The Privilege and Responsibility of Representing Authors of Color
From the desk of Jevon Bolden, founder and CEO of Embolden Media Group
As a literary agent of color who has navigated the industry as an acquisitions editor, ghostwriter, and author, I’ve seen publishing from many angles. It’s an ever-changing, often challenging landscape, but one that also holds boundless potential for transformation—especially when it comes to the representation and success of authors of color.
Publishing remains rife with disinformation, limiting beliefs, and systemic barriers for marginalized voices. But I’m encouraged to see progress in addressing these challenges through increased transparency and education. It’s a privilege to contribute to this conversation, drawing on my experiences to advocate for meaningful change.
Bridging the Gap in Author Relations
One area that demands our focus is author relations, particularly when it comes to serving authors of color. Publishing has historically struggled here, leaving many authors feeling unsupported, misunderstood, or undervalued. However, as agents, we have a unique role in bridging these gaps. We can champion our clients, foster equity, and guide publishers toward more thoughtful, inclusive practices.
In recent months, I’ve shared insights on these issues in panels with editors, workshops with book publicists, and one-on-one conversations with my clients. Today, I’d like to offer seven key considerations for agents representing authors of color—ideas rooted in my own journey as an agent and advocate.
1. Get to Know Your Clients
Representation starts with relationship. Take the time to truly know your clients as people—not just their professional goals, but the personal motivations, cultural identities, and values that inform their work. This deeper understanding equips you to bridge gaps in communication between the author and the publisher while advocating for their needs effectively.
For many agents, representing authors of color means stepping outside familiar norms and expanding your cultural awareness. Commit to the work of understanding cultural nuances, biases, and histories that shape your client’s perspective. This effort builds trust and helps you show up for your client in ways that matter most.
2. Be Present in Every Step
For many authors of color, entering the publishing world can feel like stepping into unfamiliar or unwelcoming territory. Your presence as their agent provides not only advocacy but also reassurance. Be there during key meetings—not to overshadow your client, but to amplify their voice and ensure the publisher follows through on commitments.
Your presence in these spaces helps address systemic issues like overlooked promises or misaligned marketing strategies. It also allows you to collaborate proactively with marketing and publicity teams to tailor campaigns that reflect your client’s unique identity and audience. The message you send is clear: You are not alone in this process. I’m with you every step of the way.
3. Listen Between the Lines
Authors of color often carry unspoken questions and concerns in the publishing process: Do I belong here? Will they take my ideas seriously? Is this performative, or do they truly value my voice? These thoughts can manifest in hesitation, pauses, or subtle cues during meetings.
As an agent, your job is to read between the lines and create space for your client’s voice. Ask clarifying questions, prompt them to share their thoughts, and advocate for solutions that honor their perspective. Sometimes, marginalized voices hold back to avoid being labeled difficult or demanding. Your role is to ensure their concerns are heard and addressed, fostering a dynamic of collaboration rather than compromise.
4. Don’t Be Intimidated
Authors of color may bring strong emotions—positive or negative—into the publishing process. These emotions often stem from deep, lived experiences of navigating systemic inequities or being “the first” in their space. They might feel immense pride in their work, frustration with the industry’s shortcomings, or anxiety about how their story will be received.
Rather than shying away or feeling overwhelmed, lean in with empathy and understanding. Stay steady, listen actively, and affirm their right to feel what they feel. Match their energy when it’s appropriate, and offer a calming presence when it’s not. Be the advocate they can trust to navigate these emotional moments with them.
At the same time, don’t let the weight of these feelings deter you from advocating boldly. When authors share frustrations about systemic barriers or moments of discomfort, recognize these as opportunities to build trust and push for meaningful change. You might be the person they need to remind them that their voice matters and that you’re fully invested in helping them succeed.
And then, don’t be intimidated by publishers who are stuck in their ways. Every author and project has the potential to disrupt the status quo, and your client’s work might be the one to spark change. As their agent, you’re uniquely positioned to challenge outdated practices and advocate for innovation. Stay engaged, persist through resistance, and remain open to the opportunities that arise. Your commitment could help redefine what’s possible—for this author and for others to come.
5. Offer Guidance Without the Pedestal
It’s important to respect and celebrate your clients’ accomplishments and perspectives, but don’t let admiration turn into unhelpful reverence. Authors of color don’t need to be placed on a pedestal for “overcoming the odds”—they need partners who will engage with them authentically and guide them through the complexities of publishing.
Offer your expertise confidently, even when your client is well-versed in their own audience or subject matter. Many authors, particularly debut authors, feel new to the intricacies of publishing. Be their resource, sounding board, and truth-teller. This balance—honoring their voice while offering your wisdom—creates a partnership rooted in mutual respect.
6. Cultivate Empathy Through Connection
You may not fully share your clients’ cultural or lived experiences, but you can still cultivate empathy. Reflect on moments in your own life where you felt unseen, othered, or underestimated. Use those emotional reference points to guide your advocacy, ensuring your clients feel seen, valued, and supported.
This isn’t about equating your experiences but about grounding your work in shared humanity. As you deepen your understanding of systemic inequities, let it inform how you advocate, collaborate, and celebrate your client’s work. Empathy turns representation into relationship.
7. Build a Living Toolbox for Equity
Publishing’s inequities don’t stop at advances or royalties—they extend to marketing and publicity. As an agent, you can fill these gaps by curating a personalized list of marketing ideas, outlets, and strategies that intersect with your client’s identity, audience, and message.
Bring this toolbox into publisher meetings as a signal of your commitment to equity. Use it to evaluate whether a publisher is the right fit for your client and as leverage to ensure their marketing strategies reflect your client’s vision. Your leadership in this area helps set a higher standard for inclusivity and paves the way for others to follow.
Setting the Tone for Equity in Publishing
As agents, we are often the gatekeepers and trailblazers for our clients’ publishing journeys. Our actions set the tone for how our clients experience this process—whether as an empowering collaboration or an isolating endeavor. The weight of that responsibility is one I carry with great care.
I’m still learning and growing in this work. Serving diverse authors in an industry as complex as publishing challenges me daily, but it also enriches me in ways I never expected. When their stories land in my inbox, I know I’ve been entrusted with something sacred. Hearing their motivations, championing their ideas, and advocating for their voices is a privilege I never take lightly.
I’d love to hear from you. What strategies have you used to better serve authors of color? What perspectives or practices could we all consider to make publishing more equitable? Let’s continue the conversation and the work—together.