Kyla’s answer to “While I appreciate your vision, the cover of your book, "Poet Tongue" disappoints me. Was it neces…” > Likes and Comments
1 like · Like
Oops! I replied to the wrong place. So, just ignore that. :) I understand that looking a certain way doesn't dictate our ethnicity. I am often asked "what" I am because of my ambiguity. I didn't mean for my comment to come across as judgmental based on the color of her skin but I can see how you thought that. What I should've said is that, regardless of her eyes and fair skin, the headdress is something that has been so appropriated by popular culture through summer concerts like Cochella, that I was first reminded of that which is what originally shocked me. Also, I think it is important for people to understand the reasons in which a woman would be allowed to wear a full headdress like that. I just pictured people skimming the shelves, and thinking "Ooh, that would be a cute costume! It must be okay to wear something like that" when it really isn't. I am glad that the book has been praised by some members of the tribal community but just because some are okay with the portrayal, doesn't mean all of us are. Really, it was just shocking to see. Should've I taken more time to properly elucidate my point? Probably. I am with you, I understand where you are coming from as far as ethnic ambiguity goes. I know the struggle from both sides; being neither white enough to be considered Caucasian and nor being brown enough to be considered Native. My main point is, not everyone will read your book and understand your meaning. Not everyone will know the awards you've won and not everyone will realize how offensive wearing a tribal headdress is regardless of tribal affiliation. I appreciate your reply and hope you can understand what I should've done better to explain.
I think you're getting a little extreme on a random fiction book that popped up in your feed. Your comment about someone skimming a bookshelf and thinking it's ok to wear a headdress was silly. When is the last time you saw someone wear a full headdress? The chances of someone being guided by what they see on a book cover is ludicris. Plus. must we forget, that this is fiction writing? If every fiction author tiptoed around what they wrote about, there wouldn't be much left. It's a fantasy story. I would leave it at that and move on.
back to top
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Sarah
(new)
Nov 04, 2018 12:48PM
Oops! I replied to the wrong place. So, just ignore that. :) I understand that looking a certain way doesn't dictate our ethnicity. I am often asked "what" I am because of my ambiguity. I didn't mean for my comment to come across as judgmental based on the color of her skin but I can see how you thought that. What I should've said is that, regardless of her eyes and fair skin, the headdress is something that has been so appropriated by popular culture through summer concerts like Cochella, that I was first reminded of that which is what originally shocked me. Also, I think it is important for people to understand the reasons in which a woman would be allowed to wear a full headdress like that. I just pictured people skimming the shelves, and thinking "Ooh, that would be a cute costume! It must be okay to wear something like that" when it really isn't. I am glad that the book has been praised by some members of the tribal community but just because some are okay with the portrayal, doesn't mean all of us are. Really, it was just shocking to see. Should've I taken more time to properly elucidate my point? Probably. I am with you, I understand where you are coming from as far as ethnic ambiguity goes. I know the struggle from both sides; being neither white enough to be considered Caucasian and nor being brown enough to be considered Native. My main point is, not everyone will read your book and understand your meaning. Not everyone will know the awards you've won and not everyone will realize how offensive wearing a tribal headdress is regardless of tribal affiliation. I appreciate your reply and hope you can understand what I should've done better to explain.
reply
|
flag
I think you're getting a little extreme on a random fiction book that popped up in your feed. Your comment about someone skimming a bookshelf and thinking it's ok to wear a headdress was silly. When is the last time you saw someone wear a full headdress? The chances of someone being guided by what they see on a book cover is ludicris. Plus. must we forget, that this is fiction writing? If every fiction author tiptoed around what they wrote about, there wouldn't be much left. It's a fantasy story. I would leave it at that and move on.
