Oh boy. My daughter is at a pre-college writing camp and a visiting (white woman) author told the class, in regards to a book she wrote with an Asian character, “This #OwnVoices thing is like #MeToo - It’s going too far. White authors are SCARED.”

2/ And so my daughter raised her hand and said “As a person of color, I think it’s important that authors of color tell our own stories. That’s not ‘going too far’.” AND A WHITE GIRL CUT MY DAUGHTER OFF TO DEFEND WHITE AUTHORS.

3/ The white girl went on about how white authors should be able to write any POC characters they want “as long as the book doesn’t focus on race” Like what the fuck word salad bullshit is that and THE CLASS ERUPTED IN APPLAUSE. FOR THE WHITE GIRL.

4/ The fact that a white author said this. The fact that a white girl was allowed to interrupt my daughter and cut her off. I am RAGING. But then when the class was over, one of the counselors took my daughter aside. This counselor was Latinx.

She said to my daughter “I’m so glad you brought that up, I’m sorry that white girl interrupted you and I don’t understand why the other students of color are cheering for the white girl. Don’t let them get you down.“ THAT COUNSELOR IS MY HERO. And so is my daughter.

6/ I am sick to death of white fragility. I am sick of white authors whining about “being scared”. Just like I’m sick of white men “being scared.” Of what? That you’re not allowed to take POC voices away? That you’re not allowed to freely assault women? Get the fuck over it!

7/ It is WELL PAST time for us, white authors, and white publishers, to get our shit together. My 16 YO daughter can’t solve our bullshit for all of us. The end. JFC. #ownvoices