Beyond the Blurb | Support Bloggers of Minorities and with Disabilities

I always want to come up with interesting topics for my weekly/monthly discussion post. And this topic hits close to home for me. Last month, I struggled with the stress in my life, and I couldn’t blog, so I took a small hiatus. So I’ll come clean: I have mental and physical illnesses. Yes, I have multiple. Past trauma and a chronic illness have wreaked havoc with my life, and I’ve let them control me. And saying that my illnesses are disabilities is hard to admit. I don’t want to accept that they are. But they are.

So, as I write this post, I want other bloggers to know they aren’t alone. Whether they are in a minority or have a disability, this community will support them no matter what they do. And if they need help, we’re here for them. But why should you keep supporting these bloggers?

 

1. They bring a different and unique perspective to the blogging community

Sometimes, people simply don’t understand the struggles they deal with. They show you how we all aren’t completely aware of issues with PTSD, anxiety, depression, racism, sexism, racial tensions, or homophobia.

 

2. They promote diverse books

Not a surprising reason, right? I find more diverse reads from them than anyone else. And I love that. I love that they’re promoting all kinds of books and authors. More importantly, they’re showing their love for them.

 

3. They aren’t afraid to say what needs to be said

Do you know what I look for the most in bloggers? What they’re willing to say. What crap they won’t put up with. If they find something problematic, they’ll damn well tell you about it. And you’ll be sure to listen. I know I do.

 

4. Their voice is needed in a sea of noise

Most of the time, you may not hear a voice that speaks out against a hyped-up book or author. But you should. Their voice deserves to be heard, to be acknowledged. And maybe, we should start listening up.

 

5. They support other bloggers

Networking helps fellow bloggers who are in the same situation as them. If others need help, they offer support when needed. But they also build a connection with other bloggers who need that support system that may not be there in their lives.

 

So where do you find them? Networking and Google. But if you don’t know where to start, here are some of my favourite bloggers:

Merline from Merline Reads

I met her by chance through a Twitter follow post. Merline has opened my eyes with many issues that POC face today. I love reading her reviews. And it’s a pleasure to know her.

 

Cait from A Page with a View

Who doesn’t know Cait? She’s practically a blog queen of book nerds. I’ve read her stuff for years. But I didn’t know she suffered from Lyme disease. She doesn’t let that take away her love for books.

 

Yash, Nafiza, Janet, Jane, and Yuriy from the Book Wars

I’ve followed their blog for several years now. But I know Yash personally. Both she and I took Ryerson’s Publishing program together, and I happened to be in the same course as her. She’s passionate about children’s and YA books.

 

Jeann, Jenna, and Aila from Happy Indulgence

They’ve been blogging since 2012. These three women give you a happy vibe when blogging (really, no pun there). I love when they support a book that deserves recognition and when they tear down a bad one.

 

Giselle from Book Nerd

She, a Canadian blogger, is one reason why I started my own blog, and her blogging tips have helped me over the last few years. Her voice is unique, and she stays honest with her reviews.