Snubbed!

Last week, I submitted a press release to a company, hoping to be viewed by up to 600 viewers. Sounded like a great opportunity. The exciting part was that the company promoted black business. I went down the check list: Black? Check! Promoting a business? Check! It all seemed to line up, until I submitted my release, which discusses my profession as a young black author, promoting my novel, a novel about Vampires.

I don’t know if the fact that I’m an author was the issue. They clearly stated that they don’t support Vampires, Ghouls, etc. What?!!! They don’t promote themselves as a religious based company. I wouldn’t have wasted their and my time if that were the case. It just struck a nerve that this successful company could differentiate between spinning a tale versus a lifestyle choice.

I am a proud Christian. I have many family members and friends that are of faith, but will engage in watching or reading stories about supernatural beings. It is cliche for black people to go to scary movies and then talk and joke about them. It’s a staple in most black comedian’s repertoires! My novel is as mild as the Twilight series, but different still in many ways. There is some edge, but I wrote mindfully of my faith and that aspect is clearly outlined throughout the piece.

I was angered at first, then just insulted. I didn’t enjoy feeling prejudged about my work, after whomever it may concerned, read a single page document about me. It was like one of those side-ways glances I get when I walk down the street and I see the reflection of suppressed hatred looking back. I’ve been accused of being prejudice against my own race because I didn’t follow the stereotypes. I’ll choose to think of it as being in a class all my own instead of not fitting in. I’d rather not, if not expanding your mind is a prerequisite.