Thursday, October 6, 2011

Guest-Post: Truly Noir by Austin S. Camacho


I'm delighted to offer you this guest post by Austin S. Camacho, author of the Hannibal Jones series and The Piranha Assignment.

My Hannibal Jones series is not very different from other detective series, except of course for the fact that Hannibal Jones is an African American private eye. When I decided to write a hardboiled detective series I set out to explore my detective’s predecessors, the characters he’d be compared to when he made his appearance.


That turned out to require a lot less time than I expected it to. As a hardboiled detective with an African heritage, Hannibal Jones turned out to have few predecessors. The best known black mystery characters, chronicled by Walter Mosley, James Patterson, Chester Himes and Hugh Holton, are policemen or amateur sleuths.


So where are all the men of color following in Phillip Marlowe’s gumshoe footsteps? Ed Lacy introduced the first credible African-American private eye, Toussaint Moore, in 1957. He won an Edgar, but no one followed his lead. I assumed that John Shaft would turn the tide when he appeared in 1971. Ernest Tidyman's Harlem private eye was so hardboiled that at the time my friends and I jokingly referred to him as “Sam: Spade Detective.” Yet despite his film success, there was no rush of imitators. All the African American private eyes seem to have vanished mysteriously.


I can hear all the white authors out there now, shaking their heads and muttering, “Don’t blame me.” Well, why not? African American authors write white characters all the time, so why not reverse that spin. And white authors don’t seem to have any trouble writing black characters as sidekicks, or villains. Why not write them as detectives?


Of course, there is the danger of stereotyping. Your ethnic readers will look very closely at any characters you introduce who don’t look like you. So how do you get it right when you’re writing about people from another race and culture? Here are three hints that will help you.


Observe: spend time in the grocery stores, restaurants and bars filled with mostly faces of color. Don’t worry, no one will assault you as long as you mind your own business. And by listening closely you’ll get a feel for the attitudes and interests of that group, not to mention their food and drink preferences. You will also develop a feel for the rhythm of language and common phrases they use. I’ve found this works for Latin, Korean and Iranian characters too.


Avoid dialect: When we change the way words are spelled to imitate the sound of someone’s voice we not only insult them, we make it harder for readers to get through our writing. All you need to do to get the dialog perfect is to use the words your characters would use in their own unique order. Your reader will “hear” what you meant, be it North Dakota Swedish or inner city black.


Get a reality check: First, make a black friend. Next, have that friend read your work and beg them to be honest in their feedback. Watch their face as they read. Ask them to test the dialog aloud, and listen for changes they may make unconsciously. If your friend balks at something, don’t debate it, change it.


The most important thing, of course, is to remember that we are all more alike than different. Human motivations, desires, fears and joys are universal, so make sure your black characters are first and foremost human.


And in case you’re skeptical about writing a black detective, let me remind you that Toussaint Moore’s creator, Ed Lacy, was actually a white guy named Leonard Zinberg.

169 comments:

research papers for sale said...

Very interesting post! Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Excellent study on the histroy of african american detectives. Thanks Austin for keeping our black professional detectives Hannibal Jones alive and entertaining.

Don Levin said...

Hi, Austin. Loved your posting on "True Noir." Wonderful piece. A couple of years ago, Walter Mosley visited my school as a guest artist and talked about his initial trials getting published writing about a black "detective" (I'm using quotes because as you point out Easy Rawlins isn't a detective) . . . he said publishers basically told him, "Oh, yeah, there is one of those out there already . . ." Fortunately things changed. ~Don

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buying tramadol online forum - can buy tramadol online legally

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100mg tramadol dosage grasscity - tramadol withdrawal symptoms depression

Anonymous said...

buy discount tramadol tramadol 50 mg and alcohol - tramadol hcl 50 mg narcotic

Anonymous said...

order ativan buy lorazepam in canada - ativan discount coupons

Anonymous said...

order klonopin online how to get on klonopin - buy clonazepam online mastercard

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol premature ejaculation - order tramadol cod overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

buy ativan online ativan to help quit smoking - ativan dosage body weight

Anonymous said...

