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Every Black History Month like clockwork, book influencers drag out their list of Very Important™ Black stories that discuss race. Every year, we’re told that February is the month to turn a critical eye towards the Black community, learn about Black history, and celebrate books that address race, but that framing always leaves me with the same question: Why do all Black stories have to talk about race?
In answering that question, it seems that more questions spring up. Why is it Black authors’ jobs to write about race? Why do the Black books we see elevated center white people? Where are the Black stories centering Black people?
Elaine Castillo answers these questions in her essay collection How To Read Now. She posits that it’s the fault of the overwhelming white publishing industry.
In order to be traditionally published, an author needs an agent. According to Lee and Low’s Diversity Baseline Survey, in 2023 Black agents made up 4.3% of the industry compared to 73.7% of white agents. Once you get an agent, that agent sends books to publishers, and an acquisition editor picks it up. The editorial team is 71.6% white and 4.7% Black. If the book is picked up, edited, and published, that book is sent to book reviewers who are 76.6% white and 5.8% Black.
