Stories that Need to be Heard

HowlRound: Karen Evans’ comment in the interview, “I don’t think I’m going to be part of this party, ever,” made me think of talented authors such as Julia Alvarez (How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent) and Edwidge Danticat (The Farming of Bones) not being allowed in the boys club. In 2008 Junot Diaz won a Pulitzer, which put us “writers of color” on the map. However, when we measure the volume of work put out by the two accomplished women writers I mentioned above, yes, they are winning some book awards, but not a Pulitzer Prize. Why is this? I certainly credit Junot with being a great writer, however so are Danticat and Alvarez.