Recently Hal Niedzviecji, chief editor of Write Magazine, the quarterly published by the Writers Union of Canada, was pressured to resign as a result of his editorial, “Win Appropriation Prize”. His take was that there ought to be no barriers to writing about those we do not “know” and that readers would be the ones to take us to task if we cross the line.
The furor that resulted prompted me to explore the topic of cultural appropriation in writing. It’s a tricky one and the opinions run the gamut from “never” to “anything goes”. Continue reading “Is It Creation or Appropriation?”
Master’s Degree former educator, painter, journalist and poet KB Schaller once taught creative arts in a Seminole Indian Reservation academy and the learning disabled in public school systems.
Her true love, though, has always been creating her own fantasy world. As a school girl, her first story began as an English composition, How the Mermaid Learned to Swim, which she decided to illustrate. Her “blockbuster” went for ten cents a copy.
As she began to appreciate more deeply her Cherokee/Seminole heritage, her focus shifted to issues regarding Native Americans.
Her debut novel, Gray Rainbow Journey won a USA Book News National Best Books Award for Multicultural Fiction, and was a Finalist in both Religion and Mystery-Suspense in the same competition.
Schaller is an occasional contributor to the Seminole Tribune and Indian Life newspapers. Also a guest blogger, she writes historical and opinion pieces that focus on Native issues.
She is a member of the Native American Journalists Association, Florida Freelance Writers, Florida Publishers Association, LinkedIn sites and other writers organizations.
Born in North Florida, Schaller has also lived in Mississippi and the Florida Everglades.
Recently Hal Niedzviecji, chief editor of Write Magazine, the quarterly published by the Writers Union of Canada, was pressured to resign as a result of his editorial, “Win Appropriation Prize”. His take was that there ought to be no barriers to writing about those we do not “know” and that readers would be the ones to take us to task if we cross the line.
