The #PublishingPaidMe conversation reveals what WOC have always known, that racial hierarchies ARE perpetuated by publishing deals. As a writer from the #SWANA region, I'm dismayed by the systematic pattern of low advances/pay to Arab, Iranian, Turkish and North African writers

I think this has everything to do with the fact that voices from the region that contradict or offer a counter-narrative to the Master Narrative of the west are often dismissed bc the industry is afraid (perhaps unconsciously) to disrupt the status quo, or

assumes the audience for such books will be limited & yet I believe that the #publishing industry, devoted to celebrating voices, is poised to be a leader in breaking this chain of silence. They have everything it takes to change the landscape & enough brilliant editors to do so

I do wonder: What do other #SWANA writers think?

@ZeynJoukhadar @randajarrar @LailaLalami @PKhakpour @aaww @RAWInews @NIACouncil