The Rejectionist says it perfectly:
I was going to put this in my normal Sunday WTFckery post, but I felt that this latest whitewashing cover bull-shit needed a post all it's own.
Cindy Pon's Silver Phoenix has a new cover for it's paperback repacking. Here is the original hardback cover:
And here is the new cover for the paperback version:
Here is yet another example of a publisher whitewashing a cover because for some reason readers didn't buy the original hardcover version of Silver Phoenix. Could it be because there was an Asian girl on the cover? Over at Glen Akin's blog, Say It Isn't So, Glen has a post about this and asks who is to blame yet again for another WTF whitewash that constantly occurs in young adult books. Glen goes as far as to say:
"Turns out Phoenix didn’t do so well commercially, and Greenwillow opted to repackage it in time for its sequel’s release. Now, from what I understand, Borders refused to carry Phoenix, and only a select few B&N stores stocked limited quantities of it. The author said readers did not embrace Phoenix as much as she and her publisher would have liked, and thus, Phoenix was given a makeover ... Ai Ling was transformed from an Asian girl to a generic white chick
A lot of people say that publishers whitewash books because they believe only white people read, and that white readers won’t buy books depicting people of other races on their covers.
You know what I think? I think most publishers whitewash books because they believe most booksellers believe white people are the only readers out there, and that white people are squeamish about picking up books with non-white people covers.
And that’s exactly what happened with Cindy Pon’s Silver Phoenix. Borders didn’t like it and skipped it. B and N barely stocked it. The publisher repackaged it with a white girl on its cover."
Booksellers and book buyers have incredible power when deciding what books and a certain amount to buy when stocking their shelves. For one, I don't think a bookseller or book buyer chooses a book based on the cover alone. The customers who come into the store make that decision. And if the booksellers sees a book is not selling, regardless of if the cover isn't whitewashed or not, the buyer will not buy that book to put on their shelves.
As a Caucasian woman, I'm sick and tired of this. It's insulting to my race and to others. This is insulting to the author.
So who is to blame? Greenwillow Books, the book buyer or the public at large? Are teens really not buying specific young adult books because there isn't a white face on the cover? Are parents not buying these books for their children because the covers aren't a generic whitewash?
If so, I'm ashamed and sad.
For more on this latest whitewashing cover WTF check out these blogs:
Reading in Color
The Book Smugglers
33 comments:
Kate,
I believe that the blame for a book not selling should be shared between the publisher, the booksellers and the author. It all comes down to marketing but the responsibility for that marketing must be shared.
It is not enough to rely on the art department to come up with an eye-catching cover. The blurb on the back of the book also has to capture potential readers. No matter how attractive a book cover is I won’t buy it if the summary doesn’t also grab me, especially if the author is unknown to me.
And what about publicity? Did enough ARCs go out to respected reviewers and bloggers? Was a social media campaign launched and maintained? Did the author make the rounds in blogland and give interviews, contests, etc. Did the publisher schedule public appearances?
I think that you can see my point. Established authors often take a large portion of the promotion of their books upon their own shoulders, even though they receive more support from their publishers than non-established authors. Publishers need to step up and provide more support to new and lesser known authors. The authors themselves need to take responsibility for their own careers, learn some basic gorilla marketing, and put themselves out there for the public to find.
And book retailers also need to step up to the plate and follow the example of other non-book retailers, especially independent retailers, and learn how to promote their wares. If a title isn't selling it's too easy to rip off the cover and pulp the pages. I'd push the shit out of that book instead. Engage in some carefully chosen cross merchandising. Have staff actually read the book and recommend it to customers. Blog about it. Mention it in newsletters. Use it as a loss-leader and bundle it with another title. Anything to avoid pulping it.
In short it takes a village to sell a book, especially one by an unknown author. But it can be done if each party accepts responsibility for the success of the title and does their part. They need to stop passing the buck and step up to support each other and ultimately their own bottom line.
Katiebabs, you are right! Whitewashing book covers is also insulting to Caucasian readers. It's like saying "All Caucasian readers are racist. Therefore we must put Caucasian models on covers so that Caucasian readers (who are all racist) will be sure to buy the books." GAH.
Laurie, excellent comment!
