Can authors write about races/cultures that are not their own?

Lyat

Apr 17, 20214 min read

Yes! And here’s why. Over the summer, I spoke with an acquaintance about my doubts surrounding the novel “American Dirt,” and I felt like I could not defend myself eloquently. I have stewed on this idea. I have written and rewritten my thoughts. I have talked to people in my life about this and have finally decided to come out and say: “Yes. I do believe authors have the license to write about races and cultures that are not their own.”

I have a disclaimer, and I hope readers of this blog can understand with an open heart. I have not read “American Dirt,” and I will discuss why I do not intend to read it in this blog. I understand why this is off-putting to some but give me a chance, and hopefully, I can offer a different point of view.

I will use two texts to dissect the topic; “American Dirt” by Jeannie Cummings and “Lovecraft Country” by Matt Huff. These are two books written by white authors. “American Dirt” follows Lydia as she flees from Mexico to escape the cartel hunting her and her family. “Lovecraft Country” follows a black family from Jim Crow South investigating a supernatural cult threatening their very existence.

In “Lovecraft Country,” Matt Ruff chose to set his novel in the south to highlight the parallels between the demonic monsters and the town’s racist humans. These similarities were intentional and made a statement. The main character, Atticus, is powerful, intellectual, and complicated. He has depth and growth, and Matt Ruff does not dare attempt writing in ebonics or making his Black characters inferior. They live in the south during Jim Crow, so the characters are already viewed as inferior.

Now let’s take a turn. “American Dirt” is set in the present day. It is about current issues; the Mexican migrant story. It is a deeply personal tale of the fear and pain of leaving your country to escape to America. There is a mix of English and Spanish and slang interwoven into the narrative. (You can find this information in the book’s description on Goodreads or the dust jacket.)

The only time Matt Ruff gets specific in a scene about race is when a police officer pulls over Atticus. This interaction was nothing different from the basic concept of mistreatment by police officers to black Americans when segregation and racism were a common occurrence during this period. The racial scenes depicted in “Lovecraft Country” aren’t anything that you wouldn’t find in a high school history book. “Lovecraft Country” is NOT about Atticus’ struggle with being Black; the plot centralizes around why this Lovecraftian cult has targeted Atticus, not his struggles as a Black man. Matt Ruff is not trying to speak on behalf of the Black man’s struggle.

The other side of this coin is “American Dirt,” which uses a very current issue and dramatizes the Mexican migrant story using a stereotypical voice. The entire novel is centralized around the escape from Lydia’s dangerous country and her experience trying to cross the border. The basis of this book is on her experience as a Mexican woman. Cummings is speaking on behalf of Mexican immigrants. She is attempting to speak on behalf of a race and culture that isn’t hers.

My point in this blog highlights that my main issue with “American Dirt” is that Jeannine Cummings is writing a story that is not her own, nor does she directly relate to the content. Immigrants or children of immigrants have written books about this content, which takes precedence in my library. I think it is crucial when dealing with content that deals directly with a cultural or racial group; it is vital to hear it from the perspective of the marginalized voice.

Someone might say that I haven’t made a distinction; some may claim that Matt Rudd is speaking on behalf of Black Americans. This claim would be a mistake. The experiences the cast of Lovecraft Country” gave are more supernatural, but thrust upon the backdrop of Jim Crow South provides a more significant metaphor for the prejudices minorities face in the country. The moments of racial tension in Lovecraft Country are broad. Still, Cummings attempts to make her whole novel personal. Her perspective comes across narrow-minded rather than wide-reaching and profound.

These voices are marginalized and remain so because books like “American Dirt” continue to be published. For a list of immigrant stories told by those lives directly influenced, please view it below. They are primarily from Mexico, but some include other Latin American countries. “Infinite Country” and “Of Women and Salt” are two books I have read and prioritized in my library. I preferred “Infinite Country.” It is short, sweet, a Book of the Month selection, and written by a Colombian author.