SEE ME: Why do Readers Think Duane Cooper is White?
The novel Murder Justified, A Duane Cooper Story, has sparked needed conversation in the realm of literary works and entertainment. During a respectful conversation with one of my readers, he stated, “The whole time I was reading your book I thought the main character was white… Once I found out Duane Cooper was African American, I began to question why I assumed he was white in the first place.” Yes, you guessed it. The reader was a white male but don’t get bent out of shape with his comment because another reader, a black woman, stated, “Oh I didn’t know Duane Cooper was black until the book told me so. I assumed he wasn’t… I love that he is black though, because in all my years in reading; I haven’t read a book with a black man working to save America on behalf of the government... Let alone a black author writing about it.”
Let that sink in…
Two readers, different genders, different ethnicities; believed Duane Cooper was a white American male. Why is that? Is it because most novels and action movies predominantly cast white males in these roles? Is it unrealistic for a black man to love America and work for the CIA? Or, is there deep rooted issues that allow the media to continue to drag their feet when promoting a black American male as a champion or hero of the United States?
These are not questions to point fingers or to shame. I am asking for society to dig deep and have a moment of self-reflection and consider reasons why social integration hasn’t been as successful as the masses believe. Our great country has amazing potential to be better; not better based on the city or state you live in, but better across the board- ocean to ocean.
Can we truly analyze what’s brewing in our nation without the filter of news networks telling us how to view or feel about other United States citizens that don’t look the same as us? Let us have discussions without prejudice and without predisposed feelings. Let us be considerate and allow other parties to ask uncomfortable questions; and when questions are asked, be understanding when given a straight forward response. Good questions are asked because understanding is sought and honest responses are from experience and knowledge.
