On the questions people ask...

Twice in the last month, I have been at events where someone has challenged the inclusion of non-white characters in an artistic work. The first was at a talk back after a performance of The Jack of Hearts Club. The second was at a reading of my book, Provincetown Stories.

The talented Jon Richardson is the writer/composer of The Jack of Hearts Club, a musical set in a Provincetown nightclub on Labor Day Eve, 1963. Because I have written extensively about Ptown’s LGBTQ+ history, he asked me to join him in talking about the social-historical background of the show. During the questions portion of the event, an audience member raised the issue of why was there an African American character in the show. Isn’t he just a DEI addition?” he said as more as a statement then a question.

Jon strongly defended the character’s contribution to the show. I jumped in to say that African American performers in Provincetown nightclubs were common in the 1950s and 60s and included Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kit, and others. I added that they were welcomed to perform even though they couldn’t stay in town and had to return upcape to Hyannis to hotel rooms there. After the event was over, both Jon and I were angered by the question.

I thought this was just a fluke. But after reading selections from my Provincetown Stories as the Ptown Book Festival, I was hit by a question / statement about the large number of nonwhite people in my book. Now Provincetown is relatively white compared to the US population as a whole and Ptown certainly is no paradise of racial harmony, but people of color represent a significant percentage of the town’s year-round and visitor population. My answer, “The numbers of non-white people in my book reflect my experiences here. While the demographics of the people you interact with might be different, I have contact with a very diverse group of people. Not to mention I am a person of color myself.” I was rather shaken up by the question.

Since those two incidents, I have been wondering if we are in a new world where even the inclusion of non-white characters in fiction is now questioned. The climate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the real world is extremely cold these days. We have an administration bent of stamping out anything that doesn’t conform to their very narrow world of what is right and proper. Universities can’t consider race/ethnicity in admissions, but the police can in stopping anyone who they consider looks like an immigrant. These are terrible times indeed.

This can’t just be a Provincetown thing. I fear authors and artists all over the country are now going to be asked why they have non-white characters. It is open season on them.

This makes it very difficult for writers and creators. How can we make artist works when some shameless person may well challenge our experiences and visions? I, for one, have no choice. I can either write about the things I know, my world, or else I would never be able to write authentically. I have to include non-white characters because to erase them, in my writing at least, would be to write lies.  Thus, I vow to continue to write about people of color going forward. I just need snappy answers to the critics.