Cover pics with Black characters have a serious lack of representation on Vocal Top Stories, plus other grouses.
Black faces matter!
Dear Anyone
Ever since I joined Vocal, I have noticed that if I use Black faces to represent my stories it almost never gets picked for a Top Story, except one, and it was a caricature of a rather pretty witch. I have monitored the situation for a long time, and I need to state my case. After thumbing through recent pages of TS', I found two stories represented, one by me which speaks about Vocal, not my personal stories, and the other a story about Carlee, a Black girl who lied about an incident, not very flattering. Did she really have to do something bad to have her face make top story.
Unless the face is that of some super famous Black person, like the one of Prince, then forget it being considered, and even then, it is a toss-up.
I remember back when I joined there were complaints that Vocal was awarding too many people of color winning entries. (I really dislike that phrase, people of color, it is not our fault that black and white are not considered colors, but neutrals, so why are Black people 'et alia' called people of color, am I supposed to reciprocate by saying ('people without color'). So now I feel like we are being deliberately ignored, or just fitting in with the stereotypical norm.
We are all people, why are we still debating this color issue. We may use the word modern, but we are still stuck in the backward ages.
Lately I have the opportunity to use my race to represent my stories. I am proud to be a Black woman. No one can take that away from me. Say what you want about AI art, but I can use it to better present what I have to say. Black cover art is not recognized or properly represented on Vocal.
If I may use a story about Denzel Washington to reiterate my point. After he had made a many great movies, no one picked him for an Oscar. Sandra Bullock, a good friend of his, raised the point about the fact that if he had been white, he would have received a few awards already. Denzel shrugged, like Atlas, smiled and answered thus:
"The Oscars are made for white people by white people. Therefore, I am not surprised that it will always go to white people".
Granted, those may not have been his exact words, but that is the gist of it. Suffice it to say, he was nominated and won in the next round of awards because the Oscar folks were shamed into awarding him one, by a white woman. I really like Sandra Bullock.
Yes, there are those among you who will be shaking your heads and saying here we go again with the complaints. This is not a complaint, it is an observation. If every story featured Black folks on the covers, and you could barely find any white folk pictures, you all would have something to say.
I want my race to be recognized, represented and be held in equal standing with the stories on Vocal. I write great stories with great black characters as my cover photographs, they are all ignored. It is not about the five dollars, that can't cook my dinner, no matter how many they give me or refuse to give me.
I honestly think that people subconsciously avoid black pictures because of this, I know that I did at first.
Remember that 20th century children’s nursery rhyme:
“ if you’re black, stay back;
if you’re brown, stick around;
if you’re yellow, you’re mellow;
if you’re white, you’re all right.”
Gosh damned right I am mad about this whole situation. There are great stories being ignored and not so great ones awarded in favor of who writes the story, and not the story itself. Yes, some not so great stories receive TS because of who writes them, while great stories (not just black related) are left in the dust without so much as a by your leave. I know that participation in things Vocal related play a great part in earning credits.
Publish this or not publish this. I have a right to my opinion, and I have a right to what I will or will not do on Vocal. I will not be bullied into doing something just because everyone else is doing it. I signed up to write stories and be treated fairly. The process has changed, I understand, things and times change.
The same group of people on Vocal keep patting each other on the backs and congratulating each other, around and around in a circle they go. Everybody else can take a hike. Do you really expect the ignored to invest money in more schemes in which they are not included? What a daunting task this whole melee of voices and noises must be.
Yes, I did get some Top Stories and such, which I greatly appreciate, I still have the option to observe and opine.
I completely understand if no one wants to add their voice to my One Woman Rant. Totally cool.
Signed
Black Woman for Justice.
...................................................................
Here is one of my awesome creations....Just saying!
About the Creator
Novel Allen
Every new day is a blank slate. Write something new.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Keep reading
More stories from Novel Allen and writers in Writers and other communities.
AI and it's Art
I am the first to admit that I am oblivious to a lot of what is happening on Vocal. There is a lot to keep up with. I did ask to be made to feel warm and fuzzy, but now I feel like I if I am not careful, I will internally and externally combust. Things have certainly heated up on the platform.
By Novel Allen9 months ago in Writers
THE ENVELOPE PLEASE
Fiesta! ¡Olé! It's Cinco de Mayo and time to celebrate the ASK ME IN DECEMBER the unofficial challenge winners. The creators had fun and it was fun reading all their entries. From Ballads to the Blues and a Villanelle to a Haiku, I was honored by the forty-four entries.
By Babs Iverson7 days ago in Writers
Comments (43)
I feel you on this one.
It's unfortunate that in the 21st century, people are still segregated because of their skin color. Regarding the phrase 'people of color,' inventing new words and phrases to describe things that already have names only highlights that there is a problem. We should focus on addressing the problem rather than trying to circumvent it. If a problem exists, we must work towards a solution instead of pretending everything is fine by using 'correct' terminology.
P.S. I see your name so often in my feed that I was certain I had already subscribed to you. I am now.
