When I first became an author, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to represent the African American community the way I'd always wanted to be represented growing up, but in the two years I've been publishing my enthusiasm has waned. As a teenager, I craved books with Black protagonists--books about magic, romance, and adventure. Unfortunately, the only books with Black protagonists I ever came across back then were about slavery and discrimination. Those books have great value but do little for escapism, especially for a Black teen in rural New Hampshire. I entered the industry of self-publishing two years ago and I've been lucky to find more success than most new authors. I even managed to land on the USA Today bestseller's list. I dove into the writing community and began networking with successful indie authors and over the course of two years, I've uncovered a slew of obstacles that keep Black characters out of the spotlight. 1. Prepare to Fight If you me...
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