Is it wrong to refer to my character this way?
I was editing my writing and realized that one character referred to another as a cockroach. This usually would not be a problem but since the one bei
I was editing my writing and realized that one character referred to another as a cockroach. This usually would not be a problem but since the one being referred to as a cockroach is black, it may come across as racist. A few pieces of dialogue later it is said that the reference was because she was a child. I just need to know if this needs changing.
or:I was editing my writing and realized that one character referred to another as a cockroach. This usually would not be a problem but since the one being referred to as a cockroach is black, it may come across as racist. A few pieces of dialogue later it is said that the reference was because she was a child. I just need to know if this needs changing.
or:What is \"wrong\"? Nowadays someone will always take offence. I'd say if you're gonna be a writer (and not specifically targeting certain demographics) it's more important not to be a bleeding heart, than insensitive. A solid artistic vision tends to draw attention.Besides, you could always revise as morals or ethics shift. Permit me to quote from arthur hailey's airport foreword:\"\"\"One final thing. Two important story characters\u2014Lieutenant Ned Ordway,the airport\u2019s police chief, and Perry Yount, an air traffic supervisor\u2014wereeach referred to in the 1968 edition as a \u201cnegro.\u201d At that time the descriptionwas normal, acceptable and inoffensive and, with millions of book copies inforty languages, I have not received a single complaint. However, I concedethat more recently the label \u201cnegro\u201d has become offensive, and therefore isnot repeated in this new edition. Instead I have used \u201cAfrican American,\u201d aphrase seeming, to enjoy wide favor.But please, dear readers, do not write to me pointing out that \u201cAfrican-American\u201d came into general usage far later than 1968. I know that. But Iprefer to be respectful of minorities, as I have in other novels, rather thanpedantically exact.\"\"\"
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