Why Read Black Mystery Authors
Below is a statement from a member of the Seattle Mystery Lovers Meetup Book Group. It explains, beautifully I think, why she requested a reading list of Black writers. —website author
I’m struggling with how to put any of this into words without it sounding superficial, trite, unintelligent, insulting, off the mark, or a million other things. This is in no way me speaking for a movement or anyone’s individual contribution to creating change.
I’m a 50 year old single white woman who is gainfully employed, college educated, owns her own home, and had a wonderful middle class suburban upbringing. I have wanted for little, worked hard for what I do have and have never had to fear anything because of the color of my skin.
What is happening in our country right now is scary and disgusting and heartbreaking. A friend of a friend who is a artist and teacher in Kansas City sent us a message this weekend that started out “you want to be an anti-racist. Excellent- here’s an exercise I ask folks to start with. Name Three.”
Item #2 on the list was “name three Black authors whose books have influenced your life..”
Now the thing about me and reading is I do it for pleasure and relaxation. And with few exceptions I read strictly mysteries. It’s been a long time since I’ve read any book that has “influenced my life” and if I had to answer the above question as it is written, I could.
But it got me thinking that the reason I joined the Seattle Mystery Lovers Book Group was so that I would have other folks to whom I could look who also like to read mysteries for fun and relaxation and who could recommend authors I may not ever find on my own.
Then last week happened. Mysteries may not influence anyone’s life, but in my search for new authors, I can be better, and I can do better, about supporting the work of Black writers.
–from a member of the Seattle Mystery Lovers Meetup Book Group
June 2020