Scottish writer Keith Clanchy is set to revise her memoir Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me after some readers and literary figures accused the author of racist and eiblist speech.
In a memoir published in 2019, Clanchy describes her experience of teaching in public schools.
In 2020, her work was awarded the Orwell Prize for Political Literature.
Recently, however, Some of My Students and What They Taught Me has been heavily criticized, particularly on Twitter and on Goodreads.
Readers cited the words that Kate Clanchy used to describe the students.
When referring to members of racial minorities, she referred to their "chocolate-colored" skin or "almond-shaped" eyes.
One of the children was described by Clanchy as "small, square, Afghani, with a large nose and premature mustache."
In addition, the writer was suspected of discrimination against people with disabilities.
Clanchy talked about two students with autism spectrum disorder using words such as "shamelessly weird" and "discordant companions."
The author admitted that she enjoyed working with these students for an hour a week, but spending more time together would be unpleasant for her.
At first, Clanchy argued that there were no such words in the book, and then noted that the quotes were taken out of context.
She has been criticized by a number of writers, including Sunny Singh, Monisha Rajesh and Shimen Suleiman.
According to The Guardian, these authors were harassed on social media.
Singh also accused British publishers of creating a hostile environment for non-white writers.
Indian writers Monisha Rajesh and Sunny Singh
Instagram
© sunnysingh.net
In the end, Kate Clanchy thanked the public for showing her new aspects of what she wrote in her memoir.
“Many of the comments on passages from my book, especially those taken out of context, were not easy to hear;
but I am grateful to those who took the time to take a critical look at my work and introduce me to another prism through which my words can be read, ”she stressed.
Several of her colleagues have stood up for the writer, including the famous author Philip Pullman ("Dark Principles").
He entered into a discussion on Twitter and urged not to judge books only by collections of quotes - not reading them.
He compared those who do this to terrorists.
Pullman called Clanchy's work "humane, warm, decent, cordial and welcoming."
Representatives of the Picador brand (imprint of Pan Macmillan), which published the book Some of My Students and What They Taught Me, apologized to those who were bullied.
They said that the further fate of the memoirs is being discussed.
“We understand that our response was too slow.
We strongly condemn the shameful online bullying of many of those who have spoken out in this regard.
There is no place for this in our community, ”the publishing house noted.
Clanchy soon revealed that she would change the book for a reprint.
“I had the opportunity to rewrite something in“ Some of my students ”.
I am grateful: I know that I did a lot wrong, and I look forward to the opportunity to write better and with more love, ”she said on Twitter.
The writer said that she did not consider herself a good person, and admitted that she felt guilty.
Philip Pullman
Gettyimages.ru
© Leonardo Cendamo
Philip Pullman later declined to comment, which the author believed he had made in defense of Clanchy.
He deleted the entry because he posted it in a discussion of Ayn Rand's work (mistaking it for a discussion about Some of My Students and What They Taught Me).
“In the heat of the moment, it seemed to me that this approach comes from a totalitarian mind ... The criticism that some people have expressed about certain aspects of Kate Clanchy's book is reasonable and balanced.
I reacted very hastily, I should have spent more time trying to figure out what was being discussed here, ”the writer explained.
He also apologized for harming members of racial minorities.
“I apologize for the harm done ... Writers of color (including children) and people of color who are not writers (again including children) - your experience and imagination deserve every respect,” concluded Pullman.
One way or another, the words of the author caused a resonance in the British literary world.
Representatives of the Society of Writers decided to clarify their position on this issue.
Pullman has been the president of this organization since 2013.
In a message posted on the Society's website, it was stressed that "Philip wrote his comments in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the Society of Writers." The writers recalled that Pullman holds only an honorary position and "does not play any role in the management of the Society of Writers." They also condemned racism, unprofessionalism and hate speech.