Is she white?

I got a funny and surprising question last Saturday from the members of my critique group, all of whom, it turns out, are middle-aged white women. Someone asked me if a particular character in my current novel, AN UNTIDY AFFAIR, is white. The character's name is Samantha and she is the secretary/clerical assistant to my protagonist David Blaise, and a former Ho (a.k.a. Baby Cakes). What was so surprising to me is that everyone in the group was wondering the same thing.

Writing fiction to me is like having a long, elaborate daydream and writing it all down. I see each character in my head as I write them in each scene. I describe who they are and how they look and try to demonstrate things about their character by the actions I also describe.

Samantha is a fun but minor character. I give her something to do in this novel but plan to show more of who she is in my next David Blaise novel, which will be a prequel. I know what Samantha looks like and I thought I described her well, including mentioning something about her race.

But looking back through the text I now realize that I don't clearly state her race. It is vague, which is what prompted the question. I also found another character, also a woman, about whom I don't provide a firm indication of race.

I like my critique group and I take their suggestions seriously and, in return, I make serious suggestions when it is my turn to discuss someone else's work. I don't always use the suggestions I get -- nor do I expect someone to always take my suggestions -- but I have learned to rely on their objective judgments.

I know what race Samantha is and can clarify the point with just one sentence in the text, and probably with even less than a sentence. But it is the collective judgment of the group that I do nothing. I should leave it as it is and allow the reader to decide, if they wish.

Samantha's race doesn't play a role in the story. It only provides some detail about her. So is it necessary to state which race she is. No, I don't think it is.

For now, I am leaving it the way it is. But what do you think?

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Thanks for reading and keep writing.