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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1103
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 10:33 pm: | 
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Break the 'Street Lit' Habit
By Bridgett M. Davis | TheRoot.com
Can black literature be saved?
http://www.theroot.com/id/44756
Feb. 11, 2008--Every black writer I know complains about it. "Street lit" has taken over as the de facto literature of our time. We've all seen it -- the teeming shelves at Borders and Barnes & Noble full of raunchy books beckoning the generic black reader. Meanwhile, serious fiction is hidden behind come hither covers, presumably because publishers believe that if they make literature look like, say, the next installment in the Video Vixen series, people will be fooled and buy it...
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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1104
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 10:38 pm: |
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Bridgett M. Davis is a founding member of Ringshout
http://ringshout.blogspot.com/
RingShout was founded following Martha Southgate's essay "Writers Like Me" (http://tinyurl.com/2tym5w) in the New York Times Book Review in July of 2007. The response in the blogosphere and in the literary world was enormous. So Martha wanted to harness this energy. She contacted Cornelius Eady and Alison Meyers of Cave Canem , a group she greatly admired, for insight into how they had formed their organization. The next step was contacting several writers, editors and a bookseller (Sarah McNally of McNally Robinson Books who participated in our first couple of meetings) who she knew and respected. The five got together over a period of six months and brainstormed until they had come up with a way to form a book list and a tool kit that would help carry out the group's mission. We kicked off with a party to drum up support and volunteers on February 1, 2008. At the present time, we remain an all-volunteer effort that is unaffiliated with any larger organization. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1105
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 10:42 pm: |
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The following is Ron Kavanaugh's (of Mosaicbooks.com) repsonse to Bridgett M. Davis's blog post Break the 'Street Lit' Habit
LOVEHATE/Old Man River
http://mosaicbooks.blogspot.com/2008/02/lovehateold-man-river.html
There's been an increasingly harsh tone coming from the bottom of the slave ship. Negroes at the bottom of the pile are becoming more critical of the ones on the top of the pile. This is my response to Bridgette Davis's piece on theRoot.com
This street/urban lit discussion is becoming a sad commentary. Not on the state of writing, booksellers, literary magazine, or mega-chains but on the entrenched sense of privilege writers who deem themselves "literary" have. To blame anyone but yourselves is unfair. As a publisher of a literary magazine, Mosaic, and founder of a commercial site, MosaicBooks.com, I walk the not-so fine line between both worlds. I know one thing, commercial writers hustle as if every meal their children will eat depends on a book sale. Winter or summer, day or night urban authors are looking for new ways to sell books. They’ve flipped the Harlem Book Fair on its head, mastered the art of self promotion, and have made it almost dangerous for me to identify myself as someone who operates a potential marketing vehicle. Writing is not viewed as an art form but as a means to a financial end. And at the end of the day that's all that matters. Sell more books and your publisher will print more, sell more and bookstores will move you to the front of the shelf, sell more and you will break through the three-book glass ceiling.
One of the problems is our love for the Black Renaissance of the 20s and 30s and for the Black Arts Movement of the 60s and 70s. These glory days informed many of the classic literary writers we hold in high esteem --Hurston, Hughes, Brooks, Wright, Baldwin. Even during the 60s and 70s, for the most part, there were only books for entertainment or to gain knowledge. Those days are dead. Books are no longer the only game in town. Today there's the internet, 100 cable channels, ipods, and video games among many other distractions. These are the competitors. Not other writers.
There’s no dumbing down. There are more Black literary writers being published than ever before. But what's dumb is the idea that literary books will sell themselves; writers on a tenure track no longer have to do book readings and signings outside of the city (or university campus) in which they reside. What's dumb is not taking the Relentless Aaron model dissecting it and flipping it to work for literary writers. The continued barrage of urban lit criticism is almost pathological in it absolution of literary writers to participate fully in what it takes to sell a book in 2008.
It's my hope that ringShout, a new organization formed to support literary writing, of which Bridgett Davis is a founding member, was not set up to solely hate and deride hard working people, but as a modern means to support what they believe in while treating all outside its sphere with benign respect.
