Ignacio F. Rodeño Iturriaga - Four Books, One Latino Life

FOUR BOOKS, ONE LATINO LIFE

READING RICHARD RODRIGUEZ

BIBLIOTECA JAVIER COY D’ESTUDIS NORD-AMERICANS

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DIRECTORA

Carme Manuel

(Universitat de València)

FOUR BOOKS, ONE LATINO LIFE

READING RICHARD RODRIGUEZ

Ignacio F. Rodeño Iturriaga

Biblioteca Javier Coy d’estudis nord-americans

Universitat de València

Four Books, One Latino Life :

Reading Richard Rodriguez

© Ignacio F. Rodeño Iturriaga

1ª edición de 2021

Reservados todos los derechos

Prohibida su reproducción total o parcial

ISBN: 978-84-9134-757-6

Imagen de la cubierta: Sophia de Vera Höltz

Diseño de la cubierta: Celso Hernández de la Figuera

Publicacions de la Universitat de València

http://puv.uv.es

publicacions@uv.es

Edición digital

To my mother, Irene

Acknowledgments

Autobiographies are life narratives. Narratives anchor identity. But, like identity, life narratives do not happen in a void. Every narrative, including those of the self, are also the product of the interaction with others. This book is no exception. Over the time it took to complete it, I have benefited from the help, time, comments, support and encouragement of many people. It is difficult to name all because memory is tricky, but the help of some individuals was particularly indulgent. Such is the case of Aitor Ibarrola Armendáriz, whose comments were instrumental throughout the development of this book. Thanks are also due to David Río Raigadas, Amaia Ibarrarán Bigalondo, María Luz Suárez Castiñeira and María Jesús Pando Canteli, who made insightful comments to an earlier version of the manuscript. This book would not be what it is without their discerning observations.

The list of friends who encouraged me throughout the writing process is as relevant as the long list of scholars who have helped me to better read the works of Richard Rodriguez. Some of these friends happen to be also scholars and critics the field.

Efraín Barradas has undoubtedly provided me with both sharp comments and unwavering support. He has heard and read most of this book with acute sensitivity and suggested many changes. I am more grateful than I can say for his insurmountable generosity, patience, and camaraderie. His affection enriches my life immeasurably. Susan Homar, Nina Scott, and José Ornelas read parts of this study in its incipient form and her comments have unquestionably improved the final version. Luis Aponte-Parés and Alberto Sandoval Sánchez took an interest in the project and guided me to valuable documents that facilitated my analysis on some of Rodriguez’s texts.

The Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida, and its Director, Philip Williams, offered me a visiting scholar position that allowed me the needed respite from teaching duties in order to write the bulk of the manuscript. Being based at the Center also allowed me the possibility of accessing the superb George A. Smathers Libraries at UF, and more specifically the Latin American Collection. Thanks are due to Paul Losch for assisting me at the Collection.

To say that one learns from his students is a major understatement. Whether at lectures, seminars, independent studies, or one-on-one conversations, discussing on autobiography and US Latina/o literatures with them at The University of Alabama has been both stimulating and beneficial for this project simply because they made me reflect on it while reading and commenting their work. I am also indebted to The Department of Modern Languages and Classics and the College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Alabama for supporting me in many ways to carry out my research.

I continue to learn much from stimulating exchanges with colleagues, both at conferences and in private. In some of those venues I have presented part of this work, and their comments have, undoubtedly, improved my project. I am also grateful to the Latino community, for allowing me to approach them and for challenging me to deepen my understanding about them.

This book owes a lot to my family, but its author is even more indebted. My father, Francisco Rodeño, has been an example of how to lead a vital existence. My mother, Irene Iturriaga, made innumerable contributions, especially in the intense final months of writing. Together they have been responsible for instilling in me a passion for knowledge while providing me with a nurturing and encouraging environment. Both my parent’s character have shaped me and by extension my project.

The rest of my family –specially my cousins, who have taken the role of siblings– has offered much needed humor and empathy. I have been fortified by their example, reassured by their encouragement, and relieved by their support. I also thank Efraín Barradas Mejías and Juanita Feliciano, or Miguel and Miguelina , whose example, affection and warmth enhance my life enormously.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 Writing on Language, Education, and Class: The Distinctive Memory of Richard Rodriguez

CHAPTER 2 Journey to the Origin, Travel to the Destination

CHAPTER 3 Browning the Argument, Shifting the Paradigm

CHAPTER 4 Darling Contemplations

CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INTRODUCTION

Autobiography has great appeal for any mainstream culture, since it tends to reproduce the myth of the success story. Western culture employs autobiography to culturally redistribute to consumers the mythic formulas of success in society, of reaching celebrity, and acquiring a certain standing in society. Autobiography places the reader in the experience and thought of another person and, consequently, sets the reader off in a process of self-reflection that produces a contemplation of humanity. Narratives of the self are uniquely poised to affect the reader precisely because they relate an experience that is at the same time both unique and universal. There is a constant reminder of the shared experience that is involved in our existence as human beings. The cultural value of autobiography resides in being subjective and internal –the truths it portrays are not necessarily verifiable factually– as well as objective and external –the historical and social issues it exposes refer us to certifiable, exterior realities. Hence, autobiography becomes a matter of the spirit and of the mind. While aware of the complex nature of the concept ‘narratives of the self,’ which might encompass other life writings beyond autobiographies, such as testimonials, diaries, epistles and private correspondence, etc., this study considers the terms ‘life writing,’ ‘narrative of the self,’ and ‘autobiography’ as synonyms.

The present project looks at the four autobiographies by Rodriguez as individual, yet interconnected works. Stemming from a preoccupation with issues regarding identity, the approach has been to consider the major topics of each autobiography: bilingual education and affirmative action; the impact of the culture of origin with regards to the diasporic subject; race and ethnicity as constituents of identity; the integration of two diverse issues such as religion and sexuality in the identitarian makeup of the autobiographer. While the different chapters that deal with the literary works appear to treat detached, unconnected themes, there is a pervasive look that considers Rodriguez’s oeuvre as a whole. In fact the same themes appear in all the autobiographic installments, and it has been duly noted as such. The chapter that analyzes with Rodriguez’s sexuality is a clear example of this. Also, following the author’s lead, his third book has been also studied from the premise that it is a coda of his earlier narratives.