AUDIOBOOK RELEASE: The White Guy Dies First
YA Horror Story Collection
Narrating sections — two stories in particular — in THE WHITE GUY DIES FIRST, edited by Terry J. Benton Walker, was incredibly fun and satisfying for me.
As every BIPOC person knows too well, American horror tropes have long perpetuated harmful stereotypes about marginalized folks. From slut-shaming, to protecting the concept of white innocence; from making monstrous any disability to villainizing anyone who doesn’t fit in, horror has often used the “Other” as a focus for exploring fear and reinforcing social mores of the time. One of horror’s most problematic tropes is murdering BIPOC characters and sparing only a white character at the end.
THE WHITE GUY DIES FIRST takes this racist trope and flips it. Not just for the sake of a point, but in order to explore the everyday, casual racism that haunts every person of color just trying to make it through the day.
I have the pleasure of narrating two stories starring Asian-American characters: THE GOLDEN DRAGON by Kendare Blake, and DOCILE GIRLS by Chloe Gong. It’s YA Horror where I don’t have to worry that the only characters who look like me exist solely to be killed for the white protagonist’s benefit. But don’t get it twisted — even though you know the white guy is going to die first, there’s still fun mysteries and twists to keep you entertained!
My fellow narrators in this audiobook include: Alejandro Antonio Ruiz, André Santana, Angel Pean, Joy Ofodu, Kausar Mohammed, Samara Naeymi, Terry J. Benton-Walker & Torian Brackett.
Much thanks to Elishia Merricks at Macmillan Audio for this title!
🖤🤎❤🧡💛💚💙💜 { progress rainbow heart emojis }
Cheers!
Nicky
