Black Writers, White Publishers: Marketplace Politics in Twentieth- Century African American Literature
John K. Young, "Black Writers, White Publishers: Marketplace Politics in Twentieth- Century African American Literature"
English | ISBN: 1578068460 | 2006 | 230 pages | PDF | 2 MB
English | ISBN: 1578068460 | 2006 | 230 pages | PDF | 2 MB
Jean Toomer's Cane was advertised as "a book about Negroes by a Negro," despite his request not to promote the book along such racial lines. Nella Larsen switched the title of her second novel from Nig to Passing, because an editor felt the original title "might be too inflammatory." In order to publish his first novel as a Book-of-the-Month Club main selection Richard Wright deleted a scene in Native Son depicting Bigger Thomas masturbating. Toni Morrison changed the last word of Beloved at her editor's request and switched the title of Paradise from War to allay her publisher's marketing concerns.
Although many editors place demands on their authors, these examples invite special scholarly attention given the power imbalance between white editors and publishers and African American authors. examines the complex negotiations behind the production of African American literature.
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