Books, Junot Diaz, Sandra Cisneros, Writing

Burritos With A Side of Lit-No Salsa

Mona Alvarado Frazier
Visible and Ignored
Visible and Ignored

I’m feeling like the above quote after reading about Chipotle’s “literary packaging series.”

They had author, Jonathan Safran Foer, select 10 authors to feature on Chipotle’s cups and bags.

“What interested me is 800,000 Americans of extremely diverse backgrounds having access to good writing,” the novelist told Vanity Fair. 

 

But not one of the 10 authors are Latino/a.

 

None of those “800,000 Americans of extremely diverse background” will be exposed to a Latino writer.

This “literary” campaign comes on the heels of #WeNeedDiverseBooks and #DiverseLit.

 

Chipotle’s move is why we need to continue a movement with #WeNeedDiverseBooks.

 

English professor Lisa Alvarez sums up my feelings:

Chipotle Snub-photo by Michael Calienes
Chipotle Snub-photo by Michael Calienes

Reaction to Chipotle’s ‘short stories’ on their cups and bags can be found on Gustavo Arellano’s article.

Author, poet and commentator Michele Serros gave this response on Facebook. Hundreds of readers are contributing their favorite Latina/o writer:

Michele Serros List of Latina/o writers
Michele Serros List of Latina/o writers

 

To the list, I’ll add my favorites: Sandra Cisneros, Denise Chavez, Michele Serros, and Junot Diaz.

Add any of your favorites to the list.

It’s a multicultural world out there. Read about it, think about it, write about it. 

7 thoughts on “Burritos With A Side of Lit-No Salsa”

  2. Where can I get more information on this blog and where can we submit our own thoughts on this subject and/or our poetry, stories or comments on this underrepresentation. I’m an actor and we are also severely underrepresented, typecast and miscast. We need a voice too.

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    1. To submit your thoughts on this subject I’d suggest you click on Gustavo Arellano’s link to his column in the Orange County Press. Also, click on the link for Lisa Gonzales’ Facebook page.
      As for actors, I don’t know any sites other than the National Assoc of Latino Independent Producers http://www.nalip.org/
      For poetry, stories, you can guest post on my blog or check out La Bloga http://labloga.blogspot.com/ or submit to Somos en Escrito http://www.somosenescrito.com/
      Thank you for stopping by and for your comment.

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