13 Comments

Thank you! I agree. American Fiction is a brilliant movie because it hits out at this. I haven’t read the Percival Everett novel yet but I heard it has a sharper bite than the film.

I am so over the censorship (including self censorship) that’s infected everything. The brave and authentic thing to do is to write fiercely and to say “fuck the gaze”. I agree! Thanks for your voice in this world. Looking forward to reading your book!

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The Gaze is the fuel behind everyone using book bans as political campaigns. It's rare for it to be targeted against white authors unless they are also part of a minority community.

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Sensitivity readers—one more expense writers must deal with. I understand the need, as long as individuals, etc. don't take it too far. I had one supposedly professional sensitivity reader who stated: "No African-American characters should ever be written by a white person."

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And that is why we need to do away with the gaze. I am not someone who believes what your sensitivity reader told you. I actually don't (and probably never will) use sensitivity readers. They are part of the gaze that I believe restricts creativity.

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For many years Crime and Punishment glared at me from the shelf. How had I not read it yet?

Sometimes I feel something similar from Toni Morrison books. During the deep early days of Covid I reread Song of Solomon and Beloved. No nudge required. A copy of Paradise sat on its shelf untouched until the Watchman miniseries guilted me into opening it. However, I read quickly and without proper attention being paid. Time to try again. To face it.

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Time again indeed!

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You have explained the gaze in a powerful way. Just now I read a New Yorker article about Percival Everett who I am not familiar with. There is no doubt about it , I find him fascinating and brilliant, and challenging to read. I will have to get his books, as well as Toni's. Thanks Kern.

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You're very welcome, Nicholas. And thanks for your comment.

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Hell yes!! <3

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🔑🙏🏾🔑

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Brilliant ...

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Thank you!

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Sooo over it. Thank you, Autumn. Hope you enjoy the novel 🙏🏾

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