Yes, Katiebabs, you are right. It is very infuriating having this same old whitewashing discussion, and it can be very distracting. When I saw the news on this, I thought, "Ah man, not this again! Why the hell do they keep doing this?" Annoying, really.
As Laurie said, the book industry is not just made up of one entity. Success of a book is dependent on more than one entity - from agents, authors, editors, book buyers and sellers, down to the publishers. One person cannot be held responsible, true.
But, for me, I just feel like one of these entities is screwing things up. I know there are racists agents and co out there, but the agents against racism far outnumber those for racism. Same goes for editors. This whitewashing problem, I think, lies in publisher-bookseller area. And normally, I would blame Cindy Pon's publisher, but they initially published the book with an Asian girl, and turned around to put a white girl on the cover after many months, after booksellers like Borders and B&N refused to embrace the book.
The publisher could have gone for an abstract, aesthetic cover, but they didn't, which is bad. But the fact that they were forced to whitewash the book because booksellers refused to pick it, that for me is proof that booksellers are even more guilty than publishers when it comes to whitewashing. They might not be the ones pulling the triggers and dishing out the orders for books to be whitewashed, but they are the ones directly responsible for it, because readers ARE not.
I think it's pretty clear that readers would read anything, so long as it's good. If readers are prepared to read, and the publishers keep whitewashing ... it makes sense that the booksellers are very responsible for this shit. We've been so focused on the publishers and readers that we forgot all about the booksellers.
While I like to think they booksellers don't buy books based solely on cover, I think cover does play a big role in their decision to buy a book. Publishers send initial cover designs to booksellers and ask for their opinions most of the time, and booksellers sometimes come back with, "Nah, that sucks. No one's going to buy that, and I won't be stucking that in my shelves." This forces booksellers to change covers.
I believe that while Publishers should be held responsible for whitewashing, booksellers are DIRECTLY responsible for whitewashing.
To any bookseller reading this, sorry, but it had to be said.
The fact that Greenwillow books felt that they had to change the covers is awful.
I agree with you, Glen, and Laurie. I think oftentimes people only blame the publishers and forget that booksellers are largely responsible for this too. I didn't know that publishers send initial cover designs to booksellers. That makes sense but it most likely puts books with POC on the covers at a disadvantage.
I do agree that authors need to take publicity into their own hands, especially debut authors. Unfortunattely, many publishing houses don't have the resources to market all their books, especially the ones by/about POC. So authors need to visit blogs, send out ARCS, do interviews/book signings, etc.
Never even thought of that katiebabs, but it is insulsting to your race. The white readers who just want to read a good story get no credit and must obviously be racist because they are white. *scoffs and rolls eyes* Thank you for proving them wrong.
I'll be linking to this
Oh, man. WHEN will people learn? Silver Phoenix went from having a unique, racially representative cover, to a bland "faceless white girl with necklace on" cover that is virtually indistinguishable from *hundreds* of other YA novels out on the shelves right now. Everything from the title font to the author's name font is equally bland. Why? Do they really thing such blandness will sell better because it's *whiter*?
I am so sick of this idea in publishing that only white people on a cover sells, because there are PLENTY of poor selling covers with white people on them, too.
Laurie - you raised some amazing points. Thank you.
The cover of the paperback version is...generic. It looks like every other book out there. And it's bland. As a reader it doesn't entice me to pick it up. The hardback cover, however, is bright and bold and definitely draws my eye. I'd want to read the summary. Where I went from there would depend on what I thought of the summary. And all of those decisions have nothing to do with the colour of my skin.
Laurie: You are correct when saying that multiple parties are to blame. I would have loved to sit in that meeting when they decided on the paperback cover for Silver Phoenix and the person who had the bright idea to increase sales was to make sure the paperback cover has a more generic looking girl on it and distance it from the original cover.
I also know Silver Phoenix has gotten rave reviews, so one of the reasons can't be because the book wasn't written well or enjoyable.
But again, why not keep the same cover that was on the hardcover and put it on the paperback one?
Tarie: Also if I picked up this book based on the cover, I would feel deceived because in a way it's false advertising.
Glen: I would love to see a scientific study done on this with proof that a whitewashed cover will sell a book versus a non-white washed one.
