Is Black Christian Fiction a fried chicken eating good time?
African writers and other "ethnic" writers are seen and read primarily as representatives of their ethnic groups, if not the continent as a whole. But we do not write guidebooks or manuals on contemporary or traditional African life, so we must not be expected to portray what is considered a typical African experience.
I have experienced the same awkward encounter as an African American writer, especially since I am southern and my mothers have been in this country since forever. But as a christian fiction writer that adds a whole new layer to the conversation. It's as if I am a not "keepin' it real," if I don't write about fried chicken,homosexual tambourine players and growing marijuana in grandma's backyard.
My godmother and personal pied piper told me the other day, "Vida Pooh, make sure you got some juicy stuff happening in that book or no one will want to read it, but your family."
Didn't want to tell her how last year my writing group disapproved and responded to an Atlanta Journal article that described Black Christian Fiction as "fried-chicken-eating, money-grubbing, behind-grabbing preachers" books. The excuse they received from the AJC editor was that he was under deadline so he didn't do all his fact checking.
Is that the case with most media today? Not enough fact checking just feeding off our inability to check the double standard. Listening to my godmother, too?
As a christian writer(irregardless of your race, gender, red or blue state) what common stereotypes do others believe about what you do?
And what are great suggestions to defunk those myths?
Hurry, comment quick because I need to give my godmom a very well thought out, bible verse-backed response to why the only juice going on in my WIP is the orange juice at the dinner table. :)
Writing to see what the end's gon' be,
Dee
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