The Ethical Echo

The publishing industry has long struggled with diversity, from the authors it uplifts to the decision-makers shaping what stories reach the public. While major publishers have made promises to create a more equitable industry, progress has been slow, and Black authors continue to face systemic barriers in visibility, marketing, and fair compensation.

Despite these challenges, Black writers have reshaped literature, proving time and again that their stories are essential. However, the conversation surrounding Black literature often shifts away from the publishing industry itself—focusing instead on book bans or sporadic celebrations, rather than the structural inequities that keep Black voices on the margins.

Who Controls Publishing? A Look at the Industry’s Gatekeepers

The publishing industry in the U.S. is dominated by five major houses:
📚 Penguin Random House
📚 HarperCollins
📚 Hachette Book Group
📚 Simon & Schuster
📚 Macmillan

While these companies hold immense influence over what gets published, their leadership remains overwhelmingly white. According to Lee & Low’s 2023 Diversity Baseline Survey, 72.5% of publishing professionals are white—only a small shift from 76% in 2019 and 79% in 2015. Women account for a higher percentage of the workforce, but Black- or Hispanic-owned publishing companies remain rare, making up an even smaller fraction of the industry.

This lack of diversity behind the scenes has a direct impact on what stories are considered “marketable” and which voices receive significant financial backing. While some Black authors break through to bestseller status, the overall numbers remain disproportionately low.

Representation on the Bestsellers List: Progress or Tokenism?

Since 2010, only around 35 Black authors have appeared on the New York Times Bestsellers List—a strikingly low number given the talent and volume of work produced. While moments of heightened social awareness—such as the protests following George Floyd’s murder in 2020—led to increased sales for books by Black authors, sustained industry support has been inconsistent.

One concerning trend is the decline in positive coverage of Black books since the end of COVID-era social movements. Media conversations about Black literature now often center around book bans rather than the need for more Black authors to be published and properly marketed. The industry’s fleeting attention to diversity initiatives raises the question: was the post-2020 push for inclusion performative, or is true change still on the horizon?

The Burden of Representation: Diversity Syndrome in Publishing

Many Black authors face what’s known as “diversity syndrome”—a cultural condition where an author’s identity is elevated over their actual work. This results in Black authors being asked to repeatedly speak about race, rather than their craft or storytelling expertise.

This issue is particularly pronounced in speculative fiction. Despite the genre’s popularity, Black sci-fi and fantasy writers often find themselves pigeonholed:
🔹 Panel discussions focus on their Blackness rather than their creative process.
🔹 They are asked if an all-Black cast in their books will hurt sales.
🔹 Their work is expected to center trauma or racial struggle, rather than being valued for its artistic merit.

As award-winning author N.K. Jemisin has noted, “I talk about race, gender, and other issues of social justice because I have to.” But many Black authors dream of a world where they can simply be seen as writers—without constantly being forced to justify their place in the industry.

Moving Forward: How Publishing Can Become More Equitable

To truly address the inequities Black authors face, the publishing industry must take concrete steps beyond surface-level diversity initiatives. Here are key ways the industry can move forward:

1. Diverse Hiring Practices

📌 Publishers must actively recruit and promote people of color at all levels—editors, marketing teams, executives, and literary agents. A more representative workforce means a broader understanding of what stories deserve to be told.

2. Mentorship & Support for Emerging Authors

📌 Many Black writers struggle to break into publishing due to a lack of connections or insider knowledge. Formal mentorship programs can help guide new authors, providing them with the support needed to succeed.

3. Increased Investment in Black Books

📌 The #PublishingPaidMe movement exposed massive disparities in book advances—with Black authors, even bestselling ones, often receiving far lower advances than their white peers. Publishers need to back up their claims of diversity with real financial investment.

4. Expanding Acquisition Criteria

📌 Editors should be encouraged to look beyond traditional sales metrics when acquiring manuscripts from diverse authors. Some of the most impactful books wouldn’t have fit a rigid marketing formula—but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to be published.

5. Partnerships with Diverse Literary Organizations

📌 Collaborating with groups like the African American Literature Book Club (AALBC), Well-Read Black Girl, or Black-owned bookstores can help publishers better connect with Black readers and writers.

Beyond Performative Inclusion: A Call for Lasting Change

More than three years after major publishers promised to reshape their overwhelmingly white industry, the numbers show minimal progress. While the demand for diverse literature is stronger than ever, Black authors still face systemic challenges that limit their opportunities and recognition.

The future of publishing must be one where Black stories aren’t just a trend, a reaction to social movements, or a box to check off. These stories deserve investment, visibility, and the same industry support as their white counterparts. Because Black literature is not just about Black history or Black pain—it is about imagination, joy, complexity, and the full spectrum of human experience.

It’s time for publishing to catch up.

Sources:

Diversity in US Publishing: The New Lee & Low Report 

Black Writers Continue to Face Challenges in the Publishing Industry | by Michelle D. Jackson | Medium 

Publishers’ Efforts to Diversify an Overwhelmingly White Industry Have Been Slow, Survey Finds – The New York Times 

Diversity Syndrome: On Publishing’s Relentless Pigeonholing of Black Writers ‹ Literary Hub