Miss Attitude: How many times does this have to happen? Bloomsbury had to spend extra money to fix he covers for two books that were white washed. I really want to know who has the balls to stand up during a meeting and say, we need a more pleasing book cover, sorry folks it has to be some white girl because we all know those types of books will sell well.
Mala: Ditto.
I also find it insulting that the publishing industry think I won't buy a book because I am caucasian. I don't have a bigoted bone in my body! The whole concept of racism - either that which is blatantly obvious or under the radar is abhorrent to me. Seriously, out of a choice between those two covers, I would pick the original every time!
I am trying to find new PnR, UF or fantasy authors, and I am having trouble finding any that aren't American or English.
I also find this insulting and totally dumb. One, the hard back cover was beautiful. Two, what is this, the WWII-era? Any bookseller who operates under the impression that teens aren't interesting in Asian culture has completely avoided the manga section of the bookstore. DUH!
KB, thank you for this post. I also find this whitewashing very insulting to all races in general. I have seen this more recently with movies like Avatar and Prince of Persia. My pet peeve is walking into a bookstore, like Borders, and seeing how the African American fiction is separated from regular fiction. It's all fiction! Why the division?
@firepages
OMG they seperate fiction in America? For real? How can that not be taken as racist? I mean in some of the larger bookstores in Australia they have the literature split up by continents, but not via ethnicity. Is it meant to be highlighting the authors, or is it actual segregation?
And once again, white people make it all about them, and how offended THEY are, and OMGOSH, how dare you insinuate that prejudice exists? South Park needs to parody people who jump on the whitewashing bandwagon, it's hilarious. But for the sake of argument, I think people need to accept that in this particular genre, a white face on the cover WILL sell better. Is it messed up? Yes. Does it change anything? No. Let the author make her money. I'm sure you can find another way to assuage your white guilt.
Anonymous: go screw yourself. White guilt? I'm not making it a white issue, I'm making it an issue for all types of people, whatever color they may be.
People like you is what makes this world a sad place to live in.
Annonymous: *shakes head* How is she making this a white issue by bringing light to the fact that what's happening is wrong? If that was the case she wouldn't be against white washing. She wouldn't be discussing it at all! I applaud her for having the balls to talk about it! It isn't right. And spare me the "that's how the world is speech"! Bullshit. If that's the case why write about a character of color at all!
As a black woman that reads and enjoys books of all genre's that includes characters of all colors, I think it's wonderful that you are bringing this to light Katiebabs. It's good to know that there are other people out there, regardless of what color they are, that have a problem with it!
The new cover is generic and looks like everything else out there. Could be another vamp book if you ask me. Who knows? Will it sell better probably so. Why? Because it will probably get better distribution now because it won't be thought if as that ethnic book and that is terribly sad. But I wish great sales for the author.
As for Anonymous...sigh. I think it's dangerous to go around accusing folks of things like White Guilt. If people, White, Black, Blue and Green don't speak out on this no where near tired issue the truly guilty people will never get the point.
What exactly is "white guilt"? Is that the same as black, red, yellow, green or gray guilt?
Seriously, everyone has the right to speak up for what they believe in and believe you me the world is a better place because of those who do.
Do you need a hug Anonymous? It sounds like you do. So here's one for you and remember that hug the next time you want to defecate on your fellow human being for standing up for what they believe in.
Emma Petersen - Thanks, but I'll pass on the hug if it's all the same to you. It smells of condescension, even from this distance, but I applaud you for being such a humanitarian. Oh, and I absolutely agree with you that people have the right to speak up for what they believe in - I'm utilising that right as we speak! It's so nice to know that I have your support.
As for the "white" issue, I'm not the one who went for the whole "As a Caucasion, I find this offensive" line. I'm not saying don't talk about it, but when I see bloggers jumping all over it like a righteous, ravenous horde eager for meat to pad out their blogs, it seems like they're trying a little too hard to prove something. By being so shocked - absolutely shocked and appalled! - at racism and prejudice, I have to wonder if they're living in the same world that I live in. Pat yourselves on the back all you want, but you're not changing the world by acting like there's no basis for a publisher to put a white model on the cover. I don't have to agree with it to understand how and why it would come about. I wonder... if an author was happy with their whitewashed cover, if these very same bloggers would turn on that author, even if guaranteed more sales? I have no doubt they would; it's how self-righteous mobs operate.
