Veronica Chambers

Veronica Chambers is an Afro-Latina contemporary and prolific author, journalist, novelist, essayist, teacher and magazine innovator.

Quotes

 * I was the first black woman editor at the New York Times Magazine – that’s crazy! I’m not that old where you’d think I could be the New York Times’ first anything, but I was… People wanted to know about things, they had questions about my hair, they wanted to know where I was from, they wanted to know if I only listen to hip-hop. When people aren’t exposed to difference, there’s a lot of burden put on you to explain…
 * On African American women being the “first” in their given fields in “Q&A with Veronica Chambers, author of ‘The Meaning of Michelle’” in The Stanford Daily (2017 Feb 6)


 * Writing for TV was a huge influence on this book, partly because you realize in casting what a vast gap there was between who people are and who they play. You sometimes see Shakespearan trained actors playing janitors. And at the same time, I’ve seen actresses who are really well known for playing wealthy, super cultured women come in and they are well, let’s just say the exact opposite.
 * On how writing for television influenced her novel The Go-Between in “Author Interview: Veronica Chambers questions Mexican immigrant stereotypes in ‘The Go-Between’” in Hypable (2017 May 9)


 * I love that Camilla is trying to figure it out. We tell kids there are no stupid questions. But when you throw race in the mix, there are a lot of questions — some are painful to ask, some are painful to answer and we all say stupid things sometimes. I hope readers feel after reading Cammi’s story that it’s not about one moment or interaction, it’s about staying heart strong and moving forward. Like Maya Angelou used to say, when you know better, you do better.
 * On the character arc of Camilla in “Author Interview: Veronica Chambers questions Mexican immigrant stereotypes in ‘The Go-Between’” in Hypable (2017 May 9)


 * I think the essence of the book would really be, it doesn't hurt to try. You know, I think that's been my motto forever. And I think it's done me very well. And I think the joy in the book is a big thing, because I think we live a lot of our lives without joy. And I think loving what you're doing while you're doing it is really important.
 * On what she hopes readers take away from her book A Girl's Guide to Love, Life and Foolish Bravery in “Veronica Chambers: 'The Joy of Doing Things Badly'” in NPR (2006 May 11)