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El
It's frustrating to have to answer this question again and again. The short answer is because systemic racism still exists and is a forceful presence in the lives of many people of color. Along the same lines (and this has been said by others who answered this question), works about people of color aren't highlighted or celebrated by the mainstream and as our realities aren't the same (for better and for worse) so too our stories are different. In this case, Ms. Oates, who is white, is writing rather politically and pointedly and in her text, as in our world, race matters.
Ruth Ferguson
As a reader of color, who discovered the wonderful works of writers of color at a book club lead by a white woman - I can appreciate the list. That was 15 years ago and the bookclub slowly dwindled as super sized book stores killed off the wonderful stores like Black Images. It can be hard to find literature written by or about people of color aside from: religious/comedy fiction, urban fiction and the other template paint by number stories that get cranked out because they are like so and so's hit book. Just as no one would object to a list of hot mysteries to read, or favorite books by Irish authors (both lists I would find of interest) I don't see anything wrong with this list. People have preferences and areas of interests - I will not read zombie books, but I don't hate or think poorly of the zombie loving zealots. :)
Coffee&Books
This book appears to have a protagonist of color. In this age where we are asking authors to expand their horizons and produce diverse reads, perhaps such a list exists to illuminate works that fit that description.
Alyson
Agree with your question Miemie. Does that mean Oates' other novels with white protagonists and nemeses would NOT be of interest to "Readers of Color?" That this book or topic would not be of interest to me since I'm not a "Reader of Color?" Goodreads, that is a bizarre notation representative of all kinds of assumption and prejudice.
Sharon Aldridge
I agree. Stop the segregation!! Slavery was wrong, just like the holocaust. It happened and should be written about and read about so it never happens again. We are all equal. Some still think the color of their skin makes them better then others, just like having money, or being a man or many other reasons to put another beneath them. That's wrong. Just wrong!
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