As University Press Week turns 10, leaders of the Association of University Presses ask its members to take stock of how the nonprofit, mission-centered publishing community has changed.
The Book Biz Must #StandUpForAAPI By Suzanne Park | Jun 04, 2021
Like many Asian Americans, I was devastated by the news of the shootings in Atlanta in March. I’m a comedy writer, and I fell into a sad, dark place that week. Asians were being spat on, harassed in person and online, assaulted, and killed. What could I do to empower, protect, and uplift my Asian American community?
I’ve never been an activist type. I describe one of my main characters as a “social justice worrier” this is absolutely my personality. My sister works on college campuses to support diversity initiatives, and my best friend from high school is active in the Democratic party, fundraising in a very red state. They are the activists in my life. For my entire existence I’ve been more of a participant than an organizer. But this time, with the anti-Asian hate swelling all around me, something inside me changed.
Creating Fairness in Publishing Feb 12, 2021
As I began writing this column, I thought about writing it as an appeal to publishers, literary agents, ghostwriters, and editors to dig deep into their humanity when considering opportunities to work with brown and Black authors. The reality is that the works of brown and Black authors are much more closely scrutinized than those of other authors. Greater emphasis is put on their ready-made follower base, celebrity, and social standing than on the quality of the writing itself. The lack of interest or consideration in building a brown and Black talent pipeline that does not fit preconceived formulas does a disservice to the publishing industry.