Black literature is strong. There are just a group of writers who see this for what it is a numbers game. Publishing more literary writers won't change the outcome. Publishing writers who believe so deeply in their work that they're willing to alter their lives will.
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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1106
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 11:03 pm: |
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Ron is a friend, and we often disagree (or at least see things differently), but on this point I'm with him 100%.
I support RingShout's efforts. I even contributed to there list of reccomended reads http://martha.southgate.googlepages.com/ringshoutredfinal_Layout1.pdf (a list worth checking out).
However I support RingShout only to the extent that they do not diminish the accomplishments of the so called "non-literary" author.
This is not a zero sum game. One genre does not benefit only at the expense of the other. Both may, indeed MUST, exist simultaneously.
RingSHout is certainly a step in the right direction for the promotion of literary books. However they must not denigrate other genres.
Truth be told it is the street/urban or otherwise non-literary books that help make it possible for me to promote literary works.
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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1107
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 11:09 pm: |
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ringShout, Breaking Street Lit and Why Complaining Ain't Cute
Written by Felicia Pride
http://tinyurl.com/2xak3o
Felicia asks the question: "What are YOU doing to change things and propel the black literary community forward?"
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Blklitreader
Newbie Poster
Username: Blklitreader
Post Number: 14
Registered: 12-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 12:22 am: |
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Interesting blog entries. People complaining about those who are complaining. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1108
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 09:25 am: |
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"People complaining about those who are complaining." - interesting perspective...
I was talking to my wife about this issue on the way to work this morning. She felt that the literary authors were targeting the wrong folks. The real culprit is the world we live in. People are too busy or too dumb to read literary fiction (not a direct quote).
Playing devils advocate I asked, "Well then, what can we do about it?" My wife replied, "Nothing."
In reality I agree to a certain extent. Your average person, the masses if you will, is under a lot of stress. Millions of homes facing foreclosure (assuming you own one), shitty schools, raising energy costs, war.
And as the saying goes, "when white American catch a cold..."
As Ron mentions there is so much competion for what little free brains cells we have. What are most people going to do after a hard day's work read some literary fiction or watch "The Wire"?
I also know part of the problem is that folks are simply unaware of the variety of books available. The Harlem Book Fair was "flipped" simply becuase the literary folks did not show up. Sure they sat on panels, but they were, for the most part, MIA on the street where it really mattered.
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Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 512
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 12:05 pm: |
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Ron is right about book writing as part of the highly-competive entertainment industry. Even the book street hustler has to compete with the guy selling bootleg DVDs and CDs.
Literary writers are not going to go out and hustle books. They expect the work to speak for and sell itself. They may consider traditional advertising more appropriate but someone like Edward Jones is not going to walk into a barber shop shouting "Yo! I got that Known World!" (Of course, that shouldn't prevent them from hiring someone else to do it.)
Interesting enough, I reviewed Bridgette's book a few years ago. I found it interesting but I remember it having problems with point of view. (It was written in first-person narrative but spoke of someone else's thoughts, which is a no-no unless the narrator has ESP or something.)
As a reader, I'm not a big fan of street lit but I'm not going to try to stop it because there is choice available. I'd rather have authors writing it than living it.
If writers are going to attack street lit and erotica, they need to attack it from a morality perspective in regards of what it does to our community and our self respect.
If memory serves me correctly, the average American reads at the 8th grade level. So literary writers might just have to make it plain if they want readers who are buyers. Otherwise, they should just settle for awards.
Based on Essence magazine's latest awards ceremony, it looks like they agree with Bridgette. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11485
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 01:38 pm: |
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Street lit has its place in the annals of black literature. But as a genre it needs to shape itself up. Its story lines can be kept in tact, but as a courtesy to the reader and as a bow to professionalism, the text of these books should be proof-read and edited. IMO |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 513
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 02:20 pm: |
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Regarding editing, I think it has to do more with being non-traditionally published than it does the genre, although a lot of street lit books are self published. Self-publishers tend to cut corners on editing so that they can earn more money per book. Books traditionally published are better edited on the whole.
