The Advice Every Black Writer Must Hear

Good morning, readers! Last week was crazy hectic because this is my last year in high school (thank Jesus) so that means I have to be preparing for college and making sure my grades don't plummet and all that boring stuff. So, I'm very relieved that I got through it all relatively well and didn't, you know, fall apart and cry myself to sleep. So, with all that said, I'm looking forward to a brand new week and continuing to write the rest of the really cool #BlackHistoryMonth posts that I have planned!

Welcome to #BlackHistoryMonth with Matthew

For the entire month of February all my blog posts will be centered on celebrating my brothers and sisters. From giving writing advice about how to write black characters to showcasing some amazing black content creators changing the game right now, I'll be pushing out fully black content all month long. Not to mention, for this limited time I'll be uploading twice a week instead of once. So, you need to get in on this. Subscribe below to never miss an update!

This week, as a black writer, I'll be discussing the duty that I believe comes with the title. I spoke about it in my college essay as well but even other people of colour can have something to take away from this post because I don't think we are privy to the same things white writers have access to. All the famous stories are white, and I'm not saying that's an inherently bad thing but what it does is allows for a degree of alienation between story and reader and I think that's the problem. So, with that introduction out of the way, let's get to it, shall we? This is The Advice Every Black Writer Must Hear.

How We Tell Stories

Earlier, I spoke about how the most famous stories are white. The classics that we've grown up with that inspire genres even to this day have all perpetuated a sort of culture that isn't ours. Yesterday, I attended an event that was grounded in black empowerment and the master of ceremonies asked us, "How do you start a story?" Naturally, we all answered, "Once upon a time..." and everyone laughed. But then, she said to us, "No, that's how white people tell stories. Africans never made stories like that." She went on to say that we should reclaim the way we tell stories. Our ancestors did it alternatively. That meant, the storyteller says one thing, the audience says another and in that way storytelling was less of a speech and more of an involved, interactive event.

You can do a quick Google on it, but the point is, it was insane to sit there and witness everyone's eyes widen like "Oh, crap." Because something so basic that we have long accepted and took as the norm is really, a white person's norm that was perpetuated so heavily that it eventually became everyone's norm. At our core, we've been distanced from our culture without even realizing it. So, as black writers it is our duty to tell begin reclaiming our stories.

We've already been so disenfranchised and robbed of what was ours that at this point in time, we cannot kindly take it back. We can't include one black character and tell ourselves we're doing so much for diversity and representation. No, there are centuries of appreciation to make up for. So, when we write, we must write black stories so that a few more centuries from now when little black boys and girls think of famous stories it won't be so...white (no disrespect to my white stories out there).

Do Not Not Write Black Stories

When we write black stories, we grow closer and closer to self-acceptance and squashing xenocentricism by planting seeds of recovery for future generations. However, not writing black stories is just as dastardly as you could imagine. I, and many other black authors will tell you that we did not start off writing black characters. Sigh.

Personally, my first character was who I envisioned should be in a story. Whose story deserved to be told. White skin, blonde hair, blue eyes. I thought nothing of it and it sort of came naturally because my basic thought was a main character, a protagonist people would love had to be that. Whew, child, the xenocentricism. Especially as a person from the Caribbean, I cannot tell you how dangerous it is to continue to tell only white stories to black boys and girls.

When that is all we see and hear about it sends a subliminal message that white is somehow standard. The norm. Since we are outside of that, we are, somehow, abnormal(?). And everyone wants to be normal. Inherently we will start to think less of ourselves and think more of white persons. Hear me out.

Why do we feel the need to change the way how we speak and act in front of white people? Why do black girls feel the need to straighten and perm their hair? Why do people of colour promote skin bleaching. It's as if we're trying to reach or get to a presupposed level of beauty and acceptance that clearly we do not inherently have. But, somehow white people have all those boxes checked off? it's not an coincidence.

Have you every seen a white person surrounded by other people of colour? They are unapologetically white. They don't change their accent, or omit things to fit in. They are just their uninhibited selves (I'm not referring to being raised around poc, that's different). Have you ever seen white females take care of their hair? They have like two steps. Black women go through so much more to get that 'look' not to mention the money they spend. And white people don't have to bleach because their complexion is already where it needs to be.

Really look at it, readers. The absence of black characters to look up to and aspire to be like in the media gives black boys and girls whatever is left to look up to and aspire to be like: white people. So then it becomes our duty, as writers, to make sure that little black boys and girls will have someone like themselves to look up to. The first step to ending ethnocentrism, xenocentricism and colourism is through the gratification of more black characters. I'm telling y'all. You can tell your kids that being black is beautiful all you want but when they flick on the T.V. or open a book and that's not the same narrative they're getting, then what?

Write Authentic Stories

Now, I'm not saying we all should write African stories now. We're not African, it's not really our place. What I am saying is that we should write stories authentic to the black experience. Give black people something to relate to.

If you are a black person in Seattle, try writing about that. Black in the Caribbean? Do that. Black with immigrant parents? That could be your best-seller. There is a scarcity of authentic black stories so stop trying to mold your stories to into the white experience. There is so much more you can do. So much more you have to contribute. Use it.

I'm still working on following my own advice. But we must all start somewhere, right? If we don't fight, we've surrendered.

Conclusion

Yes, that was your call to action. Get writing, kings and queens!

Also, I don't know if you guys noticed but I made a few adjustments to my blog. What do you think? I'm always trying to perfect things, like literally all the time so leave me a comment letting me know your thoughts (or if you have no idea what I'm talking about, you can say that too)!

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