Oh, and before I forget: Katiebabs, thank you for the delightful suggestion, I'll be sure to consider it!
Anon: You certainly have the right to speak your mind. But don't assume the reason certain bloggers are speaking out is because of white guilt. The majority of bloggers who bring up whitewashing covers are all ages, walks of life and all races. Also, I haven't suddenly been jumping on this issue. I've been doing so since day one.
And 2 examples of whitewashing covers that were changed because of bloggers coming together is Liar and Magic Under the Glass, so you are incorrect.
Also, I find it funny that you can speak your mind but hide behind the anonymous handle.
What am I incorrect about? There have been some cover changes, but it's still only attacking the symptom, not the disease itself. I'm not condoning whitewashing, I just find the furore on some (only some) blogs to be self-congratulatory and smug without actually understanding the wider implications of the practise. They want their pound of flesh (in this case, the publishers, who aren't really the evil party) and then they pipe down until the next thing riles them up. As I've mentioned before, I see certain circles of bloggers to have a mob mentality tinged with self-righteous anger, and it's quite unappealing. I won't apologise for expressing honest thoughts and feelings, but I don't expect you to do that either.
In regards to my anonymous status, I don't have a blogger account or any other "identity" online to link to, but all that is easily falsified anyway. In any case, the right to speak one's mind isn't dependant on whether or not they can produce identification.
Whitewashing is done because of a perception of better sales. Is there proof? Hard to say. Hardcover books cost a lot more than paperbacks, so maybe the whole issue with Silver Phoenix was that it was in hardcover and seemed like too much money to risk on a new/newer author.
In order to tell what actually sells better -- the whitewashed or the original cover -- there would have to be a variety of tests that were equal in balance (books with each cover at the same bookstore, in the same aisle, at the same time, etc.).
Know why we'll never see that? Because testing costs money, and lots of it. Testing also takes time, and lots of it.
There are a lot of reasons why a book might not do well. It's really easy to blame the cover (and lord knows, some covers ARE to blame), but it's also really easy to CHANGE the cover...and much cheaper than, say, tossing some real marketing dollars behind the book.
From a business standpoint, I can see the reasoning behind the decision. I don't feel that it's necessarily sound, but I can understand how they got there. From a personal standpoint, I don't like it.
The only way to effect meaningful change, however, is to first bring the problem to light, and then take action, whatever action you, personally, feel willing and able to do.
Anonymous, sorry people bringing an issue to light seems to offend you. Not sure what kind of spin on the issue of whitewashing would have made you happy, but this isn't your blog, and, really, your supercilious attitude got old in your first post. Feel free to share your name (it's not that hard to, you know, call me crazy, type it in at the bottom of your post) and your blog so we can all go visit it and see what issues you tackle, or, really, come up with something other than insults for the blog owner and her readers.
BTW, the ballot box is anonymous. Normally, we put names to any kind of debate. Otherwise, it's just cowards whispering from the shadows.
Gini Koch - I'll say it again for your benefit; I do not have a blog. My "real life" name is also irrelevant because (in terms of this particular discussion) you know exactly who I am when I reply. I assume it's a control issue on your part, so you and your mob can name names when you all get together for your bi-monthly witch-burning committee. Call the waaambulance and cry to them about it, but my voice still carries "from the shadows", so tough shit. Hey, maybe I'll set up a blog that reviews blogs, what do you think? I'll call it "Supercilious Reviews", you know, for shits and giggles and to honour your delicious wit, of course. I'll have to turn into an overly sensitive person that only appreciates someone's opinion if it's one I agree with, though. *sigh* Why can't it ever be easy?
And for the record, people bringing an issue to light doesn't offend me, the way they do it is what "offends" me, but even that is too strong (and too silly) a word. If you can't see the farce that this issue is turning into on some blogs, I completely understand. There are only so many hours in the day to get offended, amirite? Gotta take it seriously!
Going back to the "who is to blame?" question, my answer is Borders and B&N. I live in a region with a large Asian American population. (Just curious, are there any parts of America without significant Asian populations these day? I've never seen any.) It probably would have done pretty well here. But I never saw it in any of the local B&N or Borders stores. My YA-reading teen relative doesn't have a credit card, so she pretty much ignores Amazon, and from what she says, so do her friends. For them, if it isn't in a Borders or B&N, they won't know it exists.
