Author Ibi Zoboi Calls Out Racism and Classism in The Wall Street Journal Book Review

Author Ibi Zoboi, the author of American Street, called out a racist book review from The Wall Street Journal that was written by Meghan Cox Gurdon.

Zoboi did so with the utmost grace, making it clear that she didn’t have a problem with criticism, but with the language that Gurdon used to talk about the book and the lack of cultural information/insight she gave it how she discussed Zoboi’s latest novel Pride, a modernized version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. 

“Unlike Austen, Ms. Zoboi doesn’t write here with literary formality or what has been called classical narrative tact. For her characters, a bad attitude is “stank,” a rich family is “bougie as hell,” and an instant attraction is a “you-look-so-damn-good-that-my-eyes-are-eating-your-face thing.” Her heavy use of slang will undoubtedly amuse and validate those readers ages 13-17 who use it themselves, but it may otherwise limit the book’s appeal.”

I truly, deeply hate the idea that “slang” invalidates the literary value of formality of the novel when there are plenty of classic and “literary” novels are written with the slang and vernacular of its time. Has she not read James Joyce, has she not read 18th-century novels which were so obsessed with being as “authentic” as possible, which led to them using a lot of very common language. Or you know … Shakespeare!

Also, you think Jane Austen had no slang in her novels, just because you have accepted it to be posh now, does not mean that is the case. Do you not feel like A  Clockwork Orange has no literary value because that book is written heavily is slang? Does the fact that The Color Purple or Their Eyes Were Watching God features heavy, poor Southern vernacular limit its greatness? This literary elitism is not only racist, but it is classist and dismissive of the flexibility of language.

What also stings about these words by Gurdon is that for a long time I had internalized this type of thinking in my own life. I would read novels with heavy Cockney accents without any question of its value or if it was inferior, but when I was first introduced to The Color Purple as a pre-teen I dismissed it because “black speak” is never seen as educated, and I felt it would reflect badly on me to read something written “incorrectly.”

I remembered my father making sure to correct every single “ain’t” that came out of mouth until I learned to loathe it and anyone who ever said it. That’s not proper English, he would say … even though it is.

Finally, what really galls me about this is that it furthers literary self-segregation. I love Jane Austen, she has created some of my favorite literary leads. Pride both pays tribute to a piece of literature but also shows the universal issues within Austen that make it accessible to everyone. The fact that you can transport the themes of Regency England to modern day Bushwick is a good thing.

Too often black and brown kids think those stories can’t be for them or that they must shun anything that is not Penguin classic approved and that is because of elitist like Meghan Cox Gurdon who create literary divisions where they need not be. I could have loved Miss Celie much sooner in life if I had been taught to appreciate all slang and not just ones with an English accent, instead of feeling shame.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi is out now!

(image: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Foundation Of Letters)

Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!

—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

Have a tip we should know? tips@themarysue.com

Author

Close

Princess Weekes

Princess (she/her-bisexual) is a Brooklyn born Megan Fox truther, who loves Sailor Moon, mythology, and diversity within sci-fi/fantasy. Still lives in Brooklyn with her over 500 Pokémon that she has Eevee trained into a mighty army. Team Zutara forever.

twitter