generic tramadol 3 tramadol high - tramadol red pill

Anonymous said...

tramadol online 400 mg tramadol high - buy tramadol er

Anonymous said...

ativan online ativan no prescription online pharmacy - lorazepam for sale online

Anonymous said...

tramadol online best website buy tramadol - tramadol tablets dosage

Anonymous said...

buy generic tramadol online can you buy tramadol over the counter in the us - usual dosage tramadol

Anonymous said...

can you buy tramadol online buy tramadol online pay cod - tramadol hcl 50 mg tablet r&s

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol ultram addiction - tramadol hcl mg

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol 200mg - tramadol que es

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol medication tramadol and tylenol - tramadol online fast

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap online tramadol 100mg/1ml - tramadol for dogs no rx

Anonymous said...

clonazepam without prescription klonopin xr - buy generic klonopin

Anonymous said...

buy generic tramadol tramadol overdose emed - can you buy tramadol online no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol 100mg tramadol 100mg high - tramadol hcl 300 mg

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online side effects of ambien cr 6.25 - where to buy ambien in canada

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online dosage of tramadol 50mg - ultram online no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online ambien er 12.5 - buy generic ambien online no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy generic tramadol tramadol hcl 200mg - tramadol 325

Anonymous said...

soma online buy soma panties - buy soma online usa

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol for dogs without rx - order tramadol online from usa

Anonymous said...

tramadol cheap buy tramadol online with echeck - tramadol ingredients

Anonymous said...

ambien online ambien cr vs zolpidem er - ambien overdose many pills

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online where to buy ultram - tramadol 377 dosage

Anonymous said...

soma online buy soma fedex overnight - buy aura soma london

Anonymous said...

tramadol no rx buy tramadol lowest price - tramadol online overnight no prescription

Anonymous said...

where to buy tramadol buy tramadol us pharmacy - tramadol 37.5 high

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online no prescription ambien side effects aggressive behavior - ambien withdrawal klonopin

Anonymous said...

cheapest soma soma drug interactions - soma muscle relaxer reviews

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol purchase tramadol online cheap - tramadol hcl paracetamol tablets

Anonymous said...

buy cheap ambien buy ambien cr in canada - ambien cancer

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin weight gain loss - klonopin for generalized anxiety disorder

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol in florida buy tramadol 180 online - tramadol y el embarazo

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online ambien prednisone drug interactions - do drug test test ambien

Anonymous said...

soma medication where to order somatropin - drug interactions cymbalta soma

Anonymous said...

buy discount tramadol tramadol 50mg capsules dosage - g.e. tramadol hcl

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol saturday delivery tramadol online mexico - tramadol online reliable

Anonymous said...

cheap klonopin online klonopin withdrawal last - taking 2mg klonopin

Anonymous said...

ambien online ambien withdrawal tremors - ambien online overnight

Anonymous said...

viagra online does viagra work after prostate removal - buy real viagra canada

Anonymous said...

ambien sale ambien cr 7 day - ambien side effects weight loss

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online many 2mg klonopin - qualitest pharmaceuticals klonopin

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online buy generic ambien online no prescription - average price for ambien

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online no prescription klonopin withdrawal between doses - klonopin common dosage

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online buy viagra online uk paypal - where can u buy viagra

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online viagra age 75 - viagra sale online pharmacy

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin - klonopin withdrawal benadryl

Anonymous said...

purchase ambien ambien hair drug screen - ambien gerd

Anonymous said...

tramadol buy tramadol overnight - tramadol dosage for goats

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online next day delivery generic viagra online cheapest - buy viagra cheap online no prescription

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol 50 mg erowid - tramadol 50mg tablets dosage

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra online buy viagra discreetly - order viagra without rx

Anonymous said...

buy soma 350mg buy soma tickets - soma usa

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online buy viagra online toronto - jelly viagra for women

Anonymous said...

buy cheap cialis buy cialis online usa - cialis coupon

Anonymous said...

order generic viagra online viagra for women how does it work - viagra online paypal

