Are African American Authors Segregated?

A debate that is big among African American authors these days is the location of our titles in bookstores. Many authors feel that being segregated into an all Black section is discrimination that limits book sales. They say that our books should be mixed in with mainstream books so that majority readers can accidentally stumble across one of our titles. Perhaps she will pick it up without realizing it features African American characters and enjoy reading it.

We also wonder why the category "multicultural" refers only to romance novels written by African Americans. Why is it that Irish American or Italian American novels are not segregated into the multicultural romance sections? In fact, the multi in multi cultural refers only to one ethnic group.

However, I do like having the African American section. As a reader I would rather not browse through hundreds of titles to find those by my favorite authors. And as an author, I rather like the thought that my readers can find my novels quickly. I am what I am. I don't believe anyone with a distate for reading about characters who area clearly African American will continue reading one of my books after the first two or three pages. My stories are clearly targeted for Black people.

On the other hand, I am not opposed to having anyone read my books. We have had booksignings all over the country and people of all ages, genders and ethnicities have purchased my books. Maybe it is because my husband and I are such good sales people. But once the books are sold, they are read. I have received e-mail from several of the people who've picked up my books for the first time and they express their surprised delight in the story.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm glad when anyone enjoys what I've written. I try to write good, entertaining stories that I would enjoy reading. However, my stories are about African Americans and the experiences we all have in common. I feel blessed if only African American women read my books. But our friends of any ethnicity read them, I am twice blessed. So far in my writing career, I've been one blessed sister. Please keep telling your friends, co-workers, sisters, brothers, aunts, mothers and church members about my books.