I write to you to condemn the violence against Black people and Black communities happening in our nation. As a Black, queer woman I live at the intersection of hope and rage. I’m a dreamer who, if need be, will not hesitate to correct you. But hope is hard and rage is easier when again and again my people are killed while begging for their lives.
When Trayvon Martin was killed, I was in my first year of college. I had a paper due the next day. I remember both of those details so clearly because that’s how it’s always been for me. My years in college were full of Black murders by police who were never even indicted. I had to mourn while also keeping up appearances. Unfortunately, not much has changed in the five years since I graduated. If I take a day off every time a Black person is brutalized or killed, I’d barely get any work done. And so, I’m forever in mourning.
For myself, and for so many working with me at People of Color in Publishing, the protests and riots happening around the nation aren’t just a moment, a news item waiting to be ousted by the next. They’re our lives. We know first-hand how hard it is to witness brutality against your own by the very people you’re supposed to be able to call on in an emergency. We know how hard it is to be expected to continue on as if nothing has happened, to educate your white counterparts on racism, and to find time for self-care amongst all that. To be a Black person in book publishing—to be a Black artist/writer in this industry—is to devote your life to anti-racist work. When things like this happen, it can feel like you’re not doing enough, it can feel like you need to do more when you’re burnt out as is.
I founded People of Color in Publishing—a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting, empowering, and uplifting racially and ethnically marginalized members of the book publishing industry—to be a network, a safe space, and a resource. We work to recruit and retain people of color into the book publishing industry. That work necessitates honest, meaningful, and impactful conversations about who has power, who doesn’t, and why; about access and inclusion; about ensuring that our industry—one that almost certainly has white supremacist roots—doesn’t look the same moving forward. It’s not about diversity as a matter of optics—it’s about changing racist systems to forge a better, more equitable present and future.
People of Color in Publishing supports Black people, we support Black publishing professionals, we support pro-Black organizations, and those working to dismantle white supremacy. We ask that our white publishing colleagues and institutions do the same—not just today, not just this week or month, but in a sustained, actionable way in order to affect long-lasting change.
For those of you who are seeking guidance and resources during this difficult time: we are here, our DMs are open, and our email is readily available. I know we’re in the midst of a pandemic, and that is exactly why this is the best time to plan for the future. It is long past time for us, as an industry (& a nation), to change.
While we always welcome donations to People of Color in Publishing, we encourage you to first donate to the organizations on the frontlines that are most in need of our help:
Hi, Sydnee! First off, how are you? How are you coping right now? Presently, if you could describe your mood using a meme, which meme would it be?
I'm healthy and safe! Trying to take it day by day, support organizations working to ensure the well-being of Black communities across the nation, and be gentle with myself because I've found it harder to focus and be present lately. I probably alternate between these two memes:
You’re an Assistant Editor at Kokila Books, which is Penguin Young Readers imprint “dedicated to centering stories from the margins with books that add nuance and depth to the way children and young adults see the world and their place in it.” Tell us a bit about what it’s like working for an imprint that centers our stories and experiences.
I've learned so much in the two years that I've worked at Kokila and with the publishing pros that make Kokila -- Namrata Tripathi, Joanna Cardenas, Jasmin Rubero, and Zareen Jaffery. I think working somewhere that's mission based give us a north star that allows us to acknowledge when we might be straying too far in another direction. It's an enormous privilege and a huge responsibility.
It's exciting to be challenged by the editorial work that we do within our little team, and to know I work at a place that encourages both/and thinking. There's a level of research and study that everyone takes on (even after decades in the industry!) that makes it so I never want to drop the baton. But ultimately, what maybe inspires me most are the ways we aim to communicate about the work that suggests a level of care about the subject and one another that I think absolutely impacts the books we produce.
How has your day-to-day changed, if at all?
