Queer Black Voices in Fiction: NK Jemisin and “The City We Became”
Juneteenth might have been yesterday, but as a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, it’s important enough to spend more than just one day on what it means to be Black in America. It’s also appropriate to not just celebrate the freedom and achievements of Black Americans but to reflect on the ongoing fight for racial justice.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to increase representation of Queer and Black characters in genre fiction. This is an important step in creating a more inclusive and equitable world, and it is especially relevant during this time of year - especially as Pride Month and Juneteenth coincide. Yet Queer Black characters are still often underrepresented in genre fiction. This is due to a number of factors, including racism, homophobia, and the whitewashing of genre fiction. As a result, many Queer Black readers have felt excluded from this genre - and it’s something that Blackwarren Books is expressly trying to fight back against.
One Voice Among Many
However, we’re not working on the problem on our own. In fact, there are a number of authors who are working to change this. These authors are writing stories that feature Queer Black characters as the main protagonists. They are also writing stories that explore the intersection of race and sexuality in a meaningful way, important stories because they provide representation for Queer Black readers. They also help to challenge stereotypes and assumptions about Queer Black people. In addition, these stories can help to educate readers about the experiences of Queer Black people.
For the rest of the week, we’ll be recommending books that feature Queer Black characters, starting with The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin, a book Neil Gaiman referred to as “a glorious fantasy” on the front cover. That’s high praise to be sure - and the novel lives up to it.
Become the City
A powerful and moving story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it, The City We Became is a novel about race, identity, and community. Set in a fictional version of New York City, in a world where cities are living beings, the novel follows five avatars, representing the five boroughs of NYC as they come together to save it from the Woman in White, a powerful being who is trying to destroy it.
Jemisin explores the intersection of race, identity, and community; just as the five boroughs of New York City are home to a diverse population, the novel explores the different ways that people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ people experience the city. At the same time, Jemisins explores the power of love and the importance of fighting for what you believe in. The five avatars are all people who have been marginalized in some way, and they come together to save the city because they believe that it is worth fighting for.
Jemisin’s novel explores how these different forms of oppression intersect to create unique experiences of marginalization. The novel also explores how these characters can overcome these challenges and find strength in their diversity, a fitting message to send to anyone looking for reasons to keep fighting against oppression and discrimination. We can’t recommend it more heartily. Add it to your to-be-read pile today!
Come back tomorrow as we profile another great book for anyone looking for intersectional science fiction and fantasy! Until then, why not check out our own collection of novels and short stories in our store? Use the code PRIDE to get 15 percent off all purchases at checkout!
