Readers Revolt Over Oprah's Latest Book Club Selection
On January 21, media mogul Oprah Winfrey announced on Twitter that author Jeanine Cummins’ new book “American Dirt” was her latest book club selection. That decision did not sit well with many in the Latinx community.
Our next book club selection is “American Dirt” by @jeaninecummins. It’s a heart-wrenching page-turner, and you won’t be able to put it down.
— Oprah's Book Club (@oprahsbookclub) January 21, 2020
Download your copy on @applebooks and #ReadWithUs: https://t.co/w62380H4Lz #AmericanDirt@Flatironbooks @Oprah pic.twitter.com/v6K23tEyPM
In her announcement, Winfrey said, “I feel that everybody who reads this book is actually going to be immersed in the experience of what it means to be a migrant on the run for freedom.” The “experience” the novel conveys is the story of Lydia, a mother who is running from a brutal drug cartel in Acapulco, Mexico, to the United States with her son.
A number of people turned to social media to detail their issues with the book and its author. Some date back to December 2019, when Cummins tweeted a barbed wire manicure, which elicited backlash. As author Christine Swint tweeted in response, “Azulejos and barbed wire on a manicure? You’re fetishizing the pain and cultural heritage of refugees and immigrant to sell a story that’s not yours to sell.”
You guys, @BookManicurist is some next level awesome. My book jacket never looked prettier! #americandirt pic.twitter.com/4cGAOGy6i7
— Jeanine Cummins (@jeaninecummins) November 11, 2019
Many responded directly to Winfrey's post to suggest titles penned by Latinx writers:
Amplifying this book is harmful to the very communities you aim to understand and humanize. Please make another selection from the many, better titles being suggested. I recommend Dominicana by Angie Cruz.
— Sofia Quintero (@sofiaquintero) January 21, 2020
How about ANY book not written by a white person about the immigrant / migrant experience? pic.twitter.com/eHORnkzywT
— Julia Cohen, PhD af (@JuliaACohen) January 21, 2020
Instead read :
— Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) January 21, 2020
The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande
And
A Cup of Water Under My Bed by Daisy Hernandez
While neither Cummins nor Winfrey have responded, the critiques are still coming:
Rather than respond to legitimate concerns about how harmful and careless #AmericanDirt is in its portrayal of immigrants, author @jeaninecummins (who used to follow my work) has now blocked me. Because tuning out Latinos is really going to make this mess she created go away. pic.twitter.com/mKYHGRDlrT
— Esmeralda Bermudez (@LATBermudez) January 21, 2020
At an #AmericaDirt party, guests dined while BARBED WIRE CENTER PIECES adorned the tables. You know, to evoke border chic. ??
— Myriam Chingona Gurba de Serrano (@lesbrains) January 22, 2020
Love to eat poached lobster and roast sirloin on the publisher's dime while capitalizing on real people's stories pic.twitter.com/XLZfcdIblP
— David?????★Bowie (@DGoweyAuthor) January 22, 2020
So....Jeanine Cummins is on some for real colonizer bullshit.
— LL McKinney (@ElleOnWords) January 21, 2020
Okay.#AmericanDirt pic.twitter.com/exIuVIFq6E
I love designing book covers. Here's my latest! #AmericanDirt Please share #laloalcaraz cartoons pic.twitter.com/obUzRJ2A6i
— Mexican Judge (@laloalcaraz) January 22, 2020
Please rethink this selection. Promoting this false narrative is causing harm to Latinx and immigrant writers who have genuine stories to tell, not to mention the Mexican and Central American immigrant families who need more than brown trauma porn.
— Jennifer Morales (@MoralesWrites) January 21, 2020