Although Lois-Ann Yamanaka’s Blu’s Hanging is an acclaim worthy, potent piece of literature, I agree with the decision to revoke the AAAS 1997 Fiction Award presented to Yamanaka. The article “Locals Must Listen To Locals” most eloquently describes the position of local Filipino/as in regards to the novel. The AAAS was founded with the means to fortify racial ties within communities, and the novel does not, in any way, display signs of racial respect. This being said, it is only fair to point out that there are very few positive figures in the novel, and the purpose of the book was not to enlighten readers about racial ties or brotherhood, but to shed light upon the coming of age of a responsibility-laden pre-teen, whose family strife and dangerous environment surpasses that of many modern-day “standard” American families. If the AAAS’ sole purpose was to promote powerfully beautiful literature that illuminates cultural differences in Asian American communities, then there should be no delay in bestowing many awards of praise onto the cover of this novel.
This is a main reason why I disagree with Joan May Cordova’s letter of disapproval to the AAAS. Her letter bashes the novel, suggesting that it is a volume of “racist, sexist, homophobic literature where stereotypes abound”. This brazen claim seems rage-driven, almost discreditably so. While the novel does encompass these themes in it, they are the motifs that Iva has to face in her day-to-day life. Yamanaka was, by no means, praising these reoccurring happenings, but was showing that being able to convey and express ideas and feelings about these events, in any form, can help individuals cope in a healthier way, and as a result ultimately help people move on to a brighter future, as Iva did.
I do agree that most races in the book were portrayed stereotypically or not given real 3 dimensional characteristics but I don't think that the award should have been revoked. Yamanaka was writing about a time when these racial lines were indeed a lot thicker and the separation in the communities was much heavier than it is now. She wasn't trying to encourage racism merely point out how prevalent the culture lines were back then.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statements regarding Joan May Cordova's letter. Her letter was clouded with anger and was as though she disregarded the point of Yamanaka's novel which was to explore the repercussions of a death in a broken family.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that the goal of this book is not to forge greater racial ties and does not parallel the goals of the AAAS. I also agree that Cordova's letter was driven by emotion rather than reason. Cordova's argument is irrational and her implications are of faulty reasoning.
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