Multi-America: Essays on Cultural Wars and Cultural Peace

"An exhilarating mix of unpredictable points of view . . . there's real vitality in this anthology's crazy-quilt vision of America."-Kirkus Reviews

Is there such a thing as "American" culture? No, says Ishmael Reed, the editor of this refreshing anthology and a longtime critic of the mainstream media which, he insists, marginalizes non-Anglo, non-Yankee cultures. In this impressive collection of dissenting voices, Reed and other African-Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Americans, Italian-Americans, and Irish-Americans speak out against monoculturalism and provide perspectives from points of view frequently omitted from the discussion of race in the United States.

Addressing a broad variety of issues-including assimilation; racial conflicts between minorities and within the gay rights movement; victimization; and stereotyping-these essays by notable writers, teachers, students, and professionals take us far beyond the issues of black vs. white and often veer toward the controversial. Stimulating, unpredictable, and provocative, Multi-America introduces the authentic voices of Rainbow America in all their diverse, angry, proud, celebratory glory.

Contributors include:
• Miguel Algarin
• Amiri Baraka
• Ana Castillo
• Frank Chin
• Earl Ofari Hutchinson
• Jack Foley
• Robert Elliot Fox
• Daniela Gioseffi
• Nathan Hare
• Juan Felipe Herrera
• Helen Barolini
• Maulana Karenga
• Martin Kilson
• Elaine H. Kim
• Bharati Mukherjee
• Leslie Marmon Silko
• Barbara Smith
• Werner Sollors
• Gerald Vizenor
• William Wong