Title

Crossover

Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

7-12-2012

SSRN Discipline

Economics Research Network; Legal Scholarship Network; PSN Subject Matter eJournals; LSN Subject Matter eJournals; Humanities Network; Political Science Network; Political Behavior eJournals

Abstract

Should minority writers aim for a crossover audience of mainstream white readers or write mainly for a circle of readers like themselves viz minorities or people of color Despite the attractions of achieving crossover status including fame fortune and book reviews the article argues that writers of color should usually visualize an audience of their peers that is readers of color Writing for a broad audience of mostly white readers risks that the minority writer will adopt topics language and approaches that will appeal and ring true to this group Consciously or unconsciously the writer may pull his or her punches cater to an audience other than his own lose her own voice and end up reinforcing stereotypes or writing in a sentimental and inauthentic mode

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