When we see migrants on the news, we may remember: these people are people. I worried that, as a non migrant and non Mexican, I had no business writing a book set almost entirely in Mexico, set entirely among migrants. I wished someone slightly browner than me would write it. But then, I thought, If you're a person who has the capacity to be a bridge, why not be a bridge? So, I began."
Now, I will note two more articles that were just brought to my attention today via twitter:
https://slate.com/culture/2020/01/american-dirt-controversy-will-publishers-change.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/29/books/american-dirt-jeanine-cummins-book-tour.html?smid=tw-nytbooks&smtyp=cur
In addition, the New York Times offers additional articles that stemmed from this author,her publishers promotional and marketing dilemma, and the public's outcry in how migrants were portrayed.
Is it sensualization?
Is it for profit only?
Or is it the author's right to write what she has a direct connection too which includes sadly violence and women's voices needing to be heard in a world that promotes silence.
When DT mentioned, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
– Donald Trump, presidential announcement speech, June 16, 2015 what was the reaction?
He's still our President is he not? Has he received a similar backlash in his 'freedom of speech' while doing so during a Presidential announcement speech no less....
I remind readers of this fact: Jeanine Cummins at 16yo lost 2 cousins to a brutal rape and tossed over a St. Louis Missouri bridge by 4 complete strangers.
She has had her own brother beaten and forced over a bridge.
What she wanted to bring insight too was this: How to live in a place that's collapsing beneath us? How to protect our children from this trauma? As well as being a voice for women in a world that silences their voices against injustices.
She's also married to an undocumented immigrant whom married for a green card after finding no other way, having dated for five years.
This book didn't just appear on the coffee table one night, it took 4 yrs of research in tackling the public's perceptions against immigrants and in altering the notion that Latino's are often viewed as invading mob's who drain resources as criminals and are viewed as helpless -faceless-impoverished brown masses.
I do not believe we all have to agree but I do believe it's noted that this is Contemporary FICTION and this author has as much right to write it as an male counterpart.
Now it's time to discuss what makes this book an Oprah Book Club selection and why all the buzz surrounding it.
This book was fast paced that provides readers an emotional look into the hard core concerns surrounding the border, the cartel, the migrants fleeing from impoverished nations and the terrible traumas they are fleeing or have been subjected too in the process.
The book begins with terror on the doorstep as a family is slaughtered during a joyous birthday party celebration in which Lydia and son Luca had to hide in a shower for protection in Acapulco.
These family members included her husband Sebastian, her mother, her sister, and her sisters kids.
The notion that you can flee for safety was her top concern -as she decides to cash out- and head to Denver.
Luca was only 8yo and very impressionable having experienced such horror- Lydia worried how his psyche would be able to handle it all.
Sebastian at the time was a journalist writing about this terror that surrounded them with risky pieces that he often questioned about writing but listed his work as simply,"staff writer" in hopes of keeping his family safe.
Yet, can we ever truly be safe?
Javier was a 'drug lord', father of a daughter to Marta with secrets of his own, and a poet who was involved with Los Jardineros ( a fictional drug cartel).
As they attempt to flee from hotel, to trains, to caravans this family learns the hard way that sometimes you can run but you cannot hide.
The voyage for freedom was excruciatingly painful having witnessed deaths along the way -a man missing the train and being devoured by it leaving a mangled body on the tracks to a young man suffering from asthma attack w/o an inhaler and succumbing to these medical issues.
Along the way they run into two Ecuadorian young ladies and sisters with their own incredibly heart wrenching stories.
Soledad and Rebecca are both teens who experienced way more than their ages represent.
They were both raped and one even miscarried while being forced into a relationship with a gang.
Now, as parents we all want to protect our kids but as the author noted how far will we go to save them?
Javier's daughter eventually learned of her father's actions from an article - yes - Sebastian's.
She eventually couldn't live with the reality and it's noted: "One more death should not matter much."
The girls were also suffering after learning their own father also suffered a horrendous attack -being stabbed 3x- once in the eye.
My word the violence - the pain- the hope for a better life. A golden life.
This book did have several quotes that hit me hard in the manner in which migrants and other characters were portrayed in a negative light: IE. " Like every migrant here, he looks bone-weary and relieved to be indoors where the aroma of a hot meal greets him."
"She was a woman who had never been beautiful, but who took care to appear as if she might once have been." ( this pertained to Javier's wife).
"It's natural to get used to it, though, right? We adapt."
"This is not normal."
"How do you find a coyote, make sure he's reputable, pay for your crossing, all w/o getting ripped off? "A lot of them will steal your money and then sell you to the cartel, you know?"
El Chacal was the known coyote in this story yet the author notes," Of course, it is, why would a coyote be named Roberto or Louis or Jose when he can be named The Jackal."
Or this commentary," It's amazing that riding on top of a freight train can become boring, but it's true."
Lastly this one," Most of these people are bad guys anyway, young man. They're not innocents. They're gang members, they're running drugs."
When the migrants run into Beto they note," So you were born in a garbage dump." His mom was a garbage picker and his father he barely knew.
"All the migrants wear the same uniforms, right? Dirty jeans, busted shoes, baseball hats."
"I'm not a real migrant- says Beto. I'm just a poser."
So, in closing I leave you this for you to ponder:
"The mind is magical."
"Human beings are magical."
Use your talents wisely, allow dialogue, allow intellectual conversations on all sides, and stay authentic.
Freedom is not free.
Voices need not be silenced. Voices shall be heard.
Women speak out against injustices and stay true to self.
Remember this: "When they go low we go high"- Michelle Obama!
Dare one say: "I stand with her."
Be the change you wish to see.
A must read for 2020! One that I highly recommend.
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