An inquiry into why Jann Wenner's new book, The Masters, was not flagged for what it is—interviews with seven of his white male friends that dismisses the achievements of women and artists of color
Thanks for this Brooke. Sparked a juicy convo with a guy over coffee. 😬 educational piece that helps inform my own understanding of the issues. Great read 💕
You are probably Wenner’s exact target reader. His statements are extreme and will win him fans and enemies for it, undoubtedly. A friend of mine suggested it was a publicity stunt. Maybe so. Maybe so.
You're correct, but that's not what this piece is about. The piece is about the social responsibility of someone in Wenner's position to recognize that rock-n-roll includes more than just white men, and about his publisher's responsibility not to continue to prop up the racial and gender animus that has defined the industry for decades. Wenner can do whatever he wants, and he did.
I guess I don't understand this, John. You can say anything you want. Yay free speech. But if someone says racist and misogynist things, and gets called out for it, then it's also the right of the people who felt attacked (in this case women and Black people) to say whatever they want in response. That's what's happening here. Jenner got ejected from the Hall of Fame because there were consequences for his actions. The publisher hasn't is likely not going to cancel his book. So defend away, but maybe take a look at what you're defending.
I've been hearing this theory and I'm sure there's some truth to it. We're living in a sad time where misogynistic and racist comments surely result in more book sales. I will not be buying the book!
Hear! Hear! Brooke. Thanks for being a voice for all of us. Well done.
Thanks for this Brooke. Sparked a juicy convo with a guy over coffee. 😬 educational piece that helps inform my own understanding of the issues. Great read 💕
Ha. I’m glad!
Thanks for sharing this. Also thanks for the links to the other articles. (I read them all instead of doing laundry. An excellent decision.)
What an extraordinary expose. Thanks for giving this attention. This is my first post from you-guess I’m hooked now! 💕
Thank you for reading and subscribing!
Thank you thank you, Brooke, for calling this out--and for putting the blame where it belongs. Little Brown failed with this one. Big time.
I love you. Thank you for writing this piece.
Like I said I'm not defending or attacking Wenner's words.
I'm defending his right to say them without being punished.
"Yay free speech" has a derisive ring to it.
As an author, Wenner is only required to say what he wants to say, in whatever way he wants.
The phrase "social responsibility" has a nebulous, somewhat ominous ring to it. Who gets to decide what it means and why do they get to do that?
You are probably Wenner’s exact target reader. His statements are extreme and will win him fans and enemies for it, undoubtedly. A friend of mine suggested it was a publicity stunt. Maybe so. Maybe so.
If it's your book, you can exclude or include anyone you want.
Otherwise it isn't your book. It's someone else's.
You're correct, but that's not what this piece is about. The piece is about the social responsibility of someone in Wenner's position to recognize that rock-n-roll includes more than just white men, and about his publisher's responsibility not to continue to prop up the racial and gender animus that has defined the industry for decades. Wenner can do whatever he wants, and he did.
I'm not defending or attacking what Wenner said.
What I'm defending is his right to say it without being punished.
I guess I don't understand this, John. You can say anything you want. Yay free speech. But if someone says racist and misogynist things, and gets called out for it, then it's also the right of the people who felt attacked (in this case women and Black people) to say whatever they want in response. That's what's happening here. Jenner got ejected from the Hall of Fame because there were consequences for his actions. The publisher hasn't is likely not going to cancel his book. So defend away, but maybe take a look at what you're defending.
I've been hearing this theory and I'm sure there's some truth to it. We're living in a sad time where misogynistic and racist comments surely result in more book sales. I will not be buying the book!