Almost 80 percent of people that work in publishing are white, according to a 2015 report from Lee & Low Books.
The independent publisher surveyed more than 40 publishers and review journals to identify diversity in publishing. The findings revealed that diversity issues span beyond who gets published and across jobs in publishing. NPR has more about the survey:
The Lee & Low survey also reported on staff demographics by departments. In Marketing and Publicity, 77 percent were white. These are people who make decisions on how to position books to the press and to consumers, and if and where to send authors on tour — critical considerations in the successful launching of any publication. For writers of color, the lack of diversity in book publicity departments can feel like a death knell.