RWA Board to RWANYC Board Members
Sent February 5, 2020
Thank you for reaching out to us.
You are right about the persistent issues of racism and bigotry you raised in your letter. As an association, RWA has failed to meaningfully address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion over the last several years, and as a result, we have lost the trust of our membership. We know that, we’ve acknowledged that painful reality, and we are working extremely hard to try to restore that trust.
We know that the only way for us to make things right is to change our culture. Our commitment to ending racism and bigotry within our community must be part of our values and rooted in our foundation. While it needs to be reflected in our policies, procedures, programming, and activities, for sure, it does not end there; that is only the beginning. It is with this in mind that we have been interviewing DEI experts who can assist RWA across the organization, including with diversifying Board and staff recruitment and training, and working with staff to design and structure membership programs and events, including our 2020 annual conference.
As we work to become a better, stronger, more inclusive RWA, we are doing our best to be transparent and honest with all of you and our membership. That is why we are regularly sending updates to the membership and why our staff are making themselves available to answer questions from the media and others, including the podcast you referenced.
To clarify, our staffer did not express excitement about the current crisis our community is enduring. She expressed excitement and optimism at having an opportunity to make RWA into what it could and should be—a safe and inclusive place for all members. We share that optimism of what RWA can be. We know that we have a long road ahead, but with these events comes an opportunity for meaningful change.
We are not going to give up on trying to make RWA a better association that acts on behalf of and for the benefit of its members. We believe that this crisis must serve as a catalyst for the real change that we need.
As always, we value your voices and thank you for your commitment to building a better and more inclusive RWA.
Sincerely,
RWA Board of Directors
Nan Dixon (Treasurer), Hanna Rhys Barnes (Director-at-Large), Kate McMurray (Director-at-Large), Maria Powers (Director-at-Large), Mellanie Szereto (Director-at-Large), Eliana West (Director-at-Large)
Original Letter from RWANYC Executive Board to RWA Board
To the acting RWA BoD and staff:
The current RWANYC executive board and one of our former presidents, a group comprised of five black women and a queer woman, and members who have been harmed by the systemic racism and bigotry in RWA are writing to demand an explanation from the acting board of directors and staff of Romance Writers of America. We ask that the leadership of this organization explain to all of us how one month into a crisis fueled by systemic racism, it is still not possible for RWA to acknowledge there is an issue.
Jessie Edwards, the public relations manager of this organization, spoke on behalf of RWA this weekend on an interview for the Smart Bitches podcast. On three separate occasions she was asked, and she failed to acknowledge an issue with racism and bigotry within the RWA membership. Three times she was given a chance to speak to this issue honestly and genuinely, and instead she concluded that was has transpired since December 23rd was all due to policies.
This organization continues to deny the experience of those they have been kept out and hurt for decades and even as the entire thing is crumbling, this leadership cannot name the truth of what the problems within RWA are. This organization, this membership, has denied LGBT+ members entry, has discriminated against PoC, has failed to accommodate disabled members, has censured and silenced those speaking out about racism, and still racism and bigotry cannot be named?
If this acting national board and staff cannot recognize the issues at play here, the harm that’s been done to the marginalized voices in RWA, then how can you ask us to trust that you can fix them? How can you ask us to help you fix a problem we didn’t cause while you hold space for the people who continue to harm us?
What kind of leadership watches as an organization unravels and sends a representative to say they’re “excited” about a crisis that’s left an entire community reeling and forced every woman of color on the national board to resign in protest?
If one month into this crisis you cannot see there’s a racism and bigotry issue in RWA then at least have the conviction to say so, and stop lying to members by assuring us you have the organizational will and clarity to do what needs to be done to fix this.
The RWANYC executive board asks that you send an appropriate response, which includes a statement regarding the acting national board and staff’s position regarding systemic racism and bigotry within RWA by Wednesday, February 5th, 2020, close of business. We will pass on this statement to our members as we consider the future of this chapter and the romance community of New York City.