how much more racist is the other 99% of the store?

Of course that is if you buy into the whole "this is racist" thing.  I don't.  Racism is not letting someone eat inside your restaurant because they are of a different race.  Racism is beating someone up just because they are a different race.  Racism is bombing a church full of children because they are a different religion.  Racism is pulling someone over driving a really nice car just because they have darker skin.  Having a Black author section inside a bookstore to help promote awareness, sales, and interest just makes sense.

I agree wholly with that second paragraph.  And I do not think either that having a section is racist.  As far as the 99% versus 1%, that which gets the most attention is that which distinguishes itself from the rest of the group.  That is, the 1% would gain attention while the rest blended into the background.  That is with anything though.  Racist? Nah.  I say that racism doesn't exist, but it is merely culturalism masked in pigments.  That is what we need to distinguish:  culture versus color.

If you own the book store, do what you want. I believe in your right to be racist , if you want to have a black section, go for it, this is america, do what you want to, I say open a bookstore dedicated to whatever it is you want to and allow who ever you want to in it.

i still call it racist

 Of course you do.

Wow...an abundance of great ideas in your blog and MOST of the responses.......I think anything that calls attention to writers and their work is fantastic......I see one potential drawback and compared to the benefits it is probably very small:in having a special section dedicated as you suggest some people who REALLY NEED EXPOSURE TO CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN LITERATURE can simply avoid a certain area completely......Good job RR........Please forgive ALW....at least her spelling seems to be improving and she managed a post without "cussing".........I was going to write,"without being vulgar" but i find most of her contributions(ergo her thinking) to be just that..............All the best in your ventures and PEACE.....................