Cuban author to speak about dual cultural identity,
immigration
Jay Dorne / Asst. News Editor
Author Cristina Garcia will address the Elon community at
7:30 tonight in McCrary Theater with a lecture titled
“Cuban-American Identity.” She will focus on the
issues of dual cultural identity and immigrant experiences,
two issues she has helped introduce to American readers
through her novels.
Garcia was born in Cuba but came to the United States when
she was 2 years old. After growing up in New York City, she
established a reputation as an important voice in Latin
American literature.
Her debut novel, “Dreaming in Cuban,” explored
the cultural identity of the del Pino family in the context
of the Cuban revolution. It was nominated for the National
Book Award in 1996.
Garcia further explored these issues in her next novel,
“The Aguero Sisters,” published in 1997. Newsday
described it as, “a deeper, more profound plunge into
the mysteries of loyalty, love and identity.”
her latest novel, “Monkey Hunting,” which wsa
published in 2003, explores the issues of culture and
identity of a Chinese-Cuban family. Garcia also edited
“iCUBANÍSIMO!,” a collection of works by
Cuban writers.
Garcia is a former correspondent for Time magazine and has
also worked as the magazine’s Miami bureau chief. She
now lives with her daughter in Los Angeles.
“Garcia has a unique perspective due to her journalism
and creative writing background,” said Brooke Barnett,
associate professor of communications. Barnett has been
involved with planning Garcia’s visit.
The lecture is being sponsored by the Liberal Arts Forum,
which also sponsored a visit this month from Peter Singer.
Anna Earles, president of the Liberal Arts forum, said the
forum is pleased to have Garcia speak about the cultural
messages and diversity she addresses in her books.
Garcia is scheduled to visit university classrooms
throughout the day and host an hour-long question-and-answer
session at 2:10 p.m. in Whitley Auditorium.
The evening lecture is free and open to the public.
Following the speech, Garcia will be available for book
signing.
| 
