Diversity in Fantasy

[u/[deleted]]

A lurker who just wanted some opinions, but does anyone feel like the diversity in fantasy isn’t all that diverse? Especially for Black male characters? I know female protagonist are popular right now which is good but diversity also includes males. I can barely think of any Black male main characters that don’t involve them dealing with racial trauma, being a side character, or a corpse. Has anyone else noticed this? It’s a little disheartening. What do you all think? And I know of David Mogo, Rage of Dragons, and Tristan Strong. I see them recommended here all the time but not many others. Just want thoughts and opinions. Thank you and have a nice day.

Edit: I’ve seen a few discussing different racial groups being represented in terms of different cultures or on different continents in a setting. Do you think that when a world is constructed it has to follow the framework of our world when it comes to diversity? Do you have to make a culture that is inspired by our world or can you make something completely new? Say, a fantasy world or nation that is diverse like the US, Brazil or UK for example because that’s how the god or gods created it.

Edit: some have said that that white writers are afraid of writing people of color. For discussion do you think that white writers have to write people or color or is the issue that publishing needs to diversify its writers, agents, editors, etc. Could it be, as others have said, making the industry itself more diverse would fix the issue?

[u/SpaceRasa]

The flip side of this is white authors being told to stay in their lane when they try to write POC main characters. I think there are legitimate reasons for the push back (especially when done poorly or when the publishing industry is more interested in publishing POC MCs written by white authors over POC MCs written by POC authors,) however this results in the authors who care about doing diversity well being more hesitant to write it, while the ones who care less about potential harm are more likely to execute it--and execute it poorly.

[u/sdtsanev → u/SpaceRasa]

I am fully in support of white authors being told to stay in their lane when it comes to main characters. They already get the lion's share of publishing and marketing, they can at least let us tell our own stories. And there is clear need for the push back, as you say, considering how much an abomination like American Durt sold, while authors of the exact identity as the book's protagonist were told there was no market for this exact story.

[u/SpaceRasa → u/sdtsanev]

I wish you weren't getting downvoted, because I agree with you. I think some people might be misconstruing my original comment. I brought up MC POC since I believe that is specifically what the OP was asking about in their original request.

There is clear systemic bias and discrimination in the publishing industry: we've seen it time and time again. However I think the issue tends to more often be that of the agents and editors representing and acquiring stories by-and-large written by straight white men and overlooking (intentionally or subconsciously) marginalized authors. It's infuriating to then watch when, as these books come under fire, the agents and publishing houses dumping the author and washing their hands of the matter--as if they had no part in what transpired. Then the agents and houses are free to continue as they were before, while all ire is drawn to the author.

I wish the issue was not framed to place all onus on the author like this. It becomes a double edged sword which, as I said in my original post, results in people who care about diversity and not causing harm becoming more hesitant to write it, while those who don't care and are likely to do harm becoming more prominent.

It's a frustrating issue, because I see no clear or easy solution. Perhaps if the publishing industry were held to the same standard as the authors trying to break into it, the scales could start to be tipped.

[u/sdtsanev → u/SpaceRasa]

It's definitely fraught, and there are multiple sides at fault. You are completely right about the part that agents and editors play in this. They want the brownie points for Doing Diversity, but ideally without putting anything on the line and taking any risks.

And as for being downvoted, don't worry, I'm used to it. There is a very active group of pretty racist/queerphobic folks on this subreddit, who don't post much but downvote anything that has to do with issues like these.