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The
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Another excellent source for reviews on multicultural materials is "The 8th Floor: Mujlticultural Education, at: http://www.newhorizons.org/mult_litreview.html
Figueredo's article is about the Latino detective story genre. He details how these writers, which we will focus on shortly, "contribute to diversity and come up with new characters and situations." (p. 22) He focuses on five characteristics that make this genre so interesting and refreshing, especially when contrasted with other types of "Murder Mysteries." Code switching, an integral part of this genre, which refers to references in another language, historical period or culture, is put into literary perspective and its value made apparent. The use of Spanish encourages the reader to learn more about the language or interact with Hispanic friends to reach a deeper level of understanding. A second descriptor of this genre is "Life in the Hyphen," which refers to the bicultural and bilingual status of both writers and the characters in their novels. This characteristic, while enhancing their world view, creates problems in self-identity and how, when and where to manifest it. A third characteristic is discrimination. The author details how Mexican Americans are often negatively portrayed, along with Puerto Ricans and African Americans, in Anglo-written "Murder Mysteries." Hispanic authors seem particularly sensitive to avoiding negative portrayal of main characters, yet there is always the seamier side of any large population such as in the United States, which is a necessary component in this genre. I was particularly impressed with the balances characterizations in Rudolfo Anaya's Zia Summer. Closely related to discrimination in this genre is how and to what extent stereotypes are presented. Of course the bad are really bad, not only for the victims, but for society in general. When the Hispanic characters/protagonists interact and confront the Anglo peripheral participants, they seem to handle it quite well, even under the duress of our multicultural population. Perhaps most inspiring about this genre and some of its authors is the character development that they present in most of the characters, especially the protagonist and his protracted journey to find out, "who done it." Our last and most uncharacteristic element in this genre is the role and importance of the spiritual and supernatural. In Anaya's Zia Summer, Sonny, the protagonist and small-time Albuquerque private eye, accesses his culture, uncle and their spiritual influence to successfully negotiate his own quest for the answer to who murdered his sister. At the same time, he is thwarted by "black" elements of the supernatural in three witch-like mistresses to Mr. Problem/Murderer. Young adult readers, and murder mystery readers in general, will be pleasantly rewarded when they read one of these Hispanic-authored murder mysteries. |
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Works cited and recommended in this article are: Abella, Alex (1991). The Killing of the Saints. New York: Penguin Books. Anaya, Rudolfo (1996). Zia Summer. New York: Warner Books. Bertematti, Richard (1997). Project Death. Houston: Arte Publico. Corpi, Lucha (1992). Eulogy for a Brown Angel. Houston: Arte Publico. Garcia-Aguilera, Carolina (1998). Bloody Secrets. New York: Putnam. Hinojosa, Rolando (1998). Ask a Policeman. Houston: Arte Publico Nava, Michael (1998). The Death of Friends. New York: Bantam. Ramos, Manuel (1993). The Ballad of Rocky Ruiz. New York: St. Martin's Press. Sanchez, Thomas (1978). Zoot Suit Murders. New York: Vintage.
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