Julissa Arce, Esther Cepeda, and Reyna Grande appeared on Oprah’s Book Club to discuss American Dirt.
Now they tell EW about the experience.
They also felt a responsibility.
OBC: Author Jeanine Cummins is interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on Thursday, February, 13th, 2020 in Tuscon, Arizona while appearing on Oprah’s Book Club. Photo by Karen Ballard.Karen Ballard
Arce, Cepeda, and Grande allspokeoutagainstthe book in recent weeks.
It wants to make immigration a feel-good story.
My issue is, why her and why this story?
Much less get their book pitched and have people fighting over how much theyre going to pay for it.
Why does it have to be that way?
None of that has changed.
(Cummins was born in Spain; her grandmother is Puerto Rican.)
That really rubbed me a certain way.
Youre going to rub your money all over our faces?
I am actively involved with several of them.
I donate a lot of money to them; thanks to Macmillan Im able to do that now.)
Both claimed on social media that they were not invited to participate in theOprahs Book Clubpanel discussion.
We can’t let Myriam, David, and Roberto be the only ones doing all the work.
We all have to take responsibility, use our own voice to speak up and fight.
Cepeda adds, I felt bad that #DignidadLiteraria was not invited.
I felt that at least Myriam should have been invited.
I struggled [knowing] that I was and she wasnt.
She spoke out about this on the panel, though it was edited out.
During the show, I said, I wish Myriam were here to speak for herself, says Arce.
I wish she had been on that stage and that she had been invited.
Apple TV+ declined comment for this story.
Cepeda also has her mind planted firmly in the future.
(Theyve since gone back and forth via email.)
For her part, Arce feels hopeful, if a bit torn.
What I was there to say is that we deserve books to see ourselves in.
