I just finished watching the brilliant tv adaptation of The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris.
Spoilers follow, so if you have not read the book or seen the show you may wish not to proceed further.
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It depicts a publishing company which represents a very high profile author who has released a manuscript which has been identified as racist.
There is some … contention … within the Editorial team about the extent to which the script is problematic. The argument presented is, it clearly ‘is’, but the senior editors just arent seeing it.
To resolve the contention, its decided to bring in a sensitivity reader, for review of the book and to provide advice.
Seems like this probably represents what may now be a common dilemma in publishing.
If a publisher releases a book which – using the current example – is racist, there’s a pretty high probability that before it even hits the market it could be “canceled”. The publisher then also has to wear the reputational damage of attempting to release a book which is problematic.
Seems like the sensible (read… only) smart business decision in such a context would be to have the book vetted by someone with the skills to give it a close sensitivity read, to ensure its not, before any public viewing.
So, publishers and editors of Reddit, how often is the scenario above a thing, when a manuscript looks promising commercially, but there are reservations about the depictions it contains?
Whats the process? And how is this resolved?
Some industry anectotes, if anyone is inclined to provide them, could be insightful.
Thanks.
by 0ldfart