Latino authors emphasize culture in literature

Outside Bodek Lounge Wednesday night, students shuffled through brightly colored jewelry, books, and T-shirts. The display, sponsored by a Philadelphia-based Puerto Rican group, Taller Puertorrique-o, was a prelude to a Latino cultural address, "Latinos in Literature." Part of the 14th annual Festival Latino de Penn, the event featured keynote speakers Luis Rodriguez and Esmeralda Santiago, both Latino authors. Rodriguez, a Mexican-American poet, journalist and critic, recently wrote Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A., a non-fiction account of his youth. Puerto Rican Santiago is the author of When I Was Puerto Rican, an autobiography. According to College junior and Festival Latino de Penn co-Chairperson Doug Chavez, the two authors were selected for many reasons. "We wanted to get not only the Latino perspective, but the female Latina perspective as well," Chavez said. "I think the two authors are different but they complement each other." Festival co-Chairperson and College junior Rolando Cruz emphasized the importance of the authors' different ethnicities. "We wanted to bring together two different perspectives and talk about the experiences they have dealt with," Cruz said. Rodriguez began by discussing the difficulties Latinos face getting noticed by the publishing industry. "In big-time New York City publishing, there is only one Latina who is an editor," Rodriguez said. Rodriguez proceeded to stress the importance of producing Latino literature, especially because it can provide Latino children with books to which they can relate. According to Rodriguez, many school children have only read his book, for in other books on the market, "they don't see themselves reflected." Santiago also spoke of the need for more Latino voices in literature, stating that as a child she could not relate the books and television images around her. "I knew that someone had to tell the story of your basic, average family," Santiago said in reference to her decision to go into writing and focus on Latin Americans. "I wanted to show that the Puerto Rican part of their lives is as multi-faceted as the American part of their lives." Like Rodriguez, Santiago also talked about her difficulties getting past cultural prejudices in the publishing business. On a more personal note, she spoke of the fears she faced in writing about her family, especially in discussing their status as welfare recipients. A question-and-answer period followed the speeches. The authors gave out writing advice and reminded the Latinos in the audience of their responsibility to support Latino authors and to spread the Latino voice. "Use your passion to your advantage," Santiago said. "Write our stories." Engineering freshman David Villafana said he agreed with the authors' message. "I believe Latinos should always express our views no matter how harsh or painful they may be," Villafana said. Wharton senior Adriana Lopez also expressed enthusiasm for the authors' speeches. "An opportunity to see people like this, who are serving as a voice for a community whose voice up until this point has been unheard or repressed, is very inspiring," Lopez said. "It's about time."