Crystal, what do you think? I guess its time for me to say what I think. I spent the first few days after the National Book Awards program stewing with my mouth hanging open, reading the posts of everyone across social networks, reposting now and again, just watching and waiting and perhaps hoping that everyone knew what Daniel Handler aka Lemony Snicket said and were holding him responsible in large and small ways, writing their own letters, contacting the NBA, having their own public moments of outrage. I was rather content being close-lipped in mine, choosing instead to raise my own private glass to Jacqueline Woodsons win but of course I couldnt imagine as a writer as a black woman stepping into the sunlight of the most lauded writers awards and after all those years of hard work, after acknowledging the importance of old people and ancestors, after working so hard for so many years as a writer, after being proud and eloquent on the stage in the spotlight finally as daughter, sister, lesbian, black woman, mother, wife/partner and most of all in that moment as writer, writer, writer, and then to have someone make a watermelon joke after my moment (our moment). The horror. The pain (for all of us). Even if she knew Daniel Handler personally, even if they had this private conversation about her watermelon allergy at some lunch, some event. So what if Handler made the statement that she should write about it and maybe she had sideswiped it with a laugh or made the joke into a joke of her own by saying No, you should write about it. Even in our collective imagination if thats what happened (who knows of the context or the subtext) it still doesnt matter. Daniel Handler was wrong for his racist joke. What makes it even worse is that he actually read from his notes. He admittedly actually did research on the nominees so that he would have something to say in case they won. So his watermelon joke was actually part of his written notes-- it was scripted. I was at first embarrassed that I didnt even know Handlers name because I only knew him as Lemony Snicket But I am no longer a fan of Handler or Snicket. Writers are the keepers of the culture as all artists are. We are not necessarily role models but we are expected to have our fingers on the pulse of the human condition no matter what we write. For him to be so blind (if indeed it was blindness and not open-eyed intent) to that human condition, to the history of watermelon jokes and black people is horrifying and Im so tired of this horrible broken record that plays over and over again in all realms of American society. Will it ever stop? Its not all that surprising that it happened on this stage celebrating American letters but it is more painful. Im accustomed to this behavior from politicians, from rogue law enforcement officials, from academics, etc. but when Black artists are in a room of White artists we often feel comfortable, too comfortable. Perhaps I was still riding high off of Nikky Finneys NBA win in poetry two years back. Nonetheless I was naïve and perhaps I got the pain I deserved for complacency. I just hate that this is hanging over the amazing win of Jacqueline Woodson. Shes put in the work and we should all be dancing for her/with her. This post should be about her instead of this and him. As far as what I think about the two-sentence disclaimer from the National Book Foundation, it is a DISCLAIMER much like the warning on a pack of cigarettes and is not a statement: On Wednesday evening, November 19, 2014, at the National Book Awards, comments were made by the master of ceremonies which were entirely inappropriate, were not authorized by the National Book Foundation and which do not in any way represent the views of this organization. We regret the incident and apologize to all offended by the remarks, especially Jacqueline Woodson. As far as what I think about Handlers $10,000 and pledge to match up to $100,000 donated the We Need Diverse Books organization as atonement for his confessed racist remark. Good for him. He should keep donating and establish an award in Woodsons honor and start a foundation for diverse books and help other black writers and writers of diverse backgrounds get published and serve in the soup line and pet more puppies and kittens and save more trees and whatever the hell else he wants to do and its a good start . Lastly (which should have been firstly) go buy multiple copies of Jacqueline Woodsons BROWN GIRL DREAMING. A million copies sold should be the last laugh at this bad joke.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 17:58:35 +0000