Jess Row
Jess Row
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Jess Row is an American writer and essayist known for his nuanced explorations of identity, culture, and the human condition.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on April 4, 1972, in Boston, Massachusetts, Row currently resides in New York City.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Row's nationality is American, and he works as a writer, essayist, and professor. He has taught creative writing at various institutions, including Columbia University.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a Chinese-American family, Jess Row navigated the complexities of identity from an early age. His experiences shaped his perspective on belonging, cultural heritage, and the immigrant experience. This personal backdrop informs much of his work, which often grapples with the intersections of culture, history, and individuality.
Major Accomplishments
Row's writing career is marked by several notable achievements:
He has published two novels: "The Gates" (2005) and "Your Empire Needs You" (2014).
His short stories have appeared in prominent literary journals, such as The New Yorker and Harper's Magazine.
Row has received awards for his essays, including the Pushcart Prize.Notable Works or Actions
Some of Jess Row's notable works include:
"The Gates": A novel that explores the lives of two brothers navigating identity, family, and cultural expectations in 1970s New York City.
* "Your Empire Needs You": A collection of short stories that delve into themes of immigration, belonging, and the immigrant experience.
Impact and Legacy
Jess Row's writing has resonated with readers for its thought-provoking explorations of identity, culture, and human connection. His work often challenges assumptions about what it means to belong and be American. Through his writing, he offers a nuanced perspective on the complexities of cultural heritage and personal identity.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Jess Row's quotes are widely referenced for their insight into the human experience. Readers appreciate his thoughtful reflections on identity, culture, and belonging. His ability to convey complex ideas with nuance and empathy has made him a beloved writer among readers and scholars alike.
Quotes by Jess Row
We live in an age that's very suspicious of preachy political rhetoric, which means that there's room for art that approaches these issues from the side - as satire, as parody, or as a kind of outlandish speculative proposition.
I think novels - or any art form - can have a powerful impact on people's perceptions of race, particularly if they draw attention to the absurd inconsistencies and stereotypes we all carry around with us and don't want to think about.
I try to think of the social function of fiction as drawing the individual toward larger social and political questions. But I'm also very comfortable in saying that my novel - any novel - doesn't matter as much as larger questions of how we can see justice done.
Disguising your own origins is a deeply American impulse, but that doesn't make it any less compromising. The way I live my life is to try to foreground the tensions and paradoxes of being a white person who's interested in racial justice and reconciliation, rather than disguise or obliterate them.
It's difficult for me to imagine a circumstance in which you're disguising your origins in which someone doesn't get hurt.
White Americans have the option of not having to think about race on a daily basis. People of color don't. Race is a major deciding factor in their lives and the histories of their families.
There's a feeling among white Americans that there's no such thing as racial harmony, no such thing as a positive, productive relationship with people of color.
When I read 'Another Country' when I was in my early 20s, you know, as soon as I put the book down, my first thought was, 'I will never be able to write a book like this.' And my second thought was, 'I really want to try writing a book like this for the 21st century.'
The truth is that much of the plastic surgery we see today has a racial or ethnic component because it has to do with inherently racial concepts of physical perfection, like the 'Roman nose.'
There's an enormous amount of obliviousness: a desire among young gentrifiers to see only the city they want to see.