Harry Potter, as a book and as a phenomenon, was a good thing. It started a revolution in children and teenage literature. I remember that before it, there was almost nothing, and then the market saw children and teenage litt. was good and it flourished.
I am glad for Harry Potter’s existence.
I was a fan, I own the collection three times over (once in French, twice in English). I have my own Gryffindor cape that I used to wear as a bathrobe, it now covers my bird’s cage. I found my old Gryffindor scarf on the floor the other day, there’s a Gryffindor coaster I brought back from work right now next to me.
I attended every release day event, from the 5th book up, every movie, in full costume. I have appeared twice in the newspaper. I made my own wand. I made art read so, so, so much fanfic.
Harry Potter was a good thing, a decent series that caught our collective imagination, something we can still debate and discuss as adults. A modern mythology.
JK Rowling is not a good person, though.
Right now, the climate is changing, the planet is under a pandemic, people everywhere are fighting against racism and police brutality. People are jobless, and mad, and depressed.
And this person, this millionaire that owes us every dollar to her account, has also one of the most influential platforms ever. Her voice is heard everywhere. Every word she writes has repercussions.
She could have spoken for black lives, against police brutality, she could have promoted safety rules to follow in Covid-19 times.
Instead, she speaks against trans people.
In times of trouble, people show us their true colors.
The mighty uses her voice against the most vulnerable among us.
Good is not a thing you are, it’s a thing you do.
And instead of doing good, she does evil.
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I still stand by the good I learned from the HP books. I am still grateful for the creativity, friendships, escapism, unique moments it has brought to my life. I am grateful for what it brought to literature.
But now, we can promote other authors. Let’s not give her a single dollar more.
This person managed to explain the things I’ve been feeling about this.
Harry Potter has been the longest withstanding special interest I’ve ever had. I’ve liked and obsessed over several things along the years, but HP has been at least on the back burner in my mind for 21 years. I’ll probably never let go of it, this story and this fandom helped shape me as a person.
I am also trans though, I have a trans baby sister who’s the love of my life. I’ve got so many trans friends, being an ally was what made me realize I was one of them. It hurts seeing a childhood hero not be a good person, but that’s where we are. In a time where “cancel culture” is so strong, it’s funny that there’s still so much justifications on how JK “did so much good, though”
