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The Agony and the Ecstasy: Race and the Future of the Love Story Part 1 (ENCORE)

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In 2019 a well known romance writer began tweeting about other writers in her community and concerns about racism. It led to a huge reckoning within an organization called the Romance Writers of America, which is still unfolding. And although the online debate seemed to be isolated to a specific community of romance writers and their fans, it was really a microcosm of what’s been happening all over the US. In this episode we learn all about romance novels and how newer writers are changing the norms of the genre, and giving it a political power it’s never had before. And, we talk about what it means for organizations to change as they grapple with questions of race.

[Listen to Part 2]

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Featuring:

  • Jayashree Kamble, Professor of English Literature at La Guardia Community College
  • Reagan Jackson, Co-Executive Director, Young Women Empowered, also a romance reader and fan
  • Contance Grady, Senior Culture Reporter for Vox
  • Elise Staples, Member of a romance reading book club through meetup.com

Credits:

Making Contact Staff:

  • Host: Salima Hamirani
  • Interim Executive Director: Jessica Partnow
  • Staff Producers: Monica Lopez, Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani

Music Credit:

  • Johnny Ripper – Overout
  • Johnny Ripper – Sfhk (mental breakdown)
  • Johnny Ripper – Untitled (waking up)
  • Johnny Ripper – In a Dream
  • Dance of the Seahorse – Gideon Freudman
  • Pictures of the Floating World – Waves
  • Bio Unit – Subterranean
  • Ketsa – you asked

Recommended Reading List in Romance

Author: Radio Project

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