Unsettling America: An Anthology of Contemporary Multicultural Poetry - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 014023778X ISBN 13: 9780140237788

Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group, 1994

Synopsis

A multicultural array of poets explore what it is means to be American 

This powerful and moving collection of poems stretches across the boundaries of skin color, language, ethnicity, and religion to give voice to the lives and experiences of ethnic Americans. With extraordinary honesty, dignity, and insight, these poems address common themes of assimilation, communication, and self-perception. In recording everyday life in our many American cultures, they displace the myths and stereotypes that pervade our culture.

Unsettling America includes work by:
 
Amiri Baraka
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Rita Dove
Louise Erdich
Jessica Hagedorn
Joy Harjo
Garrett Hongo
Li-Young Lee
Pat Mora
Naomi Shihab Nye
Marye Percy
Ishmael Reed
Alberto Rios
Ntozake Shange
Gary Soto
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Nellie Wong
David Hernandez
Mary TallMountain
 
...and many more.

About this title

About the Author

Maria Mazziotti Gillan is an awardwinning poet and instructor whose volumes of poetry include Where I Come From, Things My Mother Told Me, and What We Pass On: Collected Poems 1980-2009. Her work has been appeared in a number of publications, including Boderlands, Prairie Schooner, Los Angeles Review, the Christian Science Monitor, and the New York Times. She is the director of the creative writing program at Binghampton University—State University of New York and the executive director of the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College. 

Jennifer Gillan is a professor of English and Media Studies at Bentley University. Her other books include Television & New Media: Must-Click TV, Understanding Reality TV, and Identity Lessons, coedited with Maria Mazziotti Gillan.

