Noughts & Crosses discussion

I believe it is a real problem, even today when it comes to interracial realtionships and this book more than anything brings it to surface, the situation at hand. Which is two different skin tones liking each other, it kills me, because the book ended and it was almost ironic. That fact that the up amd coming prime minister, who may I add, was trying to appear like he was against the mistreatment of the Naughts, made Callum choose between life and death, and on top of that it was his life over the life of his babies. It's terrible...that two people who love each other, that are different can't live a life with out complication. P.S. I favor interracial realtions.

I agree with Tori! It does still go on today but it's more under the surface. Just look at our TV shows. Until we have more IR couples on TV where Race isn't the main issue and it's not a big deal or the show isn't cancelled then it's a problem.

Or there isn't a African-American section in the library or in the book store. To me that is racism and I say that from a African-American's person's pov. I am a writer and I'm hesitant to make my main characters black or bi-racial because I don't want my books there because they don't get sales or even read it sucks.

Jasmine wrote: "Or there isn't a African-American section in the library or in the book store. To me that is racism and I say that from a African-American's person's pov. I am a writer and I'm hesitant to make my main characters black or bi-racial because I don't want my books there because they don't get sales or even read it sucks."

I wouldn't expect to see an African-American section in a small library or book shop, and don’t see why it is racist not to have one. Considering what you have said about tv shows do you not think it better just to have all books together to sink or swim on the merit of the story rather than group them together based on the theme of race?

Pamela wrote: "Jasmine wrote: "Or there isn't a African-American section in the library or in the book store. To me that is racism and I say that from a African-American's person's pov. I am a writer and I'm hesi..."

That's not what I was saying. Where I live we actually have a African-American section in our library and in our barns and nobles. I don't like having it. That is what I was saying. I don't want to have it. I think it's racist to have it.

I think its better to have books together to swim and sink on merit because after all thats what books are supposed to do. I don't think readers should go into a book being biased. I don't think they should be grouped together and it isn't fair.

Ah ok, I misunderstood what you were saying and think we actually have the same point of view.

It's okay I probably shouldn't have had that space and I was typing pretty fast but I think we have the same point of view too.

It just bugs me and makes me worry about my own writing. I tend to make all of MC's white even though I am black and when I do switch it up I worry about querying agents and getting published because I want my book to be marketable. It's just frustrating.

I think that is a real shame that you feel that you have to do that.

I would encourage you not to though, I know there are racists out there but I think they are a real minority of crazies and most people will choose to read books irrespective of the colour of the main character.

I know nothing of the publishing world but really do hope there aren't such roadblocks in place in 2012. If they are there though one of the best ways to get rid of them would be to write a best seller with black main characters.

That is so true. My newest novel has a MC that is biracial. It could very well be a bestseller one day. :)