What's missing from this debate, IMO, is drawing the line between what IS constructive criticism and what IS cancel culture. It's one thing to harshly criticize an author with millions of fans. A person like that needs to be held accountable, and SHOULD be under stricter critique because of the sheer power of their reach.

But how about the author with 100,000 followers? 10,000? An anticipated début literary darling? I'm reminded of Kosoko Jackson and Amélie Wen Zhao, two young writers of colour who were cancelled before their works were even published. These younger people may at some point become eminent voices, but at this stage, they are very much still learning, educating themselves, figuring out how the world works. So they made a mistake. Shouldn't we gently educate them, nurture, them and provide them with constructive critique rather than flat-out cancel them?

As a writer of colour myself who hopes to be their shoes soon, I must be honest and say I am terrified when my début work comes out. I do not mind critique, but I do mind relentless bullying.

Interested to hear your take, Jessica.