01 Mar / Aiiieeeee!: An Anthology of Asian American Writers edited by Frank Chin, Jeffery Paul Chan, Lawson Fusao Inada, and Shawn Wong [in What Do I Read Next? Multicultural Literature]
The dim sum of Asian American classics by the ‘bad boys’ of APA lit. Considered the seminal anthology of Asian American literature, Aiiieeeee! was the first anthology dedicated solely to American writers of Asian descent. Included are short stories, excerpts from various novels, and one act of the first Asian American play ever produced in New York City.
Originally published by Howard University Press. Ironically, during the late 1960s and ‘70s, it was the African American community who lent the most supportive voice to Asian American writers and their projects, of which Aiiieeeee! is just one example. The title comes from the fact that “Aiiieeeee!” was the shout, the scream, often the only sound emitted from an Asian man or woman as depicted on American film, television, comic books, etc. This anthology is proof that the Asian American voice, long denied a true audience, is much more than a meaningless cry, but rather an articulate, accomplished part of the American experience.
Reviews: “Asian American Titles,” What Do I Read Next? Multicultural Literature, Gale Research, 1997
“Necessary Titles for the APA Heritage Bookshelf,” aMagazine: Inside Asian America, April/May 2001
Readers: Young Adult, Adult
Published: 1974