Willow Smith Receives Backlash Over Representation Of Muslims In New Fantasy Book ‘Black Shield Maiden’

Willow Smith Receives Backlash Over Representation Of Muslims In New Fantasy Book ‘Black Shield Maiden’

The Muslim community is not happy with Willow Smith’s upcoming fantasy novel.

After an excerpt of the forthcoming fiction book “Black Shield Maiden” was released, co-author Willow Smith received some backlash from members of the Muslim community upset by the books savage portrayal of the Muslim people.

Earlier this week, publishing company Penguin, who is set to release Willow’s co-authored book October 4th of this year, released a short synopsis and excerpt from the Ghana x Vikings fantasy novel.

One of the excerpts reads:

“the Amazigh are dangerous on their best day. They have little regard for anyone who doesn’t worship the Muslim god — and even their own tribes are always at war with one another.”

Shortly after, social media users quickly took issue with the books representation of the “savage” Amazigh people, who are historically known as any of the descendants of the pre-Arab inhabitants of North Africa. In the novel, they practice the Muslim faith and are written as worshipers of Allah.

Once the conversation surrounding Muslim representation began, the novels other co-author Jess Hendel offered some clarification about the excerpt. Stating that the novels goal is to touch on topics such as the long misrepresentation of the Amazigh and other Islamic peoples, and to open reader’s eyes to the issues upset fans were speaking on.

The book follows a young African warrior who was stolen from her home and brought to the world of the Vikings, where she meets a princess.

Willow nor the books publishing company has made any public comments about the matter.

[VIA]

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