If you’re an author of another race, you’d be hard pressed to write a diverse character without offending anyone in these sensitive times we’re living in. So do you remain true to your art, write safely, or don’t write at all?
Let me be emphatically clear. No author owes any race, religion, or differing sexuality a place in their books. Unless there is a huge groundswell of your day one readers asking for change, then ignore the noise. But for any other reason you’re prompted to learn how to write diverse characters without being offensive, then read on…
Stereotypes can help you write diverse characters, as long as they are funny, very funny: I watched a TikTok of comedian Chad Daniels (who happens to be white) and he spoke of Black women getting their hair wet, Black people swimming, etc. All stereotypes, but all funny as hell. I won’t try and recite his jokes (because I will not do them any justice), but I took the liberty of borrowing one minute of his stand up ‘Dad Chaniel’s’. Had it transcribed, and you can read and laugh for yourself.
If you make a Black woman so upset with you for whatever bullshit you’re doing, and she pulls her earring off and goes, what? Just go… Nothing, nothing, nothing. And you run, and you find shelter, and may I suggest a body of water? Some of you are gonna be pretty surprised by this next part because a lot of you think, I think Black people don’t swim.
And that’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard in my. You can’t think an entire group of people doesn’t do one thing. I know Black people swim. I’ve seen Black people swim. What I have never seen and no one has is a Black woman that just got her hair done. Get it wet on purpose. A Black woman will fall you into a body of water, but just up to her hair.
And then she’ll be like, ah, nope, and back it on out. I saw a Black lady leave a hair salon one time, started raining on. And she looked up into the sky and she goes, no, and it stopped raining. Still think Jesus is white?
Get Permission when you write diverse characters: Do anyone remembers when Ted Danson did blackface? The year was 1993 and at the behest of his then girlfriend, Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson not only wore blackface, but used a slew of ‘N’ word jokes in his roast of her at her prompting.
The backlash was swift and never ending. And the only reason Danson’s career didn’t tank immediately was he was the star of the sitcom ‘Cheers’ that came into 42 million American homes every Thursday night and Whoppi stood beside him and repeatedly stated it was her idea.
Fast forward 15 years later, Robert Downey Jr. gives an Oscar worthy performance (he was nominated for best actor btw) in Tropic Thunder wearing blackface as his character was hilariously stereotyped and ‘til this very day Tropical Thunder is a must see movie if you in the mood to laugh ‘til it hurts.
So what’s the difference you’re wondering?
Ben Stiller showed the movie to the NAACP and Black journalist, looking to get approval or gauge for the inevitable backlash before its release. Either way, permission was sought with the differing levels of acceptance between Ted Danson’s Blackface and Robert Downey Jr.’s was the intent, the comedic value, and the explanation of Robert Downey Jr.’s offensive portrayal was poking fun at the length an actor would go to further their career.
Whereas Ted Danson, just stood on stage and told racist jokes that his then girlfriend Whoopi Goldberg asked him to do with no substance or redeeming quality to comedic content.
On a personal note, I was offended at both instances no matter the intent, but as an author in hindsight, I can see the point that Ben Stiller and RDJ was attempting to make.
Being totally transparent, I laughed my ass off at Tropical Thunder and like comedian Chad Daniels clearly showed that stereotypes can be used as long as they are true and funny as hell. RDJ and Tropical Thunder did accomplish that.
So where does that leave authors wanting to write diverse characters without offending anyone?
Hopefully not scared to lean into their art and run the risk of offending someone if that is what it calls for. But to go deeper into how to write a diverse character without being offensive…. YOU CAN’T! Not in these overly sensitive days.
But below is a list of things you should do to try and understand and capture the essence of a character if they differ from you racially:
Do your research. Do as much as your character calls for and gain the best understanding of them that you can. Writing from their perspective with gained knowledge, beats leaning on what you see in the media, what you thought you knew, true or false cliché’s and what you were told as a kid growing up.
Let go of any preconceived prejudices you have and honestly place yourself in their shoes. More binds the human race than separates us. No problems, worries, stresses, etc. is exclusive to one race.
Be honest with yourself as a writer. Is this character in your book going to be central to your story and will their race play a factor? If the answer is no, then no need for a headache.
Is your story set in a specific time? If it is and you include other races in your story are you willing to be authentic to the treatment of that character during those time?
Or you could play it super safe. Have you ever read any of James Patterson’s books that featured Alex Cross? If you have, then you see how James Patterson (a white author) constructed Alex Cross (a Black character) with the greatest of qualities… damn near to perfection. Is that realistic? It’s to be debated, but I’ve yet to hear a Black person have a problem in Alex Cross’ depiction.
Just a few things to think about to help you write diverse characters without being offensive. All in all, write without fear, write from an honest vein, and if you are to err, err on the side of art.
If you’d like a deep dive into writing diverse characters without being offensive, check out the podcast below that I did with my residential guest, Jennifer Carr.
Catch the full podcast below…
I hope you enjoyed the show as much I loved bringing it to you. But before you go, please do me a huge favor and subscribe to my YouTube channel, leave a comment on what part of the podcast you received the most value from, and share the episode on any of your social media platforms. I would greatly appreciate the love and support.
See you next week!!!
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DK WALKER
DK Walker has been self-publishing for close to 20 years. These days, he helps other self-published authors become more productive, going from book idea to completed manuscript in 30 days or less with The Unfair Writing Advantage System. Design especially for authors who wants to STOP STRUGGLING as they write and increase their productivity dramatically.