So as some of you may know I wrote a script a while back about the 19th century Zulu king Shaka, I then went on to turn said script into a comic book series. The first of which is complete and set to launch on Kickstarter in the near future. In line with that I started a Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter page to promote the book last August and in that time have grown my audience from nothing to over 20 000.

Most of that audience, especially on Facebook are South Africans, with a large portion of those being Zulu.

The overwhelming response has been positive and people do seem genuinely excited about the book, we will see how well that translates to sales though.

But... there is one criticism I keep receiving with varying degrees of anger, and that is the fact that I am I white guy telling a black guys story. Over the cause of the months of promotion I have been called an uncultured swine, I have been told it is disgraceful what I am doing, I have been told I have no right, I have been questioned about who will be receiving royalties, I've even had insinuations of harm upon myself.

It's worth pointing out that I am South African, I might not be black and I might not be Zulu but I do have some link to the story, but does that even matter because of the colour of my skin?

I love this story and have told it, in what I consider to be, a very respectful way.

Anyway... what are your thoughts on one race telling another race's story, are we just not allowed to do it in today's PC climate, do people just need to tack a chill pill?

I'm interested to hear your thoughts.

Have these people read the book? If not, you might just have to wait to see what the reaction is afterwards. If you did a good job and told the tale with respect, I don't see why anyone should complain. It might just be a lot of skepticism because they know your white.

I write primarily from a male POV. How dare I when I'm not male??? Steohen King writes from ANYONE's POV. How dare he when he's a liberal elite white male??? And so on, and so on... A good story is a good story. I know you can tell a good story, so just wait and see what the reception is after people have read it.  Good luck with this!  

This is the thing that bugs me the most, no one has seen the book, well a few SSers have but none of the people commenting on social media have. I do wish they would give it a go and I am more than happy to be judged on the story and my telling of it.

The issue here is that some think that just because I'm not Zulu I have no right, and as mentioned they can get quite upset about it.

Thanks, I'm hoping it all works out, but I must admit I am terrified

I also forgot to mention that for this vocal minority it is also unacceptable that I wrote the story in English. I try explain that it can reach a wider audience that way but nope, just not allowed.

It is a touchy subject... people are very sensitive nowadays. I wrote a script for a white director about urban life with a black lead character. Now, I'm not black. But I am a person of color who's been around black folks my whole life and have lived in the inner city for the better part of 15 years now (split between Harlem, Queens, Brooklyn and now the South Bronx). But, afraid of the backlash, this white director decided to dump the project all together. Which is a shame because it was a very poignant script.

If you have a great story to tell, I believe no matter who you are, it should be told... as long you're treating the material with respect.

To all the people ganging up on you, just tell them an old white guy created "Black Panther". I know, it's a fictional character, but the film itself was a very important one for the black community, both in content and for getting made and achieving the acclaim it's achieved.

-- Michael

It's political correctness gone barmy.

So technically none of these films (below) should have been told and made?

Rolf de Heer - Dutch-Australian. How dare he make these:

The Tracker (2002), Ten Canoes (2006) and Charlie’s Country (2013)
... Dutch-Australian filmmaker Rolf de Heer has directed a stunning triptych of films in tandem with Aboriginal screen icon David Gulpilil and it rightly deserves inclusion here. Each of the films investigates a very different facet of Indigenous culture and De Heer has said of this unofficial trilogy that he sees himself as the conduit through which Gulpilil’s stories are told.

https://lwlies.com/articles/essential-indigenous-australian-films/

Walkabout (1971) Nicolas Roeg
The Last Wave - Peter Weir
Thomas Keneally writing Schindler's Arc?
Bryce Courtenay (not a fan, btw) but...

I could go on... Aren't we about two-hundred years on from the era you've written about? Who's then suitably qualified to write historical fiction and non-fiction? Only the descendants?

I'd better leave it at that.

Tell them that you self-identify as black.

All kidding aside - fuck em.  I write about women - I ain't one. I won't a script with nearly an all black cast - I ain't black.  I've had lesbians. homosexuals, atheists and priests in my stories - not being any of them.

Would they agree to bar a black writer from writing about a white character??? This is just madness.

Strategically what I would do is craft one very nice as poignant as you can be canned response and have it at the ready to cut and paste to each inane comment you get and move on.

Quoted from spesh2k It is a touchy subject... people are very sensitive nowadays. I wrote a script for a white director about urban life with a black lead character. Now, I'm not black. But I am a person of color who's been around black folks my whole life and have lived in the inner city for the better part of 15 years now (split between Harlem, Queens, Brooklyn and now the South Bronx). But, afraid of the backlash, this white director decided to dump the project all together. Which is a shame because it was a very poignant script. If you have a great story to tell, I believe no matter who you are, it should be told... as long you're treating the material with respect. To all the people ganging up on you, just tell them an old white guy created "Black Panther". I know, it's a fictional character, but the film itself was a very important one for the black community, both in content and for getting made and achieving the acclaim it's achieved. -- Michael

Well I hope I have a great story to tell, I definitely think I do, and I don't think I could be more respectful. This has been a labour of love for the last 3 or so years, and a year for the comic, I put a lot of time, effort, and money (making comics isn't  cheap venture) into this because I genuinely love this story, I have since I was a kid in the 80s. Unfortunately all some of them see is a white guy trying to cash in on their history, funny thing is I'll likely never make my money back, I'd be lucky to break even and I knew that going in. I didn't do it for money I did it because I wanted to.

