Unnecessary
In a review of Do They Wear High Heels in Heaven, an online reviewer took offense at the details I included of the gay relationship in the book:
Gently minded readers who are conservative will need to be aware that Michael and his relationship with another man are portrayed a bit more bluntly than is really necessary, but that can be skipped over with ease.
No. It was necessary.
This blog post really started out as an open letter to the parents of my nine-year-old daughter's new playmate. But then I decided I really didn't want to go there. So I wrapped it up in the writing.
You see, my daughter's new "friend" told her that she doesn't "look" Mexican (meaning that as a compliment). And he has never known Mexicans, but what he DOES know of Mexicans is they rape little children. And THAT kind of racism can ONLY start at home. Nine-year-old children don't invent this stuff. Parents do.
In the last year, having movied from an area of the country with a huge Latino population to one that is less so, and having seen the immigration wars explode in this country, I see the way everyone with a Hispanic last name is suddenly suspect. Considering my children bear the last name that in Mexico is akin to "Smith" in this country . . . they are sitting ducks. Considering my nine-year-old daughter has a Hispanic first name, she even more so.
Since we moved here, I have had neighbors think they can make jokes about Mexicans. It's wrapped up in friendship, but you know what? It's NOT funny. My eldest daughter, age 17, was subjected to classmates saying all Mexicans are dirty and mow lawns. I have seen subtle and not-so-subtle prejudice, but THIS took the cake. A nine-year-old.
You know, in the romance-writing business, I've always sort of pushed the envelope. The characters I have don't neatly align into what are usually seen in a romance. The number of gay men who wrote me after Do They Wear High Heels in Heaven was amazing. It was on the "Top Ten Gay Romances" at Amazon . . . yet it was really a book about a woman with breast cancer.
I will always have assorted gay characters . . . and always mix friendships in my books between races and religions. I don't know that anyone picked up on the fact that Jack was part-black in Knockout. It was subtle, and you had to pay attention to her uncle and father's family history to even pick up on it. It wasn't important to the characters and how they felt about each other--we're all the same underneath.
In Diary of a Blues Goddess, my heroine was biracial. Her best friend was kicked out his home when he was 18 for being gay, went to NYC to find himself, and came back a drag queen. Yet, I don't feel Dominique was ever a cariacture. She was a fully conceived person, not comic relief.
And so this goes back to this family that I truly want to hate but am trying not to. Well, no. As a Buddhist, I don't WANT to hate them, but I have to work on it right now. I cannot tell you how I cringe to think what this boy will be like at 18. Poisoning a young mind! I also don't kid myself that my books are ever going to change someone's mind about race or gender. But with all due respect to the reviewer who said it was unnecessary . . . it is. I wish it wasn't, but it is.
Thoughts?
Gently minded readers who are conservative will need to be aware that Michael and his relationship with another man are portrayed a bit more bluntly than is really necessary, but that can be skipped over with ease.
No. It was necessary.
This blog post really started out as an open letter to the parents of my nine-year-old daughter's new playmate. But then I decided I really didn't want to go there. So I wrapped it up in the writing.
You see, my daughter's new "friend" told her that she doesn't "look" Mexican (meaning that as a compliment). And he has never known Mexicans, but what he DOES know of Mexicans is they rape little children. And THAT kind of racism can ONLY start at home. Nine-year-old children don't invent this stuff. Parents do.
In the last year, having movied from an area of the country with a huge Latino population to one that is less so, and having seen the immigration wars explode in this country, I see the way everyone with a Hispanic last name is suddenly suspect. Considering my children bear the last name that in Mexico is akin to "Smith" in this country . . . they are sitting ducks. Considering my nine-year-old daughter has a Hispanic first name, she even more so.
Since we moved here, I have had neighbors think they can make jokes about Mexicans. It's wrapped up in friendship, but you know what? It's NOT funny. My eldest daughter, age 17, was subjected to classmates saying all Mexicans are dirty and mow lawns. I have seen subtle and not-so-subtle prejudice, but THIS took the cake. A nine-year-old.
You know, in the romance-writing business, I've always sort of pushed the envelope. The characters I have don't neatly align into what are usually seen in a romance. The number of gay men who wrote me after Do They Wear High Heels in Heaven was amazing. It was on the "Top Ten Gay Romances" at Amazon . . . yet it was really a book about a woman with breast cancer.
I will always have assorted gay characters . . . and always mix friendships in my books between races and religions. I don't know that anyone picked up on the fact that Jack was part-black in Knockout. It was subtle, and you had to pay attention to her uncle and father's family history to even pick up on it. It wasn't important to the characters and how they felt about each other--we're all the same underneath.
In Diary of a Blues Goddess, my heroine was biracial. Her best friend was kicked out his home when he was 18 for being gay, went to NYC to find himself, and came back a drag queen. Yet, I don't feel Dominique was ever a cariacture. She was a fully conceived person, not comic relief.
And so this goes back to this family that I truly want to hate but am trying not to. Well, no. As a Buddhist, I don't WANT to hate them, but I have to work on it right now. I cannot tell you how I cringe to think what this boy will be like at 18. Poisoning a young mind! I also don't kid myself that my books are ever going to change someone's mind about race or gender. But with all due respect to the reviewer who said it was unnecessary . . . it is. I wish it wasn't, but it is.
Thoughts?
Labels: prejudice
posted by Erica Orloff at 8:33 AM
21 comments
