Why do they call Richard Wright and August Wilson "black writers"?

Question

I know Wright, Wilson, James Baldwin, Weldon Johnson, and other writers fall into the category of "black", but they don't call Henry James "a noted white writer." They called certain people "black extremists" and radicals, but I have not heard or read even one reference to TImothy McVeigh as a "white extremist", much less a "Scottish-American terrorist". What gives?

Answer 1

Because they wrote about black issues from a black perspective. They were addressing their work to specifically address black issues. White authors very rarely if ever write their novels and stories specifically about being white and white issues.

This is something that causes some controversy because very few authors deal with white issues of male issues, while there are many authors who write about female issues, black issues, Hispanic issues, etc.

Answer 2

White extremist is a term that is used to describe those who believe in white supremacy. Timothy McVeigh isn't called one because he isn't one. He just hates government.
As for a "Scottish-American terrorist", name someone who would fall into that category. I know of none. I have never heard of Scottish people refering to themselves as Scottish-Americans, first of all, they are either Scottish or they are American, depending on which generation of American they are. Scottish people are not typically terroristic. You might be thinking of the Shin Fein from Ireland, in which case the term Irish terrorists is used.
Writers are called "black writers" because they are and it is not the "white establishment" that calls them that. It is people like Oprah who make that distinction. It's like saying British poet or Canadian author. For the most part writers who happen to be black write books that appeal to the culture or experience of black people or their ancestry. I believe that is why this distintion is made. It has more to do with the genre than it does the color of the writer's skin. Just as Henry James is called a noted American writer, because that's what he wrote about, Barack Obama is a noted Black writer because that's what he writes about, the culture, the people, etc...
Not everything that contains the word "black" in reference to African-American people is intentionally racist.

Answer 3

If white people had a history of being enslaved and oppressed and persecuted for the color of their skin, white writers would be noted for being white.

As it stands, black writers have had to work extra hard. First, to overcome racial prejudice and economic hardships, and then to be recognized as decent writers.

Answer 4

Because white people are the norm. We don't point out the norm because it is unnecessary.