Anyway... rambling.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Quoted from LC It's political correctness gone barmy. So technically none of these films (below) should have been told and made? Rolf de Heer - Dutch-Australian. How dare he make these: The Tracker (2002), Ten Canoes (2006) and Charlie’s Country (2013) ... Dutch-Australian filmmaker Rolf de Heer has directed a stunning triptych of films in tandem with Aboriginal screen icon David Gulpilil and it rightly deserves inclusion here. Each of the films investigates a very different facet of Indigenous culture and De Heer has said of this unofficial trilogy that he sees himself as the conduit through which Gulpilil’s stories are told. https://lwlies.com/articles/essential-indigenous-australian-films/ Walkabout (1971) Nicolas Roeg The Last Wave - Peter Weir Thomas Keneally writing Schindler's Arc? Bryce Courtenay (not a fan, btw) but... I could go on... Aren't we about two-hundred years on from the era you've written about? Who's then suitably qualified to write historical fiction and non-fiction? Only the descendants? I'd better leave it at that.

Yes we are talking early 19th century. The historical details are vague at best. No reliable written records and a lot of word of mouth. I took the bits I liked, added a lot of my own and did a deep dive into the actual relationships which no one really knows anything about. Then Dave added his awesomeness and that was that.

But yes, some seem to think that it is a story that can only be told by Zulus at the very least.

Quoted from eldave1 Tell them that you self-identify as black. All kidding aside - fuck em.  I write about women - I ain't one. I won't a script with nearly an all black cast - I ain't black.  I've had lesbians. homosexuals, atheists and priests in my stories - not being any of them. Would they agree to bar a black writer from writing about a white character??? This is just madness. Strategically what I would do is craft one very nice as poignant as you can be canned response and have it at the ready to cut and paste to each inane comment you get and move on.

Thankfully I have a lot of control on the content that gets posted on Facebook. Even going as far as being able to ban certain words meaning a comment containing that word won't be posted. Some I've recently added "swine, racist, disgusting, piece of shit"

Funnily enough I had one slip through today, it read "beware the subliminal messaging", my bad for not realising someone would compare my comic book to subliminal messaging. WT actual F.

It's sad news when a decent story, about such folk, is turned around because of the colour of your skin.

and isn't that what they are trying to avoid. IE to have freedom and not be judged on such matters

I also assume the material is open source, so free for anybody to write about. so why don't they?

Finally, as others have mentioned, none of this is actually about the work.

best of luck

If you write about white male guys you will be accused of not supporting diversity and part of the problem. If you write about other genders or races you will be told you don't have the right and you couldn't possibly understand their plight.

In other words, someone will always complain whatever you write, especially if it is in any way successful. That's just their resentment and anger.

A storyteller's responsibility is to tell the truth in their stories. That truth may belong to someone else but it's your job to tell it. As long as do your research, try your best to tell the story and deliver the truth, that's all you can do.

It's an interesting question, Warren.

I must admit,when I saw Shaka on the Side projects thread, I thought : "That's a weird story for a white person to tell".

Without having read it, it's hard to give a particular opinion on it, but a quick look at the Wikipedia page on Shaka's history shows how divisive and problematic he is as a figure for anyone, let alone a white dude.

You're dealing with a figure who is inseparable from Nationalism, Black Nationalism, Africa, Imperialism, Colonialism and a figure steeped in a completely different culture, religion and race.

Whichever side you fall on, on any side of the issues, it's got the danger of being a strange look.

If you tell the story from the side of him being a great leader and leave out the cannibalism etc of which there is now archeological evidence then it will appear to be black nationalist propaganda, and people would wonder what the white guy's agenda is with it.

If you go with him being a bit of a villain, you're going to be deemed racist and a typical Imperialist.

The balanced middle is also a tough sell, as the good sides you show would be counterbalanced by the bad, and people would accuse you of damning with faint praise..that you may concede black people are capable of their own sovereignity, but don't forget they're also savages at heart.

What's the core theme of the story? What point are you trying to make about modern life and Africa?

All stories, wherever or whenever they are set are about now. So you need to be really careful with the final message you leave. It's a very fine line, and you're brave to attempt it.


On a side note: I wouldn't block people who disagree. Better to engage them respectfully, address their concerns and send them a free digital copy imo.

So... I understand both sides on this issue. But, in the end, I think: it's a creative endeavor. That is, you took a blank page and created something out of nothing. Your writing of the story in no way hinders/blocks/stops anyone else from writing the same story... or, writing the same story better.

If anyone believes the story should be written by themselves instead of you, they can just go do it. And, according to their logic, it should be better received, better told, better connected to the audience and history. So, they should go do it.

This isn't a situation where, for example, a director is hired onto an existing project. In that case, there is one opportunity.

In the creating of the script... literally everyone has the same opportunity. Any single person in the entire world can sit down with a pad and paper and write a script.

The same is true for the comic. You didn't take a slot on an existing project. You went out and created a project from nothing.

I would tell any naysayers to feel free to write their own Shaka comic and/or script. (And, I would say it sincerely.)  The more the better. If they believe, like you, that this story needs telling, you certainly aren't going to stop them. In fact, you could even offer advice, should they ever need it.

Good post, PK.