The NYT has written several articles “covering” the departures of Black and Brown editors from Big 5 publishing houses and after each one I wondered whether they tried to interview an editor still employed. I completely understand why an editor wouldn’t consent to an interview given the tone and angle of these articles, if any were asked. But each time there was a hand-wringing post about these departures, I wondered, what must it be like to still be in the house, just trying to do your job, with this on top of everything else?
Thomas Gebremedhin, Vice President & Executive Editor at Doubleday within PRH, has written an essay in LitHub today subtitled “what is missing in the diversity in publishing discourse” and I urge you all to read it. It’s linked here, and here are some quotes:
“I recently read a New York Times article entitled “‘A Lot of Us Are Gone’: How the Push to Diversify Publishing Fell Short.” It is not the first instance of such an article, and it will not be the last. But it has been uncomfortable to read stories about Black editors that hinge entirely on their subjects’ race, flattening individuals and cohorts, effacing their sensibilities. I feel abridged.
And it has made me question how the work of Black editors continues to be received. Where do we sit on the bookshelf of public discourse?”
“There is an artistry to editing that is not often associated with Black editors and left out of the discourse on diversity.”
Link here. It really needs to be read in full.
Fantastic essay, thank you for sharing and calling attention to it. A truly thoughtful and evocative read.