The Daily The Sunday Read: ‘Inside the Push to Diversify the Book Business’
Jul 31, 2022
Lisa Lucas, the first Black publisher in Pantheon’s history, shares her transformative journey in the book publishing industry. They discuss the overdue push for diversity, revealing the past struggles of marginalized authors and the industry’s elitist culture. Lucas emphasizes the importance of creating a larger readership rather than competing for limited audiences. The conversation also touches on the rise of indie Black publishers and the systemic barriers they face, offering a hopeful outlook on the evolving literary landscape.
01:08:26
Underserved Readers
- Book publishing has historically prioritized white readers, leading to an underserved market of diverse readers.
- This is reflected in the industry's predominantly white staff and the types of books published.
Lisa Lucas & "Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm"
- Lisa Lucas, Pantheon's first Black publisher, discovered an unpublished novel, "Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm," and championed its acquisition.
- Her emotional connection to the diverse characters and real-world portrayal drove her to win the book's auction.
Low Entry-Level Pay
- Marcela Valdes was warned about low entry-level publishing salaries, initially assumed as "dress money" for those with independent means.
- Her experience confirmed this, earning $25,000 annually despite long hours and required experience.
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Exploring Diversity in Book Publishing
04:11 • 3min
A New Era in Publishing
07:20 • 15min
Pathways to Black Literature
22:09 • 6min
Diversifying the Literary Landscape
27:51 • 14min
Navigating the Changing Landscape of Book Publishing
41:49 • 3min
Diversity in Publishing: A Historical Perspective
44:44 • 9min
Navigating Racial Expectations in Publishing
53:57 • 17min
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For generations, America’s major publishers focused almost entirely on white readers. Now a new cadre of executives is trying to open up the industry.
The journalist Marcela Valdes spent a year reporting on what she described as “the problematic history of diversity in book publishing and the ways it has affected editors, authors and what you see (or don’t see) in bookstores.”
Interviewing more than 50 current and former book professionals, as well as authors, Ms. Valdes learned about the previous unsuccessful attempts to cultivate Black audiences, and considered the intricacies of an industry culture that still struggles to “overcome the clubby, white elitism it was born in.”
As one publishing executive puts it, the future of book publishing will be determined not only by its recent hires but also by how it answers this question: Instead of fighting over slices of a shrinking pie, can publishers work to make the readership bigger for everyone?
This story was written by Marcela Valdes and recorded by Audm. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.
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