Some freelance editors charge an arm and a leg. I have an interview with a freelance editor coming up on March 8th on Blogging in Black where we discuss cost and what writers should expect from an edit. Be sure to check it out.
Whenever I start on a self-pubbed book, I defenses go up because first I'm looking for grammar and punctuation errors (even though I'm self-pubbed myself). When there are none and the writing is above average, I relax a bit and focus on the plot or message.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11491
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 02:28 pm: |
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When I say edit, I primarily mean to get rid of the redundancy. I think a good editor can do this without diluting the flavor of the book.
But of course, self-published people do fall in love with what they write and don't want anyone to tamper with it. And repeticiousness does act as a filler which makes the book longer and the longer a book, the more a person can charge for it. I guess. |
Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 655
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: 
Votes: 3 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 04:56 pm: |
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FACT 1: For the past century, literary fiction has not had the numbers of genre or mainstream fiction.
FACT 2: The gap between literary sales and genre/mainstrem sales has become more pronounced with each generation.
FACT 3: The genre and mainstream books allow publishers to publish literary fiction.
So perhaps there's a sense of resentment amongst literary writers who realize that publishers rely heavily on robust mainstream and genre sales to enable them to fund literary projects; acknowledging that no house can thrive merely off dismal literary sales and that from a financial perspective, mainstream and genre fiction are the bread and butter, meat and potatoes of publishing. Equally, mainstream and genre writers can resent having to "carry" literary fiction, then be overlooked for literary awards and fellowships, and snubbed in academic circles, because their books lack "literary merit".
I feel RingShout is playing dirty politics, feeling in order to build up and spark a renewed interest in Black literary fiction, and perhaps ignite their lackluster book sales, they must step all over and diss UF. Not surprising, as a strong argument can be made that literary fiction writers, moreso than genre and mainstream writers, suffer from a profound sense of entitlement. Of course literary writers won't sell books in salons, barber shops, out the trunks of their cars, super center parking lots or on street corners. It's beneath them! |
Mosaicbooks
Newbie Poster
Username: Mosaicbooks
Post Number: 3
Registered: 07-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 08:09 pm: |
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Hey all
Nothing has to change. Street lit can remain as is --with all its editing and writing issues. What street "litters" are doing is living the American dream. Hard work and self reliance are the keys to success in this country. They have all the right in the world to do what they're doing. There's no inherent responsibilities to the ancestors or desire to impress their peers with writing chops.
What we who are not into street lit need to do is respect their rights to exist, and create our own spaces, programs, and initiatives that will support and encourage the active participation of readers, booksellers, librarians, and educators.
Once our individual plans are in place we must collaborate and build an important network of literary knowledge.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11509
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 08:21 pm: |
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Yeah, right. Drug dealers are living the American dream too, earning big bucks by working hard at plying their trade.
People have just as much a right to exercise discretion as others have a right to glorify a superficial, violent lifestyle. It's not like people who write street lit are not dismissive of those who write mainstream literature. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1115
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 10:31 pm: |
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Cynique, you can't equate drug dealers with street lit authors. The American Dream is built upon legal enterprises.
I've read a few street lit titles myself. I can't one that "gloried" the life style. Most are self described "cautionary tales".
Usually if a street lit author goes after the literary genre it is in self-defense. Over the last few years how many articles have you read in major publications where a Vicki Stringer or Nikki Turner were complaining about literary authors?
We are strongest working together, not working against, or without the other.
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Mosaicbooks
Newbie Poster
Username: Mosaicbooks
Post Number: 4
Registered: 07-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 10:37 pm: |
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Selling books isn't analogous to selling drugs. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11516
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 11:00 pm: |
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Well, there are those who compared the guy who inspired an American Gangster to a corporate CEO. You are kidding yourselves if you think there isn't a lot of illegal cut throat ruthlessness going on in the pursuit of the American dream.
And the justification of the gangsta violence and the glorification of the bling that appears in some street lit can't be overlooked. I'm not criticizing such portrayals because it's authetic.
