Jeanine Cummings had no right to write it because she is not Mexican or, at least, Latina. There is a long, rich history of writers writing well-researched books, both fiction and nonfiction, about worlds they did not grow up in and other people’s lives and experiences. We would lose many great books if we eliminated every book that wasn’t written about the author’s personal story.
For example, did Barbara Kingsolver have the right to write Demon Copperhead if she didn’t grow up in Appalachia and become addicted to opioids? Or was choosing to live there as an adult enough? Demon Copperhead is on my pile of books to read, BTW.
I agree that American publishing is too white. But that’s not Jeanine Cummings fault. I believe that all writers can write about anything that interests them as long as they do it well. To me, granting ownership of certain subject matter to specific demographic groups is akin to saying a straight actor should not play a gay character. Hello Tom Hanks in Philadelphia! If we accept that, wouldn’t it also limit gay actors to playing only gay characters?
I agree that we need to work on eliminating discrimination of all kinds in both performing arts and publishing. But I don’t agree that the way to do that is by allowing and forbidding subject matter by demographic.
