I’m an Asian TV Writer. Should I Take on Projects With Black Leads?

The ethicist weighs in.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story September 26, 2020 THE ETHICIST Illustration by Tomi Um The Ethicist I’m an Asian TV Writer. Should I Take on Projects With Black Leads? The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on identity in Hollywood writers’ rooms — and more. By Kwame Anthony Appiah I’m an Asian television writer who has been extremely lucky in working fairly consistently since my first gig. I’m now in a position where people reach out to me to develop new projects. When these projects feature a Black lead character, is it ethical for me to pursue these opportunities? Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT As an Asian (and a woman), I’ve definitely experienced my fair share of racism and discrimination, and I can write authentically about that experience. But I’m “just” Asian, and I may be taking a job from a Black writer. Or because it is Hollywood, it’s more likely I’d be taking the job from a mediocre white dude, which, ethically, I feel just fine about. If any of these projects got off the ground, I’d be able to create a lot of opportunities for other BIPOCs, but again, it’s Hollywood, so who knows how likely it is the project would ever get to that stage. The question is: Where do I, as an Asian, fall in this movement? I don’t want to be a tool of white supremacy, but visibility is important for my community too. Read the Ethicist’s reply here. THE VOYAGES ISSUE Teju Cole The Voyages Issue In Dark Times, I Sought Out the Turmoil of Caravaggio’s Paintings The work the artist made near the end of his life changed my understanding of both beauty and suffering. By Teju Cole Jimmy Chin for The New York Times The Voyages Issue 12,000 Feet Up, With a Storm Coming In A summer romp in the Tetons with Jimmy Chin and his pals. Photographs by Jimmy Chin Sabiha Çimen for The New York Times The Voyages Issue Is It Strange to Say I Miss the Bodies of Strangers? Weeks before lockdown, I made a whirlwind tour of Istanbul’s public baths. It was a crash course in pleasure that helped me understand what we’ve lost since. By Leslie Jamison Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT MORE FROM THE MAGAZINE Recipes, essays and columns Illustration by Ori Toor   Studies Show Covid-19 May Have a Hidden Impact on the Heart Should that change how we think about its risks? This is what the research tells us. By Kim Tingley Robbie Lawrence for The New York Times   Letter Of Recommendation Find Yourself a Tailor. It’s Not Fancy, It’s Freeing. When you start to think of clothes as things that can be altered, the way you see them changes. By Rachel Connolly Illustration by Radio   Tip How to Move Back Home Be creative about space. Communicate early and often. Don’t let your family dynamic regress. By Malia Wollan     Poem: About the Dead Man’s Recent Dreams The "dead man poems" Marvin Bell has been writing for more than a quarter century take on a collective shadow presence when read during a pandemic. By Marvin Bell and Naomi Shihab Nye Illustration by Louise Zergaeng Pomeroy   Judge John Hodgman Judge John Hodgman on Naming Your Child Should you avoid a last name that makes the child sound like a car? By Judge John Hodgman Stay in touch: Follow us on Twitter (@NYTmag). Appreciated this email? Forward it to a friend and help us grow. Loved a story? Hated it? Write us a letter at magazine@nytimes.com.Did a friend forward this to you? Sign up here to get the magazine newsletter. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Check us out on Instagram, where you’ll find photography from our archives, behind-the-scenes snippets from photo shoots, interviews on how we design our covers and outtakes that don’t make it into the issue. Learn more about the experiences and costs of war. Sign up for the At War newsletter to receive stories about conflict from Times reporters and outside voices. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The New York Times Magazine from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018