3rd richest author of all times, James Patterson, laments the racism against white male writers

[Demovictory9]

James Patterson laments white male writers are facing racism, and then receives immediate backlash

Bestselling author James Patterson, who currently ranks third on the list of richest — and most successful — authors of all time, caught heat after suggesting that white, male writers are struggling to find work during these trying times.


Patterson voiced his concerns during a Sunday interview with The Times, in which he asserted that white men are facing racism within the film, theater, TV and publishing industries.

?[It's] just another form of racism," Patterson said. "What's that all about? Can you get a job? Yes. Is it harder? Yes. It's even harder for older writers. You don't meet many 52-year-old white males."

It didn't take long for the "Alex Cross" author to garner backlash on social media, with critics highlighting his astounding wealth and sheer privilege as a white, male author in the publishing world.

"James Patterson, one of the richest authors in the world, thinks its hard for 52 year old white men to succeed," one commenter tweeted. "Because, as we all know, old white men are so poorly represented as writers in film, tv, theatre, and publishing."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/james-patterson-laments-white-male-writers-are-facing-racism-and-then-receives-immediate-backlash/ar-AAYq16A

[Kid Berwyn]

1. He doesn't get it.

What prejudice or bigotry has Patterson faced, beside his own?

[Demovictory9]

3. I'm thinking...he's accustomed to only white males in the room, POC showing up is disorienting

to him.

[Auggie]

2. Says the guy whose total income over one decade is estimated at $700 million ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Patterson

[Demovictory9]

4. as he co-authors a zillion books

[Auggie]

15. Co-authors is right. I've heard a lot of his stuff is written by ghostwriters.

Patterson comes up with the idea and the ghostwriter does the grunt work. Heard this directly from someone in Patterson's world.

[Emile]

5. Top 10 authors

Elisabeth Badinter // $1.3 Billion
J.K. Rowling // $1 Billion
James Patterson // $560 Million
Stephen King // $400 Million
Nora Roberts // $390 Million
Danielle Steel // $310 Million
Barbara Taylor Bradford // $300 Million
Nigel Blackwell // $292.5 Million
John Grisham // $220 Million
Jeffrey Archer // $195 Million

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/646485/richest-authors-of-all-time

[Demovictory9]

9. never heard of number 1. googled her. Said she inherited a billion plus. Her book was bestseller

but did it outsell Harry Potter?

[edhopper]

10. No

But she is known as an author. Otherwise you would have to put people like Warren Buffet on the list, since billionaires also write books.

[vercetti2021]

11. Vomit

So 2 of the top 3 are transphobic and a racist? Wow

[Ferrets are Cool]

12. It's funny that I have heard of 8 of these authors, but

not Badinter.

[doc03]

18. That list of richest writers does not appear to be all black women

[eShirl]

6. Talk about a lack of perspective.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Prove it

[Croney]

8. When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.

[Ferrets are Cool]

13. Great line.

Would make a great Tshirt.

[Croney]

14. That's probably where I first saw it. 😉

[chowder66]

22. +1

[Johnny2X2X]

16. This is the world Conservatives have created

Their entire world view is constructed around victimhood. Doesn't matter their situation or how fortunate they've been, they're going to claim victimhood all the time every time.

[JI7]

17. These guys start feeling oppressed if there is news about some women or minority

having some success .

[pinkstarburst]

19. There is some truth there?

It was a dumb thing to say. The reality is, the publishing industry highly favors white men, and after them, white women, and even though they have been trying to make some changes, if you are a POC or an LGBT author you are facing harder odds of getting your book picked up, or being told, oh, we already picked up a book like that for this year (probably written by a white man.)

However, since the publishing industry is *trying* it does probably feel to old white men authors like suddenly they are having a harder time. Not to Patterson. That's just dumb. He could get his grocery list picked up and published. He's a bestseller. But to your average white male author, they're starting to feel a bit of the privilege they've always enjoyed not be quite so privileged any more. So there IS some truth to what he's saying. But I wouldn't call that "racism" but rather that the field is becoming more level. Not that it's even close to where it needs to be. Still a long way to go.

[leftyladyfrommo]

20. Some very well known authors are pretty strange.

It's like movie actors or country singers. Some are really nice people and some are really different.

Patterson made a fortune writing books that the public likes and buys. That's really all you can expect from him.

Stephen King he's not.

[Lars39]

21. Whiny and clueless, yet one of his

most famous characters, Alex Cross, is black.