23.2 C
Accra
Saturday, August 2, 2025
WorldJames Patterson retracts his statement that 'racism' prevents White guys from getting...

Date:

James Patterson retracts his statement that ‘racism’ prevents White guys from getting writing jobs

James Patterson retracts his statement that ‘racism’ prevents White guys from getting writing jobs.
James Patterson, the best-selling crime and mystery novelist, apologized for saying that White men are kept from getting writing jobs due to “racism.”
Patterson, who recently co-authored a book with Dolly Parton and this month published his autobiography, made the initial comment in an interview with the UK’s Sunday Times.
Patterson said in last week’s interview that he feared it’s become increasingly difficult for White male writers to obtain jobs in film or publishing, calling it “just another form of racism.”
“Can you get a job? Yes. Is it harder? Yes. It’s even harder for older writers,” he told the Sunday Times. “You don’t meet many 52-year-old white males.”
Patterson backtracked on his comments in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“I absolutely do not believe that racism is practiced against white writers,” he wrote. “Please know that I strongly support a diversity of voices being heard — in literature, in Hollywood, everywhere.”
In the same interview with the Sunday Times, Patterson also discussed why he made the protagonist of one of his more successful series, the “Alex Cross” novels, a Black man.
He said he had not encountered criticism for the decision to make Cross Black, which he attributed to a period in Hollywood where “there was all this talent and nobody got hired.”
“I just wanted to create a character who happened to be Black,” he said. “I would not have tried to write a serious saga about a Black family.”
The author’s initial comments on what he perceived as racism against White men were widely criticized by other authors, who noted the number of White male authors still at the top of many bestseller lists.
Many of them pointed out that Patterson — who, according to the Sunday Times, has sold over 450 million copies of his books — is one of the most successful authors of all time.
The industries that Patterson mentioned remain predominantly White.
In a 2020 study, the New York Times Opinion desk found that 89% of books published in 2018 were penned by White writers, even though non-Hispanic White people make up 60% of the US population.
And the Writers Guild of America, West, in a 2021 report, found that 77% of screenwriters are White, and among screenwriters, White men account for more than 50%.
Patterson, for his part, has eight more books due to be released in 2022, at least six of which were written by another author.
Source: cnn.com
[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

“Don’t make me and Stonebwoy fight ooo”- Samini warn netizens

Veteran dancehall musician, Samini has warned netizens to resist...

Kanye West’s Heil Hitler song bans him from entering Australia

US rapper Kanye West has been banned from entering...

Agradaa describes moment shared with President Mahama heavenly – Agradaa

Evangelist Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Agradaa, shared a...

Dada Joe Remix extradited to face romance scam charges in USA

Ghana’s nightlife mogul and alleged crypto kingpin, Nana Kojo...

Govt launches 24-Hour Economy policy today

The government's flagship, 24-Hour Economy Policy, will be launched...

GRA sets July 16 for GHS1 fuel levy implementation

The implementation of the new GHS1 Energy Sector Shortfall...

Related stories

US travel ban against Togo, Libya, others takes effect today

Effective today, Monday, June 9, nationals of twelve countries...

Pakistan: Police in search of over 200 inmates following earth tremor

Over 200 inmates are currently on the run after...

Pope Leo XIV shares canonical acceptance

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has officially accepted his election...

Profile of the new Pope – Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost

"Peace be with all of you!" - the first...

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost named as the 267th Pope, takes the name Pope Leo XIV

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the...

Black smoke signals end of first day of conclave to elect new pope

A thick column of black smoke rising from the...

Siemens exec and his family involved in fatal Hudson helicopter crash

Tragedy struck New York City on Thursday when a...