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There's a big difference between seeing differences in interests of readers of different races (and cultures and religions), and seeing the world "split" by race. I think the publishing world is accurately targeting different markets with different products that have direct appeal. It's no different than musicians, movie studios, churches, and so on. People are different, and that's OK. And niche marketing is OK, too.

What's wrong with a book publisher that specializes in books about the African-American experience? Or books about Asian Americans? I don't see any difference between that and a publisher that specializes in sports books or children's books. Reading is a very intense experience, and it only makes sense that people will react strongly to what they read, and will seek out certain topics and styles.

Obviously, a publisher would prefer to have a book that appeals to everybody. The book will sell more copies - thus making more money for the publisher and raising its profile for the next books it publishes. But only a few books rise above their niche interest markets, and that's just the way it is.

When publishers or other media figures use race to be divisive, then that's a problem. But in the wake of the Don Imus scandal, I'd have to say that book publishers are far less guilty than pretty much any medium out there of any form of racial splitting or race-baiting. There are a few publishers that have made money with racially tinged books - conservative publishers that print books by Anne Coulter come to mind, for example, since she's a racist as well as evil in many other ways - but this is not the norm.

Learn more about this author, B. B. James.
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