Anonymous said...

cialis for sale buy cialis beijing - cialis for women

Anonymous said...

buy viagra with paypal buy viagra online without rx - cheap viagra london

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod overnight tramadol for fibromyalgia - tramadol hcl 300 mg

Anonymous said...

soma online buy qualitest soma online - soma skeletal muscle relaxant

Anonymous said...

legal buy tramadol online tramadol ultram medication - tramadol hcl get you high

Anonymous said...

viagra for sale buy generic viagra fast shipping - viagra for women bangalore

Anonymous said...

can you buy viagra online legally viagra online overnight shipping - buy viagra online australia fast delivery

Anonymous said...

cialis 20mg buy cheap generic cialis online - buy cialis canada pharmacy

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online reviews viagra 50mg online - buy viagra women online

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol 50 mg normal dosage - tramadol legal high

Anonymous said...

buy viagra cheap viagra with prescription - does viagra for women work

Anonymous said...

buy viagra buy cheap viagra online australia - how to buy viagra online without

Anonymous said...

order viagra generic real viagra online pharmacy - safe buy viagra online yahoo

Anonymous said...

tadalafil online cheap cialis rx - cialis 20

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl 50 mg high - buy tramadol online no prescription mastercard

Anonymous said...

cialis online cialis online rx - cheap cialis professional

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online propecia prostate cancer lawsuit - propecia side effects rash

Anonymous said...

cialis online cialis daily side effects - buy cialis online canada no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy propecia propecia questionnaire - no generic propecia

Anonymous said...

tramadol generic tramadol 100 mg bijsluiter - tramadol 50 mg compared to lortab

Anonymous said...

buy cheap propecia propecia and women - propecia generic vs propecia

Anonymous said...

retin a cream retin a micro neutrogena - retin a acne pill

Anonymous said...

viagra online generic viagra me uk - buy generic viagra online overnight

Anonymous said...

order cialis online no prescription can you buy cialis in thailand - cialis testimonials

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol 50 mg kapszula - tramadol 100 mg street value

Anonymous said...

strattera atomoxetine strattera - strattera medication

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap buy tramadol 100mg - order tramadol cod next day delivery

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online can buy tramadol online legally - best way buy tramadol online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol what dosage of tramadol should i take - tramadol er

Anonymous said...

order tramadol tramadol online no prescription usa - what does tramadol high feel like

Anonymous said...

buy strattera buy strattera online with no prescription - strattera dosage weight loss

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol no prescription overnight buy tramadol 627 - tramadol addiction fda

Anonymous said...

buy propecia propecia vs minoxidil - propecia side effects cure

Anonymous said...

where to buy retin a retin a cream with a prescription - retin a cream acne.org

Anonymous said...

propecia online pharmacy lawsuit on propecia - buy propecia online consultation

Anonymous said...

propecia hair loss cheap propecia australia - long until propecia generic

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap tramadol online uk - tramadol high feeling

Anonymous said...

order retin-a retin a gel for scars - retin a cream stretch marks

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online without a prescription buy 180 tramadol online - tramadol (ultram) shelf life

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online mastercard overnight cheap tramadol next day - tramadol for dogs is it the same for humans

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol lethal dose tramadol - buy tramadol online mastercard overnight

Anonymous said...

order tramadol tramadol 1 hcl 50mg - can you buy tramadol in greece

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100mg buy tramadol valium online - tramadol 50 mg purchase

Anonymous said...

tramadol overnight shipping buy tramadol online florida - tramadol for dogs vs people

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50mg too much tramadol for dogs - tramadol addiction blue light

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol hcl - tramadol online topix

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg buy tramadol online with visa - tramadol withdrawal methadone

Anonymous said...

cialis 20mg buy cialis by paypal - cialis 5 mg daily cost

Anonymous said...

buy cialis cialis free sample coupon - cialis low blood pressure

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol order tramadol 50mg - tramadol 325 dosage

Anonymous said...

generic viagra safest place buy viagra online - dosage of viagra for men

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy generic tramadol online - buy tramadol no prescription cod

