A Serious Question (albeit naive)

[Bob Peale]

I recently got the following feedback (anonymously) one of my interracial stories:

Please focus a lot more on the race differences, physical,
cultural, language, etc that make this story unique. Interracial dialogue, etc!

Now, I really don't want this to mushroom into any of the sorts of racism/prejudice threads that I've seen on here...honest!

But do you (collectively) suppose that the author of that comment really meant, "Please focus on the stereotypical depictions of a particular race?"

I ask because, outside of the physical differences (which are true of any race), I don't understand the "cultural, language, etc." part.

The female character, who is black, lives in an affluent suburb and is an executive with a market research firm. The male character, who is white, is a neighbor. Not that they couldn't, but why shouldn'tthey have similar upbringings, mannerisms, etc.? I understand there might be differences in inflection (which you can't capture easily in written form), but otherwise they have similar influences. With respect to culture, I don't see how that comes into play in a stroke story when the characters are approximately socieo-economic equals.

This is not intended as a defense, or even a rebuttal of the feedback, but more a request for illumination.

Any insights would be appreciated

 

[JUDO]

Taste

BP-

I believe what the feedback you received represents is the reader's taste. Obviously, differences in culture, language, social mores, etc. can differ wildly depending on where your characters live and what socio-economic life they persue.

What this particular reader requested for you to focus on would heighten the pleasureable experience that they would receive.

So, include or not that which suits this reader's desires.

- Judo

 

[Weird Harold]

But do you (collectively) suppose that the author of that comment really meant, "Please focus on the stereotypical depictions of a particular race?"

I ask because, outside of the physical differences (which are true of any race), I don't understand the "cultural, language, etc." part.

The female character, who is black, lives in an affluent suburb and is an executive with a market research firm. The male character, who is white, is a neighbor.

I think the person who sent the feedback probably did mean focus on the stereotypes. The attraction for many fans of "inter-racial" stories is miscygenation, and they want the differencs in race emphasized.

I wouldn't cater to that taste unless you particuarly want to.

There are many things you can do to make black characters "more black" and white characters more "white" without being racist about it.

Your female character would quite possibly indulge in African dress styles, have African art decorating her home, Serve different foods, etc.

Your Male character would dress more conventially "white affluent," have more European art and furniture styles, eat more "meat and potatoes" European or American type foods.

There are a lot of little details you can add to give the race of your characters more depth without resorting to stereotypes. You can even do a little role reversal and make the black character more "oreo" with a rejection of "black culture" trimmings, while making the white character an Afro-phile who collects African Art and studies black history.

 

[Bob Peale]

Re: Re: A Serious Question (albeit naive)

There are a lot of little details you can add to give the race of your characters more depth without resorting to stereotypes. You can even do a little role reversal and make the black character more "oreo" with a rejection of "black culture" trimmings, while making the white character an Afro-phile who collects African Art and studies black history.

WH,

That's one I didn't think of! Thanks so much!

And Judo, I hear what your saying, but unfortunately, because it was anonymous, I don't really have the ability to dialogue with the person who offered the advice to see if it was really the stereotypes he/she wanted...that's not really my thing.

Thanks a bunch guys for responding.

 

[Eve_of_destruction]

I've gotten some feedback on my story "The Dance" similar to this. The complaint seems to be "You'll have to do better with the ghetto dialogue, it came and went throughout the story". The character is an 18-year old WHITE male... being the "wigger" that he is, his character slips into ghetto slang more so whenever he is trying to impress the female character, whenever he wants to come off as a bad boy, etc.

I know that I am not going to please everyone with my writing, I am just grateful that there are those out there who do enjoy the story!

EOD

 

[Bob Peale]

EOD,

Thank you for your response. It's comforting knowing that I wasn't the only one playing with myself in the back of the room while they were going over this lesson in Smut Writers' School!