The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

April 13, 2009

Author to speak

Cristina Garcia: Latinos changing mainstream American life

By Robb Murray

MANKATO — Cristina Garcia, an acclaimed author and former journalist, will present the Nadine B. Andreas Lecture at Minnesota State University Tuesday.

Garcia’s talk, “No Longer in the Margins: Latinos in America,” will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Ostrander Auditorium of MSU’s Centennial Student Union. The event is free and open to the public.

“Her work is taught on campus,” modern languages instructor James Grabowska said, “so there are a lot of students who know of her.”

Garcia points out that Latinos are redefining mainstream life as the fastest-growing immigrant group in America. But she says Latinos’ cultural and economic contributions continue to be ignored. Her talk will explain the wide diversity and influence that defines American Latinos as consumers, cultural agents and voters.

She’ll also examine what it means for immigrants to achieve comfort and success, the triumphs and conflicts of their lives, and the demographic and political ramifications of their presence.

Born in Havana and raised in New York City, Garcia is one of the most important modern Latin American novelists, providing a provocative voice about the future of multicultural America.

Grabowska said Garcia will visit Spanish, mass communications and creative writing students in addition to her public lecture.

Her first novel, “Dreaming in Cuban,” was critically acclaimed. Her three following novels — “The Aguero Sisters,” “Monkey Hunting” and “A Handbook to Luck” — have been even more successful.

Garcia was Time magazine’s Florida and Caribbean bureau chief, as well as a Guggenheim Fellow, a National Book Award Finalist, and the editor of two critically acclaimed anthologies, “Cubanisimo!” and “Bordering Fires.”

“Her work is taught in English classes,” Grabowska said. “(Faculty member) Ann O’Meara wrote me last night, said she’s taught ‘Dreaming in Cuban’ several times, thought it was an absolutely great choice.”

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