I really like that you just touched on the speculation that Black tales do not promote as a result of it has been confirmed incorrect time and time once more. However did it ever deter you from writing Black characters as a result of that notion has been out on the earth for thus lengthy, or did it solely encourage you to write down about them extra?
JG: It by no means occurred to me to write down about something however Black individuals. However I by no means thought of writing for a very long time, I feel partly as a result of I have been an enormous reader my entire life, however for a very long time, they weren’t telling… After I was somewhat woman, there weren’t tales about Black ladies. And so I feel it by no means occurred to me that I may very well be a author, as a result of I used to be like, “Properly, I’d solely need to write about Black individuals. And I suppose we do not get these books.” As I obtained older, I used to be like, “Wait a minute, why are there no books like that? They have to be on the market.” I knew I wasn’t the one one who wished them or the one one who wished to write down them, so I began writing. I feel I began writing principally simply to see if I preferred it…to provide myself a artistic outlet. Then, once I liked it and wished to maintain going, I used to be like, “Properly, we’ll see what occurs if different individuals need these tales.” And it turned out, sure, they do.
BuzzFeed: I really like that! We aren’t a monolith, and our perspective is simply so totally different culturally and universally. So, I am glad that you just selected to write down about Black love, Black ladies, and Black professionals, as a result of we’re on the market, and we do need to see ourselves mirrored within the tales we learn. Additionally, it was at all times a giant shock to me once I learn the phrase “tall, darkish, and good-looking” in books by non-Black authors…
JG: [Laughs] Sure, I do know precisely what you are about to say, and I felt the identical manner.
BuzzFeed: [Laughs] I used to be genuinely shocked! I used to be like, “Wait, what?” That is what you imply?
JG: Hair performs a giant half in it.
BuzzFeed: Proper! Hair performs an enormous function in terms of others’ view of the phrase, whereas I am instantly pondering of pores and skin tone [laughs], however I digress.
