The Case Against Book Segregation

In a record store there is no such thing as the White Jazz section, or the White anything else section for that matter. When I want to pick up an Eminem CD, heading to the Rap/Hip Hop section is all I need to do because there is no "Category Where Being White is the Exception Rather than the Rule" section. In the absence of Exception Rather than Rule sections I'd need to wade through a mostly melaninless sea to find Charley Pride on the Country music shelf. Somehow it works out fine and I walk out with the CD I was looking for. But at non-specialty bookstores, whiteness is always assumed to be the standard. They have made the decision to lump most titles by African American authors (Black authors really, since Black European, Black African and Black West Indian authors will be treated no differently) together. If you're a science fiction fan you'll find a sign indicating where the Sci-Fi titles are. But if you're a Black Sci-Fi fan, turn left and walk another five feet. What the heck is that all about? Why is the bookstore the lone remaining place where Jim Crow is still in effect? Black people marched and fought to eat in the same restaurants, go to the same public restrooms, take the same front row seats on the bus, attend the same schools, vote in the same elections. But when it comes to the bookstore suddenly we're back to separate and unequal treatment. Why? And why are more people not complaining about and trying to change this state of affairs? xxx
To read my full take on this matter which was written as a guest posting at The Sunday Book Review, CLICK HERE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~Sadly noteworthy news of the day: Borders has filed for bankruptcy"It has become increasingly clear that in light of the environment of curtailed customer spending, our ongoing discussions with publishers and other vendor related parties, and the company's lack of liquidity, Borders Group does not have the capital resources it needs to be a viable competitor and which are essential for it to move forward with its business strategy to reposition itself successfully for the long term." – Mike Edwards, President of Borders

As an author I'm personally not affected by the plight of Borders at this time as they do not carry my novel Patches of Grey. I decided to go with Amazon and Barnes & Nobles along with both brick & mortar and online independent booksellers when choosing homes for it. As a book buyer however I'm saddened by the closing of any store, especially such a major player as Borders. I truly hope bookstores big & small are not going the way of the dinosaur because rather than frequenting them, people instead are finding coffee shops in which to read off the screens of their electronic reading device of choice. But perhaps such a fate is inevitable. If so, we'll adapt as always. The most important thing is that no matter how we end up reading them, great stories continue to be written and distributed.