Updates

Status: Drafting the fourth book in the PERILOUS series!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Color Blind

The days of defining people by color are over, right? We don't say "persons of color need not apply." We don't segregate our schools. We don't put our race down on job applications (usually).

In a nation where we used to see in color, we've made great strides. We've matured. We've embraced equality.

So imagine my surprise when a friend forwards me a writing contest with this requirement: "Must be an author of color."

First of all, what's an author of color? White's a color, right? Or do they mean only black people? Yellow? Red?

Second of all, how can that term even be politically correct? I've never called myself by a color. I've only seen two colors on demographic sheets, white or black. Usually they are much more PC, calling it "Caucasian" and "African-American." They go on to list Asian and a myriad of races, but not colors. I've never filled out "brown."

Third of all, how is that not discrimination? I know it's a contest and not a job, but it just smacks me of all sorts of wrong. Why not ask for books that are ethnically diverse instead of focusing on the author? I just squirm all over at the referencing of color and people in the same sentence.

What think you? Am I overreacting?

Today's blog spot is over at Arlee Bird! Such a gem for hosting me! Be sure and stop by his blog for a chance to win a free ebook!

4 comments:

Meg said...

I'll tell you right now, that if the rules stated, "must be a white author" that contest would be shut down, stat.

Arlee Bird said...

There are a lot of things I've seen that are color restricted--clubs, colleges, contests, grants, etc--and yet if something were to be restricted to white only I think there would be real problems. Color restrictions don't usually bother me, but I think they are sometimes ironic.


Lee
Tossing It Out

Unknown said...

when I was teaching at the YWCA we had to do these justice talking sessions for part of our training. One was focused solely on racial discriminations. I found it to contain more steriotyping than political correctness, and was even told that because I didn't self-select myself to sit with the "people of color" side of the room, I must either have white-guilt or not be in touch with my latina side. All in all, it was a rather frustrating and tearful afternoon, for I've never felt so attacked for NOT defining myself by color.

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

Wow Elisa, that's... pretty crazy.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...