Why are these girls all lined up outside a bookstore at 11PM? It's not the latest Harry Potter or Twilight novel; it's a new bestseller for young adults that has tongues wagging over its controversial use of race.
In "Save the Pearls" from Victoria Foyt, a far flung future sees a society in which ultraviolet radiation from the destruction of the ozone layer causes darker skinned peoples to be healthier and placed in positions of power. Lighter skinned peoples are lower on the social rungs, with whites, or "pearls," on the bottom. Those who cannot have children by the age of 22 are cut off from government services, with "coals" (or blacks) having the highest rate of reproduction and "pearls" at the bottom. Foyt maintains the premise merely turns the table on standard concepts of racism. Critics believe that it's subverting young minds.
"This is astonishing," says Miranda Harper, a mother of 3 who has come to protest the book opening. Harper, who is black, says that the book is the latest incarnation of old racist ideas. "It's just miscegenation fears all over again."
Many readers don't agree.
"I think this book is, like, a real good look at what, like, things are actually happening and going to happen," said one 16 year old girl who refused to be named. "Like, we have a black president, y'know? So it's not like things are bad for black people. And Russel is the only black guy in our class but all the other girls want to go out with him because he's really funny, like, Mellisa says she made out with him last week."
"Skank," she added.
"I think the political correctness police are afraid that their double standards are being exposed. They're sexualizing our children and saying that blacks are sexier," said one middle aged man who enjoys young adult novels. "When Eden [the protagonist] and Bramford [her black boyfriend] engage in biblical relations... It... it really... It makes you think. Excuse me."
The debate has gone beyond the bookstore and to a national stage.
"We could not believe the content of the book," said Shelinda McCormick of the Southern Poverty Law Center. McCormick, who is black, went on to say, "Young adult fiction is one of the fastest growing areas of modern literature. The ideas we pass onto our next generation are important. If we tell them that blacks are 'beast like,' then will it be any surprise if they engage in racist thought later in life?"
Some public figures are defending the book however. Former Governor Sarah Palin tweeted a picture of her and her husband Todd holding newly purchased copies of the book. Included with the picture was the message, "you go sister victoria showing the sex/racist lib media whos boss. loved romance scnes
"
Palin's tweet sparked a firestorm of controversy, with celebrities both condemning and praising the former VP candidate.
"yo sarah i loved that part too. lets start a book club to discuss it," responded Glen Rice in a reply tweet. Rice, who is black, is a former NBA star.
At broadcast time, Sand Dollar Press, the book's publisher, refused to comment.
For NBC, this is Anne Curry.
