Will I Be a More Successful Writer if I Was White?

A question my inner critic asks

I have been writing a lot lately, for me it is therapy. I want to come out, that I also happen to be a non-white person living in the Philippines. I am a Filipino who happens to write, or should I say, a Filipino writer.

English isn’t my first language but having been born from a different generation, I grew up with it. I learned it in school and at home. English is my second language. I’ve always read American authors. I watched American movies and even as I write this today, I am listening to American music.

I have always written letters in English. English was not only taught in school, but it was spoken at home. It was second nature to know the language, as our education system is one of the things America left us with after WW2.

A lot of Americans don’t know that we were once an American colony for over100 years. After Spain left, it was America who served as our colonial master.

There is so much history between our countries and our peoples. This is why, I feel ok with writing about American culture, movies, and even politics.

In the US, you at least have seen one Filipino, and hopefully, you are at least friends with one. There are a few who you may even know like Bruno Mars, his mom is Filipino.

But today, I ask, should I be writing about anything American at all? Or would I have more readers if I happen to be a white writer living in America? Or would I be more successful if I am a white writer?

Last time I checked, Medium, where my writing has found a home has over 190 million monthly visitors. Like with everything on the web, that traffic comes from different countries.

But 30% of that traffic comes from the USA, and I assume, the majority of its paying subscribers are from the USA. Whereas as writers we get a share if what we write resonates with a big chunk of those subscribers.

It wasn’t intentional for me to be writing about stuff that American readers would want to read. The tone of my writings will show I am not a native American, and I hope not one reader feels deceived by it.

But I love to put out my ideas and opinions for everybody, and not for Americans only. It just happens, that I am interested in what is happening in America.

For a few years, I was working with an American cruise line as a photographer. It was where I got to see American culture in real life and not just in movies or TV shows.

Working on ships allowed me to work with different nationalities from all over the world. I even made good friends with a lot of them, that up to this day I would talk to once in a while on Facebook.

I found out quickly then, my co-workers who come from different countries, for the most part, are more of the same than different. When we love, and when things are ok, we are happy and our hearts get broken when that love doesn’t work anymore.

Even with childhood experiences, there are similarities, the difference is the location. Hollywood movies and American music also transcend nationalities.

There are things that you will be surprised to learn from each other. You will meet people who happen to love coffee as much as you do. You laugh at the same jokes or at least understand the humor behind it. Color and nationality mean nothing to a lot of things if you think about it.

What made it easy though inside the ship, is that English is the language we all understood. It is how things get done and how things are communicated.

I have talked to a lot of my American passengers and even made a few friends. I have been their wedding photographer on the ship and as a wedding photographer, I saw first hand, how love is universal. It is the same wherever you are, two strangers meet and fall in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together.

Most of the American passengers are pleasant and don’t treat you differently because you speak English with an accent. Or they treat you differently because of your skin color.

There are very few exceptions, I always have great memories while I was on ships. It is like being in a little world where there is so much diversity and that diversity is celebrated. But underneath all that, you still gravitate with your own people.

As a writer, I want to break barriers. I want to share experiences and opinions that will resonate with the audience I want to have a conversation with. But sometimes, I doubt myself.

The inner voice or inner critic speaks very loud at times. Casting doubts about my ability to construct words together and deliver a message.

To tell a story that is compelling, that people will either agree or disagree with my position.

I try to do better at my writing, and I notice the more I do it, I am finding my writer’s voice. I will continue to improve and try not to think about the things I should and shouldn’t write about. Or even think about the skin color or nationality of my reader.

The world must continue in moving forward, and that diversity should not only be embraced but celebrated.

The opportunity for us understanding each other is here. A more inclusive world allows humanity to work its magic. By reading from writers from different countries, each coming from a different background, it is our way of helping the world heals itself from the poison that hatred and bigotry have brought to this world.

A more inclusive world allows humanity to work its magic.

I will continue to write about American culture, movies, and politics. I will also share universal experiences with you like aging, love, and being gay.

I also am proud of who I am. I am a Filipino writer.

The next time my inner critic tells me that I am not good enough to be writing about American stuff, I will just continue to write, sip my coffee, and put my Tina Turner music to full volume.