IBARW

It’s International Blog Against Racism Week, and there are plenty of worthwhile, thought-provoking posts out there in the blogosphere. Many of them are bookmarked on Delicious.

I have always considered myself an ally, though I would never have used that term. I didn’t know that term. I knew people. Different colors of wonderful people. I liked them. They liked me. How utterly clueless of me. I realized how clueless reading along on various blogs about RaceFail 09, and before, and after. Finding good posts and, hopefully, not making an ass of myself in comments. I had other ways to make an ass of myself, I guess. (click to read more… a.k.a. my ass, let me show you it.)

In 2007, I created artwork for a book cover featuring an African American protagonist. She’s an artist who experiments with using different styles and mediums in one canvas. I focussed on that idea, the different styles and mediums.

There were previous pieces of art that were liked but, for whatever reason, didn’t pass muster as a cover. I started over, thinking about what a canvas of hers might look like, and I produced this for the cover.

It was intended to demonstrate a piece of art, not the protagonist. The person on the cover is static, collaged to death…and blue-eyed. Unfortunately, when there’s a female on the cover that specifically doesn’t show an African American woman when a WOC is the protagonist, that’s me missing an opportunity NOT to erase someone. That’s me erasing someone. Inadvertent. Unintentional. Without malice aforethought. An embarrassing example of well-meaning what-not-to-do.

Year 2009. I needed a cover for a collection of short stories about a young girl only described physically as having dark, curly hair, who is menaced by an unreal monster. I intended to put the monster on the cover, but then I started thinking about what that monster would look like.And I remembered the discussions I’d read about orcs and other fantasy monsters whose physical descriptions were based on a particular race.

The monster’s not a particular color, grey, I think, in the book, but it’s seen in the dark; it’s alien; it’s disturbing in its not-quite-humanity. It made me think of the madness of Gollum.  But my thinking… dark, alien, disturbing… made me wonder if I could depict this monster without invoking even a shadow of the orc.  I’d wanted luminous eyes and a yearning expression, and so, when I stopped and rethought things, I realized that my first, barely begun attempt might be tweaked a different way. I started over again. I went with the luminous eyes, but I made the cover depict the protagonist instead. I didn’t think, again, of the color of the protagonist once I’d decided not to actively make a monster who might be seen as othered by race.  I just tried to make a cover that felt right. The author is very happy with it. I am too, but I wish it had been more actively intentioned.

DP publishes books by and/or about POC. We really want those books, we want perspectives different from the “default white male gaze”.  I hope we’ll continue to receive submissions of those books so that next time I can pay attention and actually do something right deliberately.

I think the clueless white ally could start there. I always want to do the right thing. I just haven’t always looked for the right way to do it. Been deliberate in my intentions, as it were. So that’s my goal, to be deliberate. To learn to more easily and naturally consider my actions from some other point of view than my own.

7 comments

1. 

   Heather S. Ingemar

   Posted on August 3, 2009

   Believe it or not, I’ve already had comments on that cover. I had to explain that I did not rule out the possibility that Isabele could be ‘colored’ (what *is* the proper term of address that, anyway? I’m not up on etiquette…).

   As a writer, I don’t set out to define my characters by “race.” I define them as “people.” Deep down, we all have the same basic needs, desires, wants. We’re all “people.” Who cares what shade our skin is?

   I *love* the cover for “Collecting Dreams.” I think it perfectly captures the essence of the stories, and after seeing your depiction of Isabele, I don’t think I could think of her any other way.

   Just, lovely.

   Best,
   Heather Ingemar

   [Reply]

   

   deena Reply:
   August 3rd, 2009 at 12:40 am

   Really? I believe the proper term these days is POC (Person of Color) or COC (character of color). I’m so glad you like her.

   [Reply]
   
2. 

   Val

   Posted on August 4, 2009

   Here is something I’m sure you must have thought of…
   Most people looking for a book to buy have no idea what is in that book until they see the cover. If the cover appeals to them, they pick it up, read the back cover, sometimes flip through the pages, and decide if the story line is something they want to put there time into reading. With e-stories, the person would have to read the reviews or clips of the book to decide, however, seeing the cover art is what makes that first impression. Forget race. In this day and age, even people that are not racist may still be less likely to look into a book with a cover that has an african-american girl on the front. But then, I may be totally off base. Statistics may show that it really doesn’t matter. All I know, is the cover art is the selling point for the book. Peoples first impressions of the book is of what they see before they read. So the art needs to be relevant to the story line.

   I have not read either of the books you show above, but I love the covers. But because I am Heather’s mom, when I read her stuff, I always feel as if she is the character. So when I saw the cover of Collecting Dreams, I was surprised, bewildered, left wondering. Puzzled, to say the least. I’m looking forward to putting a face with the name when I finally sit down to read her stories. I didn’t see the monsters clawed hand until I really studied the cover. All I saw was Isabele who looks lost in thought. It’s intriguing.

   I love the blue eyes on the other cover. You are a talented artist, Deena.

   [Reply]

   

   deena Reply:
   August 4th, 2009 at 10:59 am

   Thank you for the compliment!

   It’s true, I think, that people look for someone to relate to on the cover of the books they buy. I just think that if we provide them with more variety, they’ll find more to relate to within that variety. It’s interesting that you look for Heather in her covers. I hadn’t thought of that.

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3. 

   Val

   Posted on August 5, 2009

   I am a very visual person and a terrible reader, a bit dislexic mostly, so when I look at a cover, I am hoping to see what the story is about before picking up the book or reading the reviews. Although, I always know that Heather’s writings will draw a picture in my mind. As if I am seeing everything through the characters eyes. As if I am her or know the person that she is talking about.

   Heather has always been an increadible story teller, even when she was a little girl. And very vivid in her details. The confusing thing for me is when she writes the male characters thoughts but doesn’t give you an indication that the character is male before you start. So, I go through the story, thinking it’s a girl/woman and then upon realization that the person is a guy, I have to step back and rethink the story. It’s like, “Woe, wait a minute…” Kind of funny really. It gives a completely new perspective on the story. Heather’s “Accused” was like that for me. It was mind curling for me. Once I wrapped my head around it, I couldn’t stop reading. Heather has a way of pulling you into her stories. As if you are there observing everything that is happening.

   The cover art is the first stage in grabbing a readers attention. No matter what’s on the cover, it needs to be startlingly visual. A picture that creates images in the mind that make a person want to look inside. To read on or to search for answers. Good or bad. Whatever the case, you Deena, are doing a wonderful job there.

   [Reply]
   
4. 

   Heather S. Ingemar

   Posted on August 5, 2009

   Aww shucks! You flatter me to no end. *blushes*

   [Reply]

   

   deena Reply:
   August 5th, 2009 at 2:57 pm

   @Heather S. Ingemar, no more than you deserve!

   [Reply]