Review

Crazy Horse Speaks: 1 by Sherman Alexie
Crazy Horse Speaks: 2 by Sherman Alexie
Crazy Horse Speaks: 3 by Sherman Alexie
Crazy Horse Speaks: 4 by Sherman Alexie
Crazy Horse Speaks: 5 by Sherman Alexie
Crazy Horse Speaks: 6 by Sherman Alexie
Crazy Horse Speaks: 7 by Sherman Alexie
Powwow Polaroid by Sherman Alexie
Translated From The American by Sherman Alexie
Vision (2) by Sherman Alexie
At The Electronic Frontier by Miguel Algarin
Cultures by Gloria Anzaldua
Horse by Gloria Anzaldua
Immigrants In Our Own Land by Jimmy Santiago Baca
So Mexicans Are Taking Jobs From Americans by Jimmy Santiago Baca
The Last Word by Amina Baraka
An Agony. As Now by Amiri Baraka
Funk Lore by Amiri Baraka
Ka 'ba by Amiri Baraka
Two Grandmas by Stanley H. Barkan
Having The Wrong Name For Mr. Wright by Helen Barolini
We Exist by Helen Barolini
When My Grandmother Said 'pussy' by Carole Bernstein
Certificate Of Live Birth: 1 by Kimberly M. Blaeser
Certificate Of Live Birth: 2 by Kimberly M. Blaeser
Crazy Horse Monument by Peter Blue Cloud
The Old Man's Lazy, by Peter Blue Cloud
Amazone by Mary Jo Bona
Dream Poem by Mary Jo Bona
At The Nuclear Rally by Laura Boss
The Candy Lady by Laura Boss
My Ringless Fingers On The Steering Wheel Tell The Story by Laura Boss
Birdfoot's Grampa by Joseph Bruchac
Prayer by Joseph Bruchac
Naming by Giovanna (janet) Capone
Walking By The Cliffside Dyeworks by Robert Carnevale
Soul Make A Path Through Shouting by Cyrus Curtis Cassells
The Women by Cyrus Curtis Cassells
The First by Grace Cavalieri
Grandmother by Grace Cavalieri
Poem For The Young White Man Who Asked Me How I, An Intelligent ... by Lorna Dee Cervantes
Foreign Ways by Diana Chang
Elegy For Chloe Nguyen by Marilyn Mei Ling Chin
The Floral Apron by Marilyn Mei Ling Chin
How I Got That Name by Marilyn Mei Ling Chin
We Are Americans Now, We Live In The Tundra by Marilyn Mei Ling Chin
I Have Not Signed A Treaty With The United States Government by Chrystos [pseud.]
I Walk In The History Of My People by Chrystos [pseud.]
Portrait Of Assimilation by Chrystos [pseud.]
The Real Indian Leans Against by Chrystos [pseud.]
Today Was A Bad Day Like Tb by Chrystos [pseud.]
14th Street Was Gutted In 1968 by Cheryl Clarke
Elegy: 1. Winemaking by Arthur L. Clements
Elegy: 2. In The Garden by Arthur L. Clements
Elegy: 3. Lambent Sundays by Arthur L. Clements
Elegy: 4. Last Day by Arthur L. Clements
Why I Don't Speak Italian by Arthur L. Clements
Deer Cloud by Susan Clements
Matinee by Susan Clements
The Reservation by Susan Clements
Susans: 1 by Susan Clements
Susans: 2 by Susan Clements
Susans: 3 by Susan Clements
Susans: 4 by Susan Clements
In The Inner City by Lucille Clifton
Night Vision by Lucille Clifton
Sam by Lucille Clifton
Song At Midnight by Lucille Clifton
What The Gypsy Said To Her Children by Judith Ortiz Cofer
Grandfather At The Indian Health Clinic by Elizabeth Cook-lynn
America by Robert Creeley
On The Road To Damascus, Maryland by Enid Dame
The Seder by Enid Dame
In The Way Back by Debra Kang Dean
Blackbottom: 1945 by Toi Derricotte
A Note On My Son's Face by Toi Derricotte
On Alabama Ave., Paterson, Nj, 1954 by Rachel Guido Devries
April Fool Birthday Poem For Grandpa by Diane Di Prima
The Brides Come To Yuba City by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Indian Movie, New Jersey by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Restroom by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Yuba City School by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
How I Learned English by Gregory Djanikian
In The Elementary School Choir by Gregory Djanikian
When I First Saw Snow by Gregory Djanikian
Wingfoot Lake by Rita Dove
Bulosan Listens To A Recording Of Robert Johnson by Alfred Encarnacion
Dear John Wayne by Louise Erdrich
Indian Boarding School: The Runaways by Louise Erdrich
Bully by Martin Espada
Coca-cola And Coco Frio by Martin Espada
From An Island You Cannot Name by Martin Espada
Niggerlips Was The High School Name by Martin Espada
South Bronx Testimonial: 1 by Sandra Maria Esteves
South Bronx Testimonial: 2 by Sandra Maria Esteves
South Bronx Testimonial: 3 by Sandra Maria Esteves
South Bronx Testimonial: 4 by Sandra Maria Esteves
Dust World: 1 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Dust World: 2 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