The most change I've experienced is not seeing my colleagues' faces in real life -- I think there's something to be said about simply sharing space with others that leads to tangible change. Checking in on a human level is easier when you can sense what someone means by being in close proximity to them. There are smaller admin things that have been put on hold, but our production meeting is still at the same time, as well as our editorial meetings, etc.
Backing up briefly, why book publishing? Can you share a bit about how you made the switch from journalism to publishing?
I've always wanted to change the media landscape by helping tell stories that have been underrepresented, but I wasn't even aware that publishing was an option until after college. After graduating as a film major at Howard, I scored an internship at NPR's Arts Desk following an informational interview, a few applications, and many annoying check-ins. I was the one opening and sorting mailings from all of publishing's publicity departments for about a year, and I found myself really drawn to the children's mailings we received. I ended up cold emailing Namrata after seeing the job posting on LinkedIn. I eventually caught a Megabus up from DC to interview!
What does community mean to you, especially right now, and how are you staying connected?
I think community means seeing all of someone and being seen fully, paying attention to what you can give and others paying attention to what you need to be given. Ideally for me -- it's joy and laughter that bubbles over and being held when it hurts. I recently finished the brilliant Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha's CARE WORK: Dreaming Disability Justice, and so I've been reflecting a lot on how we build communities outside of capitalist, ableist, patriarchal frameworks. Next on my reading list is Mia Birdsong's HOW WE SHOW UP: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community. I've also been in a bit of screen overwhelm, so I'm thankful for the few people I've been able to correspond with over snail mail.
In 2016, DL Mullen began working on what she thought would be the ULTIMATE bookstore experience. A plush library feel, a restaurant and cigar lounge, and-of course-THOUSANDS of books! Unfortunately, the more time that passed, the more difficult the project became. Navigating real estate, hospitality groups, and construction woes was causing the project to feel more like a chore than it was intended to be. This is how Semicolon came about.
After the latest construction issue and in an attempt to 'just do something', Ms. Mullen found a space, signed a lease, and got the keys all in a 24-hour timespan. Much smaller than the original idea, Ms. Mullen set to work making it feel like, well-home. Her favorite museum/library/bookstore all rolled into one. Oh, and BYOB, just for good measure! A labor of love that she hopes visitors will feel in every area of the space, Ms. Mullen continues to be undeterred by the things that don't work out, and infinitely grateful for the ones that do!
"Here we are, 8 months into this journey that had no viable beginning, no plans for how we’d function, and no end game in sight. I didn’t use the statistics or market plans that I was told to-I’ve kinda just built the ‘business’ around whatever feels good to me (which I do NOT recommend). Somehow, it’s worked and will continue working thanks to your unwavering support. I am grateful for the little community we’ve built in our space in West Town. I am grateful for the random conversations, the notes of affirmation, and the plethora of people who stop by ‘just to see what we’re all about’. I am grateful for the authors and artists who continue to make our space outstanding and the genuine love that pours in from visitors of all backgrounds. If you’re still reading, let this act as your reminder that action is the ONLY catalyst for change. We’ll never be completely ready, but getting to the other side of our dreams, our plans, and ourselves cannot be accomplished without taking that first step forward. Let’s continue to support the magic, the finesse, and the audacity of Black women in all their glory ."
#DVpit is launching a virtual writers conference! DVcon is a free two-day virtual writers conference for for authors & illustrators who identify with a marginalized community, coming sometime late summer/early fall. DVcon will offer informative workshops, fun micro-content, and our additional focus will be on community-building and forging connections. You'll retain access to content (and friendships!) after the conference ends. Follow @DV_con and #DVcon on Twitter for updates and pre-register here.
Buzz Books 2020: Romance
Welcome to the fifth Buzz Books Romance, with substantial prepublication excerpts of some of the best forthcoming romance titles. This year’s edition features more contemporary romance than ever before, as well as more diverse voices, from imprints such as Carina, Dafina, and Zebra. At the end of most excerpts, you will find a link to the full galley on NetGalley! Free download now available for Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple Books, Google Play, and Kobo.
