Book publisher Podium Entertainment recently posted a video and video ad with a Black book creator promoting Capone by Jahquel J. The urban romance book and subsequent Delgato Family series was first published independently and picked up for a traditional publishing deal in 2025. Jahquel J is one of Black romance's most-celebrated authors, so this deal has been fiercely celebrated by Black indie authors, readers and book influencers. However, in the now-deleted video originally posted to @Podium Entertainment’s Instagram account, it is abundantly clear the creator in the video AND the members of Podium's team responsible for approving and posting the video DID NOT read the book or the book's synopsis. They didn't even research videos and posts from Black book creators who've read the Delgato Family series and regularly read and platform Black romance and urban romance books. This negligence is ultimately Podium Entertainment's fault. In an effort to appeal to mainstream, non-Black fantasy, romantasy and dark romance readers who don't regularly read or seek out Black romance and urban romance titles, they tokenized a Black woman book creator who also doesn't regularly read or seek out Black romance and urban romance books to be the face of the campaign. Her identity as a Black woman was used as a bridge to appeal to readers who would never engage with the title if left to their own devices and curiousity This move is a slap in the face of countless Black book nano and micro influencers and content creators on BookTok and Bookstagram who are the loudest and boldest champions of books by Black authors. They are largely overlooked for paid opportunities and opportunities afforded to their white, non-Black and mid-tier and macro influencer counterparts by the publishing industry and book ecosystem. Also, as bookfluencers and book content creators, we should have a moral and ethical compass when accepting paid partnerships, brand deals and other opportunities. Even marginalized book creators who are criminally and systematically overlooked and underpaid should question when they're being approached and pass on opportunities that do not align with them or their audience. The failures of this campaign speaks to broader issues around race and equity in publishings. Oftentimes, Black authors' books are picked up for traditional publishing deals, but they're not given the resources and cultural competence to succeed in the market. This is on top of A now-deleted video from a singular publisher doesn't erase what Black authors, content creators and readers know to be true about the book industry. #BookTok #blackbooktok #blackromancebook #urbanromance #jahquelj - @taliacadet