For Years The Old Italians Have Been Dying by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
The Jewish Singles Event by Stewart J. Florsheim
Barrio Beateo by Jesse F. Garcia
Black And White by Shirley Geok-lin Lim
Father From Asia by Shirley Geok-lin Lim
Lost Name Woman by Shirley Geok-lin Lim
Starlight Haven by Shirley Geok-lin Lim
Mafioso by Sandra M. Gilbert
Arturo by Maria Mazziotti Gillan
Growing Up Italian by Maria Mazziotti Gillan
In Memory We Are Walking by Maria Mazziotti Gillan
Public School No. 18: Paterson, New Jersey by Maria Mazziotti Gillan
American Sonnets For My Father: 1 by Daniela Gioseffi
American Sonnets For My Father: 2 by Daniela Gioseffi
American Sonnets For My Father: 3 by Daniela Gioseffi
Bicentennial Anti-poem For Italian-american Women by Daniela Gioseffi
Legacies by Yolande Cornelia Giovanni
Nikki-rosa by Yolande Cornelia Giovanni
Changing Address Books by Michael S. Glaser
English-speaking Persons Will Find Translations: 1 by Michael S. Glaser
English-speaking Persons Will Find Translations: 2 by Michael S. Glaser
English-speaking Persons Will Find Translations: 3 by Michael S. Glaser
English-speaking Persons Will Find Translations: 4 by Michael S. Glaser
English-speaking Persons Will Find Translations: 5 by Michael S. Glaser
Preparations For Seder by Michael S. Glaser
Praise The Tortilla, Praise The Menudo, Praise The Chorizo by Ray Gonzalez
Upkeep by Miriam Goodman
Filipino Boogie by Jessica Tarahata Hagedorn
The Hula Skirt, 1959 by Kimiko Hahn
Kinged by Shalin Hai-jew
Three Gypsies by Shalin Hai-jew
After The Fuuneral Of Assam Hamady by Sam Hamod
Dying With The Wrong Name by Sam Hamod
Leaves by Sam Hamod
Moving, Sels. by Sam Hamod
Anchorage by Joy Harjo
I Give You Back by Joy Harjo
The Woman Hanging From The Thirteenth Floor Window by Joy Harjo
A Daddy Poem by William J., Jr. Harris
Rib Sandwich by William J., Jr. Harris
The Battle, Over And Over Again by Safiya Henderson-holmes
Failure Of An Invention by Safiya Henderson-holmes
Friendly Town #1 by Safiya Henderson-holmes
Friendly Town #3 by Safiya Henderson-holmes
My First Riot: Bronx, Nyc by Safiya Henderson-holmes
To Hell And Back, With Cake by Safiya Henderson-holmes
Armitage Street by David Hernandez
Martin And My Father by David Hernandez
Pigeons by David Hernandez
Welcome by David Hernandez
Heritage by Linda Hogan
The New Apartment: Minneapolis by Linda Hogan
The Truth Is by Linda Hogan
Winnings by Garrett Kaoru Hongo
Father Of My Father: 1 by Lawson Fusao Inada
Father Of My Father: 2 by Lawson Fusao Inada
Father Of My Father: 3 by Lawson Fusao Inada
Albert James by Reuben M. Jackson
Big Chill Variations by Reuben M. Jackson
Tee by Reuben M. Jackson
A Poem About Intelligence For My Brothers And Sisters by June Jordan
What Would I Do White? by June Jordan
Junior High Dance by Allison Joseph
Mama: 1. Rice Child by Claire Kageyama
Mama: 2. The Marriage by Claire Kageyama
Mama: 3. Family by Claire Kageyama
Mama: 4. Her Wish by Claire Kageyama
Mama: 5. Her Gift by Claire Kageyama
Secret Love by Milton Kessler
Salt by Yusef Komunyakaa
Untitled Blues by Yusef Komunyakaa
For My Great-grandfather: A Message Long Overdue by Maxine W. Kumin
Living Alone With Jesus by Maxine W. Kumin
Grandma In The Shower by Dale Kushner
Second Class Citizen by Jennifer Lagier
The Upside Down Basket by Alan Chong Lau
The Gift by Li-young Lee
I Ask My Mother To Sing by Li-young Lee
Mnemonic by Li-young Lee
For Talking by Denise Nico Leto
The Mary Morelle Show by Denise Nico Leto
After The Anti-semitic Calls On A Local Talk Station by Lyn Diane Lifshin
Being Jewish In A Small Town by Lyn Diane Lifshin
I Remember Haifa Being Lovely But by Lyn Diane Lifshin
The Yahrtzeit Light by Lyn Diane Lifshin
I Defy You Wallace Stevens by Shirley Geok-lin Lim
Modern Secrets by Shirley Geok-lin Lim
Song Of The Third Generation by Julia Lisella
Hanging Fire by Audre Lorde
3. by Adrian C. Louis
Something About Being An Indian by Adrian C. Louis
That Great Wingless Bird by Adrian C. Louis
Going Home by Wing Tek Lum
Poet: What Ever Happened To Luther? by Haki R. Madhubuti
Recognized Futures by Lisa Suhair Majaj
Lakota Sister/cherokee Mother by Victoria Lena Manyarrows
Today We Will Not Be Invisible Nor Silent by Victoria Lena Manyarrows
Oye Mundo/ - Sometimes by Jesus Papoleto Melendez
4, Selection. Journey by David Meltzer
