Facing Race 2012: Junot Díaz Press Conference

Junot Díaz was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New Jersey. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Drown; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Diaz gives a press conference at Facing Race 2012.
To learn more about Facing Race: A National Conference and to register, please visit: facingrace.rac...
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Founded in 1981, Race Forward brings systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity. Founded in 2002, CSI catalyzes community, government, and other institutions to dismantle structural racial inequity and create equitable outcomes for all.
The new Race Forward is home to the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), a national network of government working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all. Race Forward publishes the daily news site Colorlines and presents Facing Race, the country’s largest multiracial conference on racial justice.
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[@tjohannam]

He is ten times smarter and more articulate than anyone else in the room!

[@brianrosado]

Junot tu eres lo máximo....un abrazo desde Santo Domingo!!

[@apexxxx10]

Kiitos

[@dr.pamelaellis8021]

Worthy of love...

[@michelleealy2717]

Wow

[@ladylaurenia]

Powerful.

[@serenitysedai]

Fucking brilliant individual

[@brianrosado]

I hope not...

[@visualizecreate2530]

Nice try. He is Hispanic. He isn’t black. He should not use the word. Come up with another hateful word and use that.

[@brianrosado]

Is he shaking, does he have Parkinson´s disease??

[@UFarcher]

There is a difference between using the N word in a derogative way and in an informative way.
He says that basically he is trying to represent the "derogatory" use of the N word, while MANY TIMES in the "Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" the word was used in a humorous, irreverent way that did not bring light on the word as a derogatory term, but as a term synonymous with Black. That is obviously not the case, and using it ubiquitously in the book only desensitizes the reader to its use, and does not further the abstaining of its use!

[@Bengwriter273]

He never said "derogative" or "informative." He says that he uses it while writing about a person/people/social groups in a culture. In the case of Oscar Wao Diaz was writing a story about the Dominican culture that he is familiar with. The book, from my point of view, wasn't about the justification of any words. It was a story told through the language of Yunior (mostly), a Dominican male, whom uses the word regularly.

[@Villarrea11]

he didn't get the question, stupid af lel