Oprah Winfrey And Yalitza Aparicio Criticized For Book

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Oprah Winfrey and Yalitza Aparicio are in the eye of the hurricane for recommending and supporting a controversial book titled American Dirt by writer Jeanine Cummins.

As a lover and promoter of reading, Winfrey chose this tome as the book of the month for her reading club and sent it to Aparicio, who thanked him for the gesture and promoted it on his social networks. But instead of finding support for their choice, Winfrey and Aparicio have been criticized by some influential Latinos and their followers who have branded the book as "racist" and "insensitive" towards immigrants.

The book reportedly tells the story of a mother of an eight-year-old boy who owns a bookstore and has lost much of her family to organized crime. This situation forces them to flee from Mexico to the United States in search of a better life.

Undoubtedly, the theme resonates among millions of immigrants in the United States, but those who criticize the book claim that it uses grotesque language that allegedly reinforces some stereotypes against Mexicans and sells a story that is culturally inaccurate.

In recommending the book, Winfrey said that after reading it, she now understands immigrants much better. Like many of us, I have read newspaper articles and watched television news and movies about the situation of families in search of a better life, but this story changed the way I see the meaning of being an immigrant,”wrote the presenter on her Twitter account, recommending it.

His comments have given rise to critics who claim that the story is out of reality and that the book is nothing more than a work created to make money in an Anglo-Saxon industry.

"Do not fall in the trap. The book is grotesque, a complete distortion of the situation in Mexico, full of stereotypes and implausible characters, written by someone who knows nothing of our culture. It is intended for people who enjoy reading about the pain of others, "Chicano writer David Bowles warned Aparicio on his Twitter account.

Another netizen on Twitter, Azteclady, told Aparicio: "Just because Oprah plays along with her publishing house, doesn't mean the book isn't racist to death - in addition to being gruesome prose."

For her part, Mexican writer Sandra Cisneros has praised American Dirt, calling it a masterpiece. "It is the great world novel," said Cisneros on its cover. Winfrey also revealed that she plans to travel to the border to film an episode of her book club for Apple TV +.