On episode 61 of the show, we’re talking about Blackness, Identity Politics and self-publishing as a form of activism with Dr. Yaba Blay, author of the just released book, One Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race.
Dr. Blay’s book, One Drop is a gorgeous coffee table book filled with beautiful full-color portraits of people who identify as Black. The people are divided in groups: Mixed Black, American Black and Diaspora Black and each portrait is accompanied by a personal essay about the person’s racial background and lived identity experience. But this is not just a book of pretty pictures, One Drop also has a deeply researched explanation of the history of Blackness, the history of whiteness and the significance of the one-drop rule in America. Some of the faces in the book are recognizable, like journalist Soledad O’Brien, but the majority are the faces of ordinary people with extra-ordinary stories to tell.
During our conversation, Dr. Blay and I discuss the origin story for One Drop, why she chose to self-publish the book after mainstream publishers rejected it, and how she felt when a mainstream publisher decided to re-publish the book now in 2021, seven years after its original publication. We also talk about colorism, how annoying and counter-productive it is to question someone’s Blackness and who the one-drop rule really benefits?
We had a passionate conversation that went way beyond the book!
Literary Links from the Show
During the Meltingpot Minute, I reviewed the book, Good Talk by Mira Jacob. Good Talk is a graphic memoir about coming of age as an Indian American woman, marrying a white man and raising brown children in the age of Trump. To learn more about Good Talk and Mira Jacob, please visit her website.
To learn more about Dr. Yaba Blay, visit her website and catch her on the gram where she posts regularly about her many projects and passions.
To buy your copy of One Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race, please consider purchasing from Uncle Bobbie's Coffee and Books or your favorite Black-owned bookstore.
We mentioned author Zetta Elliott during the episode. Zetta is a prolific children's book and YA author, who has a lot to say about equity and the publishing industry. Listen to Zetta's episode on the podcast for an inspiring conversation about writing and self-publishing.
To support the show, remember to do your book shopping at the My American Meltingpot Online bookstore.
If you're interested in reading more about skin color politics, check out my book, Same Family, Different Colors: Confronting Colorism in America's Diverse Families.
Beacon Press is the progressive and innovative publisher who picked up Yaba's book, One Drop. Check out Beacon's amazing catalog of diverse books.
*******************
Don't forget to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts.
And feel free to leave us a tip via PayPal on the homepage of the MAMP website.
Thank you!
From Self-Published to New York Times Bestseller: Sadeqa Johnson Shares Her Story of Success
The Paradox of Jessie Redmon Fauset: The Harlem Renaissance's Most Prolific Novelist that You Don't Know
Being a Writer is Hard Work:A Masterclass in Creative Writing with Phillip B. Williams
How Do You Make a Living as a Writer in Hard Times? Ask Langston Hughes!
How to Bring History's Hidden Figures to Life on the Page with New York Times Bestselling Author, Ilyon Woo
Art, Activism, and Audre Lorde: How to Use Your Words to Change the World
Writing Romance, Race, and Ricki Wilde with New York Times Best-Selling Author, Tia Williams
A Short But Important Announcement about the Podcast!
How to Make a Living Writing YA Fiction: A Conversation with Ibi Zoboi
It’s All About The Sanctuary: A Membership Community for BIPOC Women Writers
Greenlight Your Own Projects: Self-Publishing Without Apology with Dr. Tamara Pizzoli
Writing Retreats are Not Bougie: Why Writing Retreats Should be a Part of Your Regular Writing Practice
How to Have a 40-Year Literary Career with Award-Winning Author and Literary Activist Marita Golden
Find Your Passion and Your Purpose as a Writer with Maya Angelou
New York Times Best-Selling Author, Denene Millner Shares Her Story and Her Strategies for a Prolific Literary Career
The Sisterhood and Why Writers Need a Writing Community
Best of Author Series with Kaitlyn Greenidge: Real Talk about What it Takes to Be a Writer
Best of Author Series with Dr. Yaba Blay: Why Self Publishing is a Revolutionary Act
”Best of ...Author Series:” Lauren Francis-Sharma + Book of the Little Axe
Get Your Writing Life on Track with the NBA
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Lit Society: Books and Drama
Ex Libris
Write The Book: Conversations on Craft
Gulliver’s Travels
Anne of Green Gables
Fresh Air
Myths and Legends