Another America / Otra América

These poems resonated particularly with me in two ways: as a woman and as someone who lives near the border and who has come to appreciate the history of Mexican-Americans and Latin Americans. They helped change the way I think both about myself as a woman and about this land I share with people who have been here for hundreds of years. The poems appear side-by-side in Spanish and English, which I found particularly valuable: it increased my appreciation for the beauty of the Spanish language and the beauty and power of language in general. My particular favorite is the poem "Naming Myself," which for me was a turning point in this collection. For me, it sums up everything about the power of identity, how carelessly we can give it away as young women, and how powerful it is to reclaim it. This poem applies not only to women, however, but ties in strongly with the rest of the collection, in its exploration of what it means to be an American, what the name "America" means to both Americans and non-Americans, and the disenfrachisement suffered by many when they are excluded from taking on the identity of Americans or it is demanded of them to relinquish their Latin American identities.

Its also well worth browsing the "Selected Titles from Seal Press" at the end of the book. How delightful to discover this apparently small, independent press! A number of titles by women from all over the world caught my eye.

I deeply regret that I was clueless about the richness and struggles of Latin American culture and society until I moved to Tucson and had the opportunity to experience and interact with this culture personally and firsthand. I cannot think of a more fitting title for this collection than "Another America." I encourage you to read it to gain a perspective of America through the eyes of Latin Americans. Barbara Kingsolvers writing resonates with me personally because it seems that she, too, discovered a whole new world upon moving to Tucson. Its an important perspective to have if youre an Anglo-American, to increase and broaden your awareness and deepen your appreciation for what we have and this land we share with our Latin American neighbors.