Unfortunately, Anonymous has a point. There are reasons why a publisher would choose to whitewash a cover. I don't know if there's any real evidence that the reading public is reluctant to buy books with non-Caucasian MCs, but the gatekeepers (agents, editors, B&N/Borders booksellers) seem to be uncomfortable with them. There have been a couple times when agents have judged queries/first pages and I've not been sure if the agents didn't like the query/first page because they truly weren't sold on the writing or if having characters with non-"American" names interfered with their ability to appreciate the writing. I wish I could link to examples, but which agents it was has completely escaped me.
Like Glen, I think whitewashing is disgusting. But for YA, it seems crucial to get your book into B&M stores since a large chunk of people buying the genre don't have credit cards. I'm not convinced that the publisher has a good choice here.
I haven't helped them, either. I'm not sure when I last bought fiction by a non-Caucasian author. Admittedly, due to financial constraints, it's been a long time since I bought any fiction, but I'm pretty sure the last time I did, it was by a Caucasian author. For all of us who are getting upset about this, what are we really going to do about this? Are we going to organize a Facebook campaign to get people to buy the hardback? Similar to DA's Save the Contemporary, will bloggers start a Buy This Book to Prevent Whitewashing campaign?
It's not that I don't appreciate the outrage. I'm just no longer sure where we're all going with it.
Sorry about the long comment.
The point of some that post on this is to raise awareness of the issue. The point, or the "where people are going with it" is to, again, raise awareness. To speak out against it. If it happens, but it never gets discussed or word is never spread that it is happening, then it would quietly go on happening, no one the wiser, no one caring. People have to care first in order to do something, and people CAN change things by speaking out.
That is not an insignificant step when fighting against something. Sure, action is great and all, but people speaking out against something they think is wrong isn't anything to dismiss, and it's not any less an action. The color of their skin isn't anything to dismiss either when they do so. To attack a person who is white when they are speaking out against something that is wrong racially is degrading the importance of the REAL issue.
This is kind of surprising. The original cover put the book on my radar because of the Asian character on it. I'm half Asian so I'm drawn to that (and it was reviewed widely which also made me aware of it). Now if I saw the cover and didn't know anything else, I wouldn't have a clue that this had an Asian character in it (does the blurb at least suggest it?). I might be interested because of the author's name.
Masha: There is a campaign on Facebook and among the blogs, specifically the YA blog called Readers Against White Washing. I have the button on my right sidebar you can click on to join.
To think that a group of people would sit around a table and talk about putting a white face on a cover for a book that may not have any white characters and think nothing is wrong with it.
The original cover is gorgeous and the new ones are so bland. It's sad to see them side by side.
A book has to be *available* to be successful, so if the booksellers don't stock it, readers can't buy it. That said, I've seen many, many reader comments to this effect: "I don't buy books with non-white characters because I'm not interested in race issues etc."
Of course prejudice exists on the consumer end! We can't assume that all readers are as open and enlightened as your average crusading blogger. :)
That said, crusade on. Awareness helps. I hope that the readers who express outrage over whitewashing go on to buy books featuring non-white characters.
Thanks Katie.
I know I'm very late to this conversation, but having just picked up the hardcover of this book to read, I was dismayed that the cover was changed. I'm a mutt and LOVED the cover. I also had white friends say that they were also attracted to the cover. I think it's a shame that they aren't even giving it a chance.
Oh, and sorry Anon... I didn't read but one of your comments. I have a hard time reading a comment that doesn't come from someone who refuses to post some sort of name to your message.
I am white and love almost anything East Asian (almost a Sinophile, but love for japanese and korean culture broadens my horizons). So, the original cover drew me, because I am interested in anything touching or including Asian culture, characters, or the like (this is similar with anything to do with Australia and Ireland, too).
Though I personally was attracted to the cover, I admit it looks a bit cheesy for high schoolers and junior high students. It almost looks like a children's book. The bright, happy pastel pink and blue similar to easter egg colors are not what is selling in YA currently, regardless of the race of the character on the cover. Dark, muted, or metallic colors seem to be selling more for YA and fantasy. Even earth tones and simple colors (shiver, linger) are more present than the colors chosen. The cover is gorgeous with colors, but not right for marketing the YA audience (in my opinion). I do not like the change of the cover for the paperback, nor would have suggested that change (the girl is obviously not entirely Asian in my opinion). Instead, I would have thought the publisher to go for a cover more like Graceling and Fire, The Iron King, or even something like Libba Bray (for historic/fantasy) with a redesign, while keeping the heroine Chinese.
