I contend this argument, though factual, is disingenuous. If we were discussing Italian-American literature or German-American literature or Irish-American literature the absurdity of including Central and South American writers in that survey would be self-evident.
Let me reiterate that expanding the definition of what constitutes an African-American writer harms rather than helps those writers of color who write about the unique African-American experience. If you are going to publish a pan-American book, call it what it is. ~(no)rave! --- In SciFiNoir_Lit@yahoogroups.com, "md_moore42" <md_moor...@...> wrote: > > Wait---don't the "Americas" include both South and North America and this > entire side of the globe? > > I think that I had this same discussion on Neil Gaiman's website about the > American center being located in the center of American midwest (in American > Gods). We aren't the center of the Americas. And Black folk live in both > North and South America. > > > --- In SciFiNoir_Lit@yahoogroups.com, "ravenadal" <ravenadal@> wrote: > > > > I understand the premise that slave ships also stopped in Puerto Rico and > > that the Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti but > > while Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of America, the Dominican Republic is > > not. So while immigrant Diaz can be construed as a Dominican-American > > writer or even a Pan-American writer, he is not an African-American writer. > > Once again, while I acknowledge Diaz is a fine writer, his inclusion > > dilutes the very notion of "African-American" writing. And, when editors > > feel the need to broaden the category it fosters the erroneous notion that > > there aren't enough "real" African-American authors to include in such an > > anthology. > > > > ~(no) rave! > > > > --- In SciFiNoir_Lit@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Hayden" <belsidus2000@> wrote: > > > > > > I have read "Oscar Wao" - I highly recommend it - and I have met the > > > author, Junot Diaz, > > > > > > (I agree on both counts. I met Junot too when he had put out "Drown". > > > Cool cat. Down to earth. Go hear him read. > > > > > > but I am confused as to why an excerpt from this book is included in the > > > best "African-American Fiction" of 2009. > > > > > > (I suspect that Messrs. Early and Harris are trying to broaden the > > > definition of what is African American--a stance which I agree with. > > > > > > Junot is Dominican American and, like Puerto Ricans, there is a strong > > > African strain in their blood lines. > > > > > > I may direct a query to them. Harris, anyway. Gerald Early is one of > > > the most paranoid Negroes alive and never responds to any queries. He > > > lives and works right here in St. Louis, by the way. > > > > > > Maybe he is scared of St. Louis Negroes. There is good reason. > > > > > > Maybe he knows something we don't) > > > > > > --- In SciFiNoir_Lit@yahoogroups.com, "ravenadal" <ravenadal@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
