The Stories Marginalized Writers Tell When They Don't Center Trauma
The Stories Marginalized Writers Tell When They Don't Center Trauma
Books sit on shelves in the Duke Humphrey's Library at the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford, England. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images hide caption
Books sit on shelves in the Duke Humphrey's Library at the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford, England.
Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesWe often hear that literature can help us empathize with experiences that are different from our own.
But this has often meant that marginalized writers feel forced to be tour guides for white readers, walking them through the worlds of trauma and violence that their characters inhabit.
These stories are important. But what does it look like to tell different ones?
For our first conversation in our new series, "The Writers' Room," we talked about the kinds of stories marginalized writers are rewarded for telling, and what happens when they choose a different path.
Bryan Washington, R.O. Kwon and Jasmine Guillory join us for the conversation.
Like what you hear? Find more of our programs online.