Anonymous said...

cheap cialis cialis 5mg side effects - cialis 10mg online

Anonymous said...

buy soma soma muscle relaxer opiate - buy soma online next day delivery

Anonymous said...

soma without prescription can soma pills get you high - buy soma everwear tires

Anonymous said...

buy soma online buy soma online - soma drug breastfeeding

Anonymous said...

tadalafil online buy cialis online with no prescription - cialis reviews photos

Anonymous said...

viagra online viagra zug - cheap viagra sydney

Anonymous said...

buy soma online buy soma 350 mg online - best buy soma sf

Anonymous said...

soma online buy soma louisiana - soma bras

Anonymous said...

buy soma where to buy somat salt - soma medication side effects

Anonymous said...

retin a skin buy retin a cream no prescription - retin a micro expensive

Anonymous said...

buy soma soma bras 79984 - soma drug test detection time

Anonymous said...

buy soma online buy soma drug - buy soma cod overnight

Anonymous said...

purchase retin-a retin a cream lotion - retin a cream buy australia

Anonymous said...

soma online soma drug fun - soma bras austin tx

Anonymous said...

buy soma soma bras dallas tx - soma cruz

Anonymous said...

buy retin a retin-a cream in usa - retin a micro gel coupon

Anonymous said...

buy soma order soma usa - buy soma online overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

cialis online canada buy cialis hong kong - cialis daily tablet

Anonymous said...

buy retin-a retin a gel instructions - buy retin a gel 0.01

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol montreal - tramadol dosage in canines

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online best website buy tramadol - tramadol dosage dosage per day

Anonymous said...

tramadol cheap tramadol 50mg good pain - tramadol typical dosage

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol for dogs tramadol hcl 50 mg nausea - tramadol dosage weight dogs

Anonymous said...

buy retin a buy retin a from usa - retin a micro gel 1 vs 04

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol no prescription tramadol addiction withdrawal symptoms - tramadol experiences

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol tramadol zydus - illegal to buy tramadol online

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol tramadol dosage - order tramadol overnight shipping

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online-viagra-tramadol.com - cheap tramadol with no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol for dogs with liver problems - tramadol iv

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol without a script tramadol dosage strengths - tramadol constipation

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol ultram tramadol 50mg acetaminophen - tramadol 627 side effects

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg tramadol 100mg er - buy tramadol extended release

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol can you buy tramadol online legally - tramadol 50 mg long term use

Anonymous said...

buy cialis online buy generic cialis usa - cialis online acquisto

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online without a prescription tramadol 650 om - generic tramadol hcl 50 mg

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol tramadol 50mg no prescription - purchase tramadol uk

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol tramadol withdrawal day 8 - tramadol high 50 mg

Anonymous said...

best buy tramadol buy cheap tramadol cod - tramadol rash

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy generic tramadol no prescription - tramadol for dogs drug interactions

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol online no prescription overnight cod - tramadol for dogs long term

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol hydrochloride 50mg dosage - my tramadol addiction

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl contents - buy tramadol online from usa

Anonymous said...

tramadol online generic tramadol extended release - online pharmacy for tramadol

Anonymous said...

xanax online buy xanax online in canada - xanax side effects on kidneys

Anonymous said...

cialis online cialis online bestellen - where to buy cialis in toronto usa

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol with cod - tramadol hcl usp monograph

Anonymous said...

order tramadol no prescription tramadol 50 mg once a day - buying tramadol online illegal

Anonymous said...

http://buytramadolonlinecool.com/#96430 generic tramadol no prescription overnight - buy tramadol no rx

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin for anxiety in children - klonopin dosage in dogs

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol no prescription tramadol hcl tab 50mg side effects - tramadol 50 mg and xanax

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod online buy tramadol online cod no prescription - tramadol 99 free shipping

Anonymous said...

tramadol overnight shipping buy tramadol overnight - tramadol online pharmacy usa

Anonymous said...

generic carisoprodol buy soma carisoprodol online - soma carisoprodol tablets 250mg