Attention Quote by Edwidge Danticat
“It's not a matter of whether the reviews of your books are good or bad, it's about being taken seriously, both as a woman writer and as a writer of color. Also, it worries me when people point to a couple of women writers or writers of color who get some attention - and I am sometimes pulled into that category - to prove that others are getting a fair shot. It's like those people who keep saying that racism no longer exists in this country because Barack Obama was a President of the United States.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing Diversity in Publishing, 2020
The quote highlights the double burden women of color writers face: needing serious literary respect while confronting tokenism and denial of ongoing racism.
In simple terms: Women of color writers seek respect, not token praise.
Key Takeaway
Demand genuine recognition, not tokenism.
Themes
representation
racism
authorial identity
Mood
defiant
hopeful
Type
social
political
When to use this quote
- book reviews
- author panels
- literary awards
Key Concepts
publishing industry
intersectionality
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps can publishers take to ensure equitable treatment?
- How does tokenism affect a writer’s creative freedom?
A Different Perspective
Even with visibility, systemic bias can persist, limiting true equity.
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