Novel, I hope you have heard all the voices who are encouraged by what you have written here. There will be those who will take issue with some of what you've said, but those are matters for discussion among those who are willing to listen to what others have to say, not the lambasting & name calling some have thrown at you here. The vast majority of us are with you here, & I'm not worried about being associated with the devil here. Naomi has already called me Satan in our most recent exchange where she issued "Naomi's Challenge to Crybabies" & called us a bunch of pissants. I gladly welcome the company. (BTW, I took her up on her challenge, submitted my story to the Critiques Community, & dropped the link in her comments, just as she had instructed. She refused the entry & had our entire conversation removed from her comments section.)
https://vocal.media/writers/the-unlikely-duo-m21c0wb1
This comment section is spicy. I love it. Thanks for being Vocal 👍🏾. This post may offend some people, but I’m sure many of US see some truth in this.
Thank you for saying a lot things that needed to be said. I still don't quite see how Top Stories are picked and yes I read Justin's post. I really think it depends on who is curating and what community etc... There are some writers who receive top story whatever they write. Good for them, they have a fan base in one of the curators. I do think Vocal is trying to become a better platform. It is still the best one out there as far I'm concerned. However, I think improvements to make things better especially more diverse should be worked on. Also, I am giving you a pat on the back as this was very well written ♥️
You make a valid point. Good on you for writing this. Glad this got Top Story.
I've never heard that nursery rhyme. I must be more sheltered than I thought.
Hehe, good point made all around! I personally would have loved to see your Syrinx here all shining and piping, but this works splendidly too. Congrats!
I am included in the ones patting each other on the back. I have patted and been patted. That does not mean that my point is not valid. Everyone will see a different meaning to words depending on where their viewpoint lies. Vocal gave me this TOP STORY to see how people feel about the different sides of things. To see how creators are feeling about life on Vocal. It is a hollow Top Story. Some think it comes from jealousy and not frustration for others. I genuinely think that the Vocal folks are doing the best that they can, and honestly though that this would maybe get 2 reads and disappear into the belly of the beast like most stories. People's heckles are up. Bring it on. Vent your frustrations. Truth hurts.
While you might be right about lack of representation, I would disagree with this statement: "There are great stories being ignored and not so great ones awarded in favor of who writes the story, and not the story itself." If there was some sort of favouritism at play on Vocal, someone like me would never get Top Stories. My style is very few people's cup of tea. Most Vocal creators don't even know who I am. And I also don't sugarcoat things. But I am an active participant in the community. I read my fellow creators, leave comments, interview them, etc. This statement is also very unfair: "The same group of people on Vocal keep patting each other on the backs and congratulating each other, around and around in a circle they go. Everybody else can take a hike." - It's called support, and I have seen all newcomers welcomed and embraced equally. With that said, I can empathize with your frustration. We live in a very unfair world.
Calm down Momma! Congratulations on your Top Story!
Good point! Congrats on TS!
Hell yeah ! This deserved a top story..creating a discussion of merit! great job and congrats Novel!!! 🥳🎉🎉
Congratulations on Top Story!!!❤️❤️💕
I’ve just joined Vocal, so I never noticed this. I’m sure it happens though. Great article!
I’ve written many great articles on important topics that never made top stories. Was that because I didn’t put a white person as the cover photo do you suppose….? It’s very easy when we are sensitive about a topic to take it to heart and assume the whole world is against us. We ALL have our reasons to feel victimised. It doesn’t mean we ARE being victimised. Directing your anger (anger from a false perception) at vocal and the group of people “patting each other on the back” is unkind to say the least. Unwarranted. Unjustified. Is this jealousy? It’s also rather confusing because I see many of those very people patting you on the back in the comments of MANY of your stories. It seems like you are being perfectly included, only this resentment / bitterness / perceived victimhood is clouding you from appreciating that?? The world changes as we change. Perhaps a key to unlocking your victim mindset is to actually understand the roots of racism. Because you will realise it lies in fear and trauma. The. Perhaps you can release your anger. This isn’t an outside judgement. I have the exact same task. Because black people are not the only ones suffering racism. A white face in certain parts of the world has you viewed as a credit card and sex doll. Because that’s how the media and porn has portrayed your image to them. And how many black people assume white people to be privileged and racist (as your article implies that you do) ?? I know black people far more privileged than I ever was - in regards to financial stability, education and love. We ALL have our issues. We are all dealt unequal cards. We all have aces and jokers. But let’s not continue singing from a victim hymn sheet when we aren’t actually being victimised.
On point for Top Story. Good work here Novel. Keep ringing the bell.
A big problem with media is that people want to see themselves, not the other. Thank you for writing this, and you deserved the TS!
Great point. Congrats on the TS.
Hmmm 🤔 IKTR- now this is black girl magic🎉 ✨ it is all changing currently, Congratulations on your Top Story💖😉💯🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Nice
This is excellent!!
I'm so happy this quickly became a top story. It's an unavoidable subject. So many valid points to consider. I, being a black man struggled most of my life trying to understand inclusion and fighting for what I wanted. And it's not over. Every day is a fight to some degree. We have come a long way as a culture, but not near far enough. This makes me wonder what Vocal can do about this, about representation. Although it would be nice to have a "Black Voices" community, will it feel legit or just an alienating pity place. Thank you so much, Novel. I appreciate your voice. I may not get around to reading everyone's stories, but I try my best to be involved. I love Vocal and plan to stick around to watch it evolve. Voices like yours will help it move in the right direction. Thank you. 💖