So, for this particular book, I don't think it would be a matter of race on the cover persay that keeps teens from buying the book, but that it would obviously stick out among others (just with the coloring and not the race).
I love reading about other races, women, and people in general, and feel that whitewashing covers should not be done. And, though I do not condone the publisher's choice for the paperback version, I can see why, from a booksellers and teen perspective why the book would not sell based on the cover beyond the race issue.
It really is a lovely cover, but does not fit nicely next to the other current fantasy and YA novels in the teen section. I can see why the cover would be redone, but at the same time, I do not approve at all of the new cover.
One of my favorite posters of all time is actually of Mulan where she is pictured with her horse Khan and the only colors are shads of black and red. That kind of design might have worked for silver phoenix, as well.
Kmont, I didn't say that the majority of readers aren't open-minded, or that everyone who blogs about whitewashing should put their money where their mouth is. I only meant that, while spreading awareness is helpful, so is buying non-white authors/books.
I asked my young teen relative about Silver Phoenix today. She had seen it at the library and, based on the cover and the blurb, had picked it up. But it turned out to be a DNF for her when the first few chapters didn't match what she expected based on the cover and blurb. She skimmed a bit more and the end just to be sure, but the end convinced her she didn't want to try to finish it.
I am aware that this is the opinion of only one teen and since she 1) consumes massive amounts of manga, 2) hated Twilight and 3) is non-Caucasian, she may not be the typical reader Greenwillow is aiming for. But the second cover, despite being really bland, may appeal more to Twilight fans. My relative felt that they might be more likely to like Silver Phoenix.
I don't like the whitewashing. I would have preferred that they went with a Twilight-y Asian cover. But if Borders and B&N wouldn't stock the book, if readers weren't buying enough copies on Amazon, and the publisher didn't want to drop Cindy Pon, then I can't work up the same outrage at the publisher I felt over Liar, Liar and Magic Under Glass.
And now I shall return to lurkdom.
I definitely think the booksellers have a huge hand in this. I remember hearing about Silver Phoenix and thinking it sounded intriguing. I rarely buy books online, but in retrospect, that's what I should have done with this one...because I never, ever saw it in B&N or Borders, despite specifically looking for it.
I do think Tiffany has a point about the color scheme and design. It doesn't excuse making the heroine white, obviously! But it does explain the other changes (i.e. making it look like a Twilight book).
I don't think the new cover is very good, though. A more original cover could have been created while still adhering to the current YA cover trends.
Just gotta speak up in defense of this author, Cindy Pon. She is all over Twitter, all over Facebook, and all over the most popular children's writers board on the net. As a debut author myself (with a POC on my cover that did NOT make it into B&N or Borders), I get a little weary of people suggesting authors haven't done enough to promote their books. The vast majority of us have full-time jobs and families to take care of, so we write novels in the middle of the night. And the vast majority of us do not get advances that would even qualify as an annual salary working minimum wage. I too have twittered, facebooked, and done several on-line interviews. Like Cindy's, my book received favorable reviews by Kirkus, SLJ, and more, and is it selling well? Honestly, no. Should I dip into my kids college funds to promote it even more? Not when there's no guarantee it will boost sales.
So yes, whitewashing turns my stomach, and I'm proud that HarperCollins included an Asian face on my cover, but is that why it's not breaking any sales records? Honestly, I don't even want to know the answer to that.
And should I drop the name of my book in the spirit of self-promotion? I suppose so: ESCAPING THE TIGER.
Keep the discussion going, folks. Feeling pretty helpless right now as to what else there is to do.
I think this is ridiculous.
I think the original cover is absolutely stunning, and I have it on my TBR because I couldn't look away from that cover. But, I think the new one is really ugly, and it would never have attracted my notice. I'm going to be pissed if the sequel is more of the same, because I hate it when my books don't match, and I refuse to buy the ugly version of Silver Phoenix.
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