After reading “Pendeja You Ain’t Steinback” by Myriam Gurbas, one thing I enjoyed was her perfect use of “Spanglish”. She expertly weaves the languages together, changing and combining them to redefine or translate common phrases while also explaining some of the Spanish terms for the English readers. As a person who only speaks English( non expertly), I have always appreciated anyone who speaks one or more languages due to the difficulty of each.Â
         In Gurba’s review, she critiques an author’s use of a “white lens” used in making a book depicting the culture and people. She says the protagonist views her country “…through the eyes of a pearl-clutching American tourist” instead of a Mexican citizen. I am both pleased and amused by her absolute dismantling of the author’s work. She rightfully calls out any and all inaccuracies using not only her experiences but also the author’s words and work against her. I enjoyed the bold and unfiltered take from someone fed up with the obsession of “Mexican pain” under the guise of caring or helping.
If Gurba were to write her own book about portraying “Mexican Pain”, who would she use as a protagonist?
What (if anything) did Cummins write back?
Do you believe that you could convince Cummins of her wrongdoing in any way?
I also agree with Gurba about “white lens”, there’s this weird “White Savior Complex” with Cummings. It’s like Cumming’s just needs to help when the best way to help is not to get involved.
As a fellow Speaker of only English it was interesting to read how she weaved through the two languages like she was doing a dance between the line of English and Spanish. Even though I had to slow down a bit when I was reading I thought it was a refreshing way to write when your bilingual.
I also believe Gurba did a good job concerning her criticism of Cummins’s work, in a way that made me sympathize with her issue with the writing in Cummins’s book and the larger issue she has an issue with as a whole.