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*Butta On...It's All About Eric RobersonTHE ERIC ROBERSON CHRONICLES
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Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Butta On...Black Literary Filth Flarn Filth
There is a great Op-Ed piece in today's New York Times written by author Nick Chiles about the state of Black literature. I'll wait a few minutes while you go take a gander and come back (registration may be required).
Their Eyes Were Reading Smut
Done? Great.
There are people who argue that this trend is a good one because at least Black people are reading regardless of what we are reading. I'm sorry but when people (especially younger readers) can rattle off the titles, character names, and plot lines of every Nikki Vickie Teri Turner Stringer Woods novel but can't tell you what James Baldwin, Richard Wright, or Dorothy West wrote--much less who they are--then, Houston, we have a major problem.
I've been telling people for years that Black publishing is the new music industry. Just like how that putrid garbage otherwise known as "Laffy Taffy" and the gangsta's gangsta 50 Cent rise to the top of the charts, their literary equivalents are flying off the shelves and vendor tables. All flash, cash, sass, and ass and very little to no substance. Is it any wonder that 50 Cent signed a book publishing deal to create G-Unit Books under the Simon & Schuster umbrella in order to cash in on the new hustle?
Well, let me stop complaining and get back to writing my novel Smack It! Flip It! Rub It Down!: A Thrillogy. Hey, if you can't beat join 'em. Right? A sista's tryna get paid, too.
Their Eyes Were Reading Smut
Done? Great.
My, my, my. Tell 'em why you mad, son! What can I say that Nick Chiles hasn't already say? He had me at "smut."
As an avid reader and oft-frustrated unpublished writer who has seen the pendulum swing from "sistagirl" lit to street lit over the past ten plus years, I feel his pain. Every time I go into my local Borders to see what's new, my literary sensibilities are assaulted by display upon rack upon shelf of half-naked broads who told Victoria's Secret; or screwfaced dudes waving guns, knives, or other weaponry at me; or garish book covers with expensive cars or tons of ice. If I wanted to see all that I'd stay up and watch BET Uncut.
Another friend who writes and I discussed this over email today, and it is truly a sad state of affairs. She recently went to her local Borders and they had no copies of Ellison's Invisible Man, only had Their Eyes Were Watching God as if Zora wrote nothing else, and she couldn't find any Black poetry books. But please believe she got an eyeful of the Baby Mama Drama Queen's G-Spot. Give. Me. A. Break.There are people who argue that this trend is a good one because at least Black people are reading regardless of what we are reading. I'm sorry but when people (especially younger readers) can rattle off the titles, character names, and plot lines of every Nikki Vickie Teri Turner Stringer Woods novel but can't tell you what James Baldwin, Richard Wright, or Dorothy West wrote--much less who they are--then, Houston, we have a major problem.
I've been telling people for years that Black publishing is the new music industry. Just like how that putrid garbage otherwise known as "Laffy Taffy" and the gangsta's gangsta 50 Cent rise to the top of the charts, their literary equivalents are flying off the shelves and vendor tables. All flash, cash, sass, and ass and very little to no substance. Is it any wonder that 50 Cent signed a book publishing deal to create G-Unit Books under the Simon & Schuster umbrella in order to cash in on the new hustle?
Well, let me stop complaining and get back to writing my novel Smack It! Flip It! Rub It Down!: A Thrillogy. Hey, if you can't beat join 'em. Right? A sista's tryna get paid, too.
24 Comments:
I get fustrated that so many of us take the stance at least they are reading - we take that damn stance about everything! We are some of the most punkish of our race (speaking of our generation0 and I'm ashamed that noone - myself included will take a stand about anything! Videos, casual sex, empty reading - nothing!
Aww damn nose bleed again from being up on the podium...excuse me while I go blow........
*rubbing ears*
Woo-saaa...woooooooo-saaaaaaaa...
You know you wrong for that title...LMBAO!
Our story does need to be told - and unfortunately these types of books are a part of our story but it seems to me that we have decided from our music to our literature that this is the extent of our story. Which speaks alot like I said before about what we have on our minds and how it has become so easy to just say 'do you'. What is doing you is costing us our future?
they live in the hood
they go to the school in the hood
their friends live in the hood.
they watch movies,
listen to music,
and read books about the hood
what do they know outside of the hood? nothing.
the books writing thing is a new hustle for black folks from the hood...specifically women who dont have college degrees since they arent succeeding that well in anything else.
But sweetie this is NOT a new phenomenon. Umm.. does the name Donald Goines ring a bell? Please when I was in high schoool, his books were all the rage. While I was on the bus reading "Song of Solomon" these fools were reading "Whoreson" and "My Daddy Was a Number Runner" *sigh* girl ignorance knows no generation. This has been a problem for quite some time. And shoot, if WHAT we're reading shouldn't matter, then we're ALL avid literature buffs, with all the interstate signs and subway maps we read daily. Get the hell outta here, of COURSE it matters. Zane is NOT freaking literature. Dammit Eric Jerome Dickey is not educational. *sigh* We're always so content with aiming so damn low... *sigh* another reason we can't rise as a people. As Panama would say... 'we ain't gonna make it." LOL
PREACH BUTTA...PREACH IT LOUD, IYAH! I love reading but I can't take this attack on our people. Jesus help us!! Chuh man! (kisses teeth)
I'm not saying everyone has to write literature, but can't commercial fiction be good? Can't it have a good plot? Character development? Instead of formula crap that just makes you want to re-read the old stuff? Chupse.
Hurry up and get published Butta, I'm ready to read.
I really thought I was one of the only people with this frame of mind as it seems all of my co-workers and friends read this garbage like its the New Testament.
The question is how do we turn the tide?
I too feel your pain. Every since I began writing, I've felt as though I should write to save the race, per se. These books are always in some neon color (as if black people only like brite sh!t) and absolutely ridiculous. I live in Harlem and visit 125th St everyday to go the gym and, everyday, I have to walk by this crap. Not to diss all of the street lit folks, but I was so glad when my agent told me that she doesn't do it and eluded to (w/ zero regret) the fact that she was approached first to rep a certain tell-all, sex memoir that was guaranteed to be a hit, but turned it down. I swear that had to be one of her biggest selling points.
This madness has got to end. Your comment about how the publishing industry is the new music industry is sad but true. Damn.
What are we gonna do?
p.s. - love your blog!!
I'm luvin your BLOG too Ms. Lady...