Comments on: On Writing

By: Jon Odell

Jon Odell — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:09:09 +0000

These are some great questions, Joanne, and I’m often surprised to find out that what I think another race or culture or gender would value, they find insulting. I’ll never forget how an African American man went off on me when I said something positive about “To Kill A Mockingbird.” He said that book was written to make white liberals feel good about themselves but he would never let his kids read it. He said, it just teaches them that black men are either victims or monsters. From now own I try not to presume and ask directly how folks like to see them portrayed in “story.” I know that question for me as a gay man, has led to valuable discussions.

By: Joanne Toft

Joanne Toft — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:41:24 +0000

Thanks for this note – this is a topic I have been thinking about in regards to Childrens Books. I began with who can and should be writing but I love the thoughts around “is it right” One of the questions for me is -
What is a quality multicultural text, what perspective is being presented and “is it right”?

Sorry to have miss the meeting with the Mpls staff today but would love to continue this conversation some time.

By: Jon Odell

Jon Odell — Sat, 01 May 2010 14:45:28 +0000

Thanks, Lindsay,

I wrote this in one sitting, after hearing from the umpteenth agent that nobody wants to publish a novel about African American women written by a white man. One agent even suggested (joking, I think) that I should change my name to Fannie Lou Hamer.

But the cool thing was that after Delphi finally got published, Kirkus Review said, “Jonathan Odell, an African American, is the rare writer on race who allows for a range of responses…”

I really hated to tell them that I was white.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:36:59 +0000

LOVE this. I can see you listening to these women, and I hear their voices in your work. I agree with you. We don’t choose who we channel, we only choose whether or not we’ll pay attention.