Or do Street Lit people need to write articles attacking literary mainstream. They have people to do this for them... Helloooo. 
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Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 514
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 11:57 am: |
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That's why I say if literary authors are to attack street lit authors it would have to be based solely on morality. Street lit authors are making money legally.
But if you attack street lit writers on morality then you must attack shows like "The Wire," many R-rated movies, music with profanity, music videos that display women as sex objects, etc.
Once you go down the road of morality, then it becomes a matter of your beliefs versus someone else's. Who's to say what one person might believe in as a Christian is the same as one who may be an athiest for example?
Street lit has a right to exist. It is a legal enterprise. If you want to stop it, you have to decrease the demand for it. Get READERS to stop buying it. Good luck with that!
What is this really about? Street lit books are becoming pop culture for African American readers. Literary authors may feel the books do not contribute to the well-being of African Americans but degrades us instead. They may also be jealous of the sales numbers, and maybe even angry when a publisher rejects their manuscripts but green lights street lit.
But once again, reading fiction is entertainment. Street lit writers are entertaining their audience. Publishers are making money from it. Authors too. Most readers claim it's just fantasy. An escape. It's not like they are going to go and become drug dealers because they're reading about it in a book.
Maybe it's time more literary authors explore the world of self-publishing and hustling.
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Urban_scribe
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Urban_scribe
Post Number: 658
Registered: 05-2006
Rating:
Votes: 5 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 02:13 pm: |
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With all the scheming, backbiting, conniving, and wheeling and dealing that go on in literary fiction (S.L. Carter's New England White and Toni Morrison's Love immediately jump in my head), I don't think literary fiction can attack urban fiction or erotica or genre/mainstream fiction in general on the grounds of morality or morale.
Literary fiction is not symbolic of purity, virtue, and innocence. The characters do their dirt in literary fiction to the same extent, (and worse), as in street lit. Literary writers just "put it out there" with more finesse and subtlety, and more cerebrally. Whereas UF drops game "in your face".
The main difference I see, in UF - you "hit it" in an alleyway. In literary fiction, you at least rent a room. Either way, you're still hitting it.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11523
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 02:24 pm: |
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I agree. The conflict and the characters and the transitions are the same. Only the context is different. IMO. |
Caleb_alexander
Newbie Poster
Username: Caleb_alexander
Post Number: 9
Registered: 01-2008
Rating: 
Votes: 5 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 12:26 pm: |
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Wow! I'm amazed that we even have to have this discussion in 2008. Why does everything involving the Af Amer. Community have to be played out as a zero sum game? Why is it that we can't have diversity within our community? I'm interested to know where the objection and derision comes from myself. Is it on moral grounds? Is it based on perceived literary merit? Is it jealously over shelf space and sales figures? Whatever it is, in my humble opinion, I think that this 'debate' over the merits of street lit, does us all a great diservice. We are not a monolithic people. We hail from different areas socially, economically, educationally, politically, geographically. Just because one person deems another persons work as beneath them, or without literary merit, it's ridiculous to exert so much effort to deride it. If I don't like what my kids are watching, I turn the channel, or turn off the TV. I don't go on a crusade against ABC, or NBC, or whoever. It's ridiculous! |
Sassyscribe
First Time Poster
Username: Sassyscribe
Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 - 09:46 am: |
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I must be an anomaly...although I am a self published author...I write as a cathartic process of healing and I read because its an escape. I love romance, so Brenda Jackson and Rochelle Alers are at the top of my reading list...throw in a good James Patteson book and its on...
I don't understand the hullabulloo over street fiction, erotica, what have you. It should be all about what the reader chooses to read and it appears that street fiction is driving the market. NO, its not my cup of tea, but I have a sister who can't wait for the next Dutch series or Jihad book...IMO they are poorly written and all of the stories tend to have the same underlying premise, again, not my cuppa, but who am I to say street fiction is not the way for some to go? As someone stated, these author's are living and carving out their piece of the American dream. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11735
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 - 05:51 pm: |
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"Anomaly"? Did you read all of the posts on this thread?? Most people voiced the same opinion as yours. |
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