Minnesota Book Publishers Roundtable started the 2021–2022 season with a keynote speaker addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As many of us well know, the publishing industry has long struggled to accurately reflect the diversity of the world and failed to provide a welcoming place for all. Keynote speaker Jennifer Baker, senior editor at Amistad Books, provided a frank reflection of her personal experiences in the industry as well as the efforts of DEI practices as a whole.
In addition to providing a response to unsuccessful band-aid “solutions,” Jennifer offered several steps forward as well as a list of valuable resources, included below.
A Brief History of Diversity Trainings (Fast Company)
The Major Built-in Bias of the Publishing World (Zora)
Diversity Baseline Survey 2.0 (Lee & Low)
Pamela Newkirk Diversity Inc. Conversation (Politics & Prose)
Man Enough podcast w/ guest Alok Vaid Menon
Discussing Barriers of Querying & Pitching for Neurodivergent Writers