Chicana Ways : Conversations with Ten Chicana Writers

by Ikas, Karin

• ISBN13: 9780874174939
• ISBN10: 0874174937
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-12-01
• Publisher: Univ of Nevada Pr

Summary

A collection of compelling interviews by Karin Rosa Ikas with ten Mexican-American writers fills a void in Chicana studies, women's studies, and ethnic studies scholarship.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
Preface	xi
Introduction	xiii
Writer, Editor, Critic, and Third-World Lesbian Women-of-Color Feminist	1	(26)
Gloria Anzaldua
Santa Cruz, California
``To me theory is a way of writing a story, a way tradition says that we should write a story.''
Poet, Educator, Political and Feminist Writer	27	(20)
Lorna Dee Cervantes
Berkeley, California
``Poetry is an exercise of freedom. . .freedom on all fronts.''
Novelist, Playwright, and Actress	47	(20)
Denise Chavez
Las Cruces, New Mexico
``My writing is a mirror into my culture.''
Poet, Novelist, and Educator	67	(24)
Lucha Corpi
Oakland, California
``Everything else is work, but poetry is my life, the air that I breathe.''
Cofounder of the Latina Theatre Lab and Actress	91	(22)
Jamie Lujan
Oakland, California
``Dare to be who you are and celebrate who you are.''
Author and Journalist	113	(14)
Demetria Martinez
Tucson, Arizona
``The message of my work is to always question authority.''
Poet, Writer, and Educator	127	(26)
Pat Mora
Santa Fe, New Mexico
``The issue is not so much ethnicity or gender. It is about the way we reach a point of communion as human beings sharing this difficult journey called life.''
Poet, Playwright, Essayist, and Educator	153	(22)
Cherrie Moraga
San Francisco, California
``My bottom line is always that I want to get better and better and better, which means keeping an open heart and an open mind.''
Author and University Instructor	175	(30)
Mary Helen Ponce
Hollywood, California
``I prefer books to people, . . . [and] I am convinced that words can be used to color the world.''
Playwright, Fiction Writer, Poet, and Actress	205	(10)
Estela Portillo-Trambley
El Paso, Texas
``Writing is still my journey of self-discovery.''
About the Editor	215	(2)
Index	217