Ten Questions About Race in Stories

Mitali PerkinsJan Term 048

Saint Mary’s College

1. Is a non-white character in the story too good to be true (a magical negro or a noble savage)?

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2. Is he/she simply a smart/good foil for the flawed hero?

3. Is the cover art true to the story? Is it over-exoticized or white-washed?

4. How and why is race defined?

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5. Are the setting, plot, and characters in charge of the casting?

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6. Are the non-verbals race-specific?

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7. Does the author let the reader cast the story freely? If so, what to do about “white default”? Or “color-blindness”?

8. Are the story’s change agents powerful outsiders?

9. How is beauty defined?

10. Who tells the story? Why are they telling it? What about “cultural appropriation”?

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What is the difference between cultural exchange and cultural appropriation?Is it permissible for a person of more privilege to use a form or tell a story of a people with less privilege? What is “privilege”?