Undressing Aunt Frieda by Richard Michelson
The Men: 1 by E. Ethelbert Miller
The Men: 2 by E. Ethelbert Miller
The Men: 3 by E. Ethelbert Miller
The Men: 4 by E. Ethelbert Miller
The Men: 5 by E. Ethelbert Miller
Doreen by Janice Mirikitani
Jade by Janice Mirikitani
Because Of My Father's Job by James Masao Mitsui
Katori Maru, October 1920 by James Masao Mitsui
Cortez's Horse by Pat Mora
Depression Days (2) by Pat Mora
Elena by Pat Mora
Immigrants by Pat Mora
La Migra by Pat Mora
Senora X No More by Pat Mora
For The Color Of My Mother by Cherrie Moraga
Half-breed by Cherrie Moraga
Speaking Through White: For My Mother: 1 by Kyoko Mori
Speaking Through White: For My Mother: 2 by Kyoko Mori
To H. N. by David Mura
The House On Moscow Street by Marilyn Nelson
Blood by Naomi Shihab Nye
My Father And The Figtree by Naomi Shihab Nye
In Response To Executive Order 9066; ... Report To Relocation Centers by Dwight Okita
The Nice Thing About Counting Stars by Dwight Okita
Notes For A Poem On Being Asian American by Dwight Okita
Travels In The South: 1. East Texas by Simon J. Ortiz
Travels In The South: 2. The Creek Nation East Of The Mississippi by Simon J. Ortiz
Travels In The South: 3. Crossing The Georgia Border Into Florida by Simon J. Ortiz
Lamenting The Inevitable by Alicia Suskin Ostriker
Coming Of Age by Michael Palma
American Dream: First Report by Joseph Papaleo
The Sweaters by Lucia Maria Perillo
My Rich Uncle, Whom I Only Met Three Times by Marge Piercy
The Old Buildings by Pedro Pietri
Jacket Notes by Ishmael Reed
6th Grade - Our Lady Of Pompeii by Vittoria Repetto
The Language Of Great-aunts by Alberto Alvaro Rios
Nani by Alberto Alvaro Rios
Always Running by Luis J. Rodriguez
Fire: 1 by Luis J. Rodriguez
Fire: 2 by Luis J. Rodriguez
Heavy Blue Veins by Luis J. Rodriguez
We Never Stopped Crossing Borders by Luis J. Rodriguez
The Bucket by Rose Romano
But My Blood by Rose Romano
So I Lost My Temper by Rose Romano
Naayawva Taawi by Wendy Rose
Story Keeper by Wendy Rose
Hope by Liz Rosenberg
Espresso by Carol Lee Saffioti
Pinon Nuts by Dixie Salazar
Taking It Back by Dixie Salazar
An Anthem by Sonia Sanchez
Norma by Sonia Sanchez
Present by Sonia Sanchez
Song No. 3 by Sonia Sanchez
Grandmother, A Caribbean Indian, Described By My Father by Yvonne Sapia
What Were You Patching? by Ruth Lisa Schechter
Digging In The Streets Of Gold by Barry Seiler
From Okra To Greens by Ntozake Shange
Tattoo by Gregg Shapiro
A Story About Chicken Soup by Louis Simpson
Blonde White Women by Patricia M. Smith
So Motown Taught Me All About Men. Men Worshipped by Patricia M. Smith
What It's Like To Be A Black Girl by Patricia M. Smith
Out Of Our Hands by Cathy Song
Behind Grandma's House by Gary Soto
Black Hair by Gary Soto
Braly Street by Gary Soto
The Elements Of San Joaquin: Field by Gary Soto
How I Changed My Name, Felice by Felix Stefanile
Election Time by Lamont B. Steptoe
Such A Boat Of Land by Lamont B. Steptoe
Wired In by Lamont B. Steptoe
Behaving Like A Jew by Gerald Stern
The Dancing by Gerald Stern
Good Grease by Mary Tallmountain
Indian Blood (1) by Mary Tallmountain
The Last Wolf by Mary Tallmountain
All I Want by Luci Tapahonso
I Am Singing Now by Luci Tapahonso
All Along The Railroad by Quincy Troupe
The View From Skates In Berkeley by Quincy Troupe
In The Good Old U.s.a. by Jose Angel, Sr. Villalongo
My People Are The Color Of The Earth by Alma Luz Villanueva
They Didn't Get Me by Alma Luz Villanueva
To Jesus Villanueva, With Love by Alma Luz Villanueva
Haciendo Apenas La Recoleccion by Tino Villanueva
Autobiography by Robert Viscusi
Letter To A Cretan Flute-maker by Justin Vitiello
Miss Clement's Second Grade by Maryfrances Wagner
Brain On Ice by Michael Warr
Malcolm Is 'bout More Than Wearing A Cap by Michael Warr
The Black And White Galaxie by Michael S. Weaver
A Black Man's Sonata by Michael S. Weaver
Blind Solo by Michael S. Weaver
Imitation Of Life by Michael S. Weaver
Improvisation For Piano by Michael S. Weaver
The Left Bank Jazz Society by Michael S. Weaver
Laughing Gas by Ruth Whitman
Can't Tell by Nellie Wong
Dreams In Harrison Railroad Park by Nellie Wong
From A Heart Of Rice Straw

Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 014023778X
• ISBN 13: 9780140237788
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 432
• Editor: Gillan Maria Mazziotti, Gillan Jennifer