Writing and race

[bubosquared]

I've been thinking lately about if/how to write about a minority I'm not part of. Specifically, about me, as a white girl, writing about non-white characters. This could apply both to fanfic and non-fanfic, but I'm mostly thinking about the latter, because in fanfic, if the canon glosses over certain aspects of racial differences, for example, it's easy enough to follow its lead and not bring that up in fanfic.

But when I'm creating my own canon, that's a decision I actually have to make, and it's one that keeps making me wibble like there's no tomorrow. On the one hand, I don't want to write "colourblind", but on the other hand, I also don't want to fuck up if I do write about the more touchy subjects.

(And that's not even mentioning the "How the fuck do you show-not-tell race?" issue, which is something else I wrestle with, and augh.)

So, yeah. Thoughts? Opinions? Pointers? Swats upside the head? Anything? Like I said, this is mostly a non-fanfic thing, but opinions pertaining to fanfic arealso welcome, as I do write non-white characters in fanfic as well. *vague handwave at Lee and Mickey* (This is not a crossover bunny!)

Comments

[rawumber.livejournal.com]

I think you should write. You have the sensitivity to look past the taken for granted and the Mainstream(tm). It is just a question of ho and what you want to write and some research on the subject.


Not that you'll get it perfect, but hell. Someone writing about the Majority can still mess things up because--

Even without the question of race, everyone is not the same.

If they were we'd all be a stereotype.

Dealing with racial issues during the Immigration debate brought this home to me. Even within the same community, even within a single "unifying" incident such as our walk outs and rallies, there wasn't a single voice.

It's important to be true to your character, take his or her experiences with the Majority and race into account.

[rawumber.livejournal.com]

And damn my default icon is IRONIC for this post.

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

Ironic, but hot!

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think in the end, I need to just stop being silly and give it a try, at least. If I can write gay pr0n, I can write about other cultures, dammit! (And really, I already do, so yeah.)