‘Why is she Asian?’: Writer highlights problems with diversity in art by sharing criticism to a short story
The entertainment industry is seemingly becoming more inclusive and diversified, such as with films like “Black Panther” and “Crazy Rich Asians,” which scored big at the box offices in 2018 and 2019. But one writer is bringing attention to the fact that there’s still a long way to go before art begins to accurately reflect life — and is sharing one of the reasons storytelling hasn’t gotten there yet.
In a tweet posted on Thursday night, a writer named Simone Kern shared a piece of feedback that they received in response to a short story they wrote, where the main character is Chinese-American. In blue writing, the note reads, “Why is she Asian?” A question, which Kern points out, is irrelevant.
A note I got on my short story in workshop.
IDK because she just IS? Has any writer ever been asked, “why is this character white?”
My family is mixed-race, my friends are diverse, do I need a *reason* to write non-white characters beyond reflecting the world? pic.twitter.com/f2DHWIat0i— Simone Kern (@simone__kern) June 20, 2019
“Has any writer ever been asked, ‘Why is this character white?’” Kern questions, placing the criticism into a seemingly more relatable context. “My family is mixed-race, my friends are diverse, do I need a *reason* to write non-white characters beyond reflecting the world?”
Kern continued the thread to explain more about their character and why their workshopping partner wanted more context about the character’s background.
So the character is both Chinese-American AND bi, (such people exist, shocker) and this was just too much for several participants. One guy said if I’m going to keep both those aspects of her character, it needed to be a “much longer” story.
— Simone Kern (@simone__kern) June 20, 2019
Presumably so I’d have room to include her “whole coming-out” story + the history of ever racial incident in her life. Because only then would they feel they understood WHY this character (who talks to trees—that’s the plot) was not a cishet white like them.
— Simone Kern (@simone__kern) June 20, 2019
Still, Kern writes, that further explanation isn’t necessary because non-white characters don’t need a reason to exist — they just do.
“Not only do white writers expect a character’s marginalization to be the whole point,” Kern’s final tweet reads, “some can’t conceive of or accept a story that doesn’t totally center it.”
Hundreds of people have since responded to the writer’s tweet to point out why the question that Kern’s workshop partner posed isn’t constructive, but is instead ridiculous, and to share their own similar experiences.
Totally going to ask my Chinese friend why she’s Asian. Let’s see what she says
— The Chickapedia (@TheChickapedia) June 21, 2019
just reply to them with "why are you ____" lmfao pic.twitter.com/j6MsIjKtUL
— sappho panic 💖💜💙 (@leneeh4) June 20, 2019
But if we write diverse characters they have to have a reason for existing pic.twitter.com/Ui4tUiFrBi
— 🦙Vianna Goodwin🦙(she/her) ??🏳??🌈💜💖💙 (@GoodwinVianna) June 21, 2019
This was my least fav part of writing workshops since they inherently lean on the “why”s and that’s not always super conducive towards actual good writing criticism. My answer was always “just because” and just keep pushing, they can find something else to “workshop” 🤷?♀?
— Barbara Perez Marquez 🇩🇴?🏳??🌈 🔜 PrattCon (@MustacheBabs) June 20, 2019
Seriously, though, this reminds me of the agent who said she almost wished my book wasn’t “an LGBT story” because it felt like “too much”. 😟
— Estella Mirai 🏳??🌈 (@EstellaMirai) June 21, 2019
Some responses even came from writers who have found success in their most diverse narratives — including Greg Pak, the writer behind popular Marvel Comics such The Hulk and Hercules.
Infuriating. Used to get that years ago regarding my feature film ROBOT STORIES. My answer was basically “Because I saw then that way.” Keep on keeping on.
— Greg Pak (@gregpak) June 21, 2019
Looks like things haven't changed much. In my very first workshop over two decades ago I got the same critique. But I ignored it, as should you.
— L?????? C???? (@leonardchang) June 21, 2019
Kern didn’t immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment. However, one Twitter user seemed to put a nice close to the discussion by pointing out that people need to accept a “spectrum” of characters. “We don’t live in a vacuum,” she wrote.
There comes a point when we just hafta recognize the spectrum & that descriptors are just tools--not total identifications. Because more & more people defy the old characters; they just ARE, like you said!
& that goes for the culture we inherit, too. We don't live in a vacuum.— Gabriella-L--Garlock 💫 (@HistoReWriter) June 21, 2019
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