Daniel Handler and Jacqueline Woodson

I know intellectually there are good authors and not so good authors. There are intelligent authors and not so intelligent authors. But for some reason I stereotype authors into being learned, liberal and sensitive individuals. I envision them agonizing over every word they write…and utter. So when an author makes an inappropriate comment in front of an esteemed audience  of authors, especially when We Need Diversity in Books is in the forefront of literary folks, it surprises (appalls) me. (Funny, it wouldn’t surprise me if a politician said something inappropriate…which, in itself is a sad commentary.)

Anyone who has heard Jacqueline Woodson (winner of the National Book Award for Young Adult literature) speak, knows she is very soft spoken. And so her response in the NY Times op-ed section is both soft spoken and loud at the same time…and very eloquently stated. See for yourself.