[On August 2nd, this AmericanStudier’s amazing younger sister celebrates her birthday. So this week in her honor I’ll AmericanStudy interesting American siblings!]
On two columns
where I’ve highlighted the amazing Eaton sisters, and one thing I’d add here.
I’ve long
called Sui Sin Far (the literary pen name of Edith Maude Eaton) one of my
favorite American authors (and Americans period), and I made that case in this
column for the American Writers Museum.
I hadn’t
had as much of a chance to think about her equally talented and perhaps even
more influential sister Onoto Watanna (the literary pen name of Winnifred
Eaton) until I researched and wrote this Saturday
Evening Post Considering History column
(which also features their sister Sara Eaton Bosse, with whom Watanna wrote the
1914 Chinese-Japanese Cookbook).
I hope
those columns are more than enough to convince you all of the uniqueness and
impressiveness of this set of multiracial American siblings. But the one thing
I’d add is this: I really, really shouldn’t have to, because they should
already be as famous as any American literary or cultural family. The fact that
they are not is a) one of so many layers to the frustrating, continuing
exclusions of Asian Americans from our collective memories; and b) one of so
many reasons why I’m determined to do everything I can to challenge and change
that trend. Which can start with all of us celebrating the Eaton sisters, today
and every day!
Special
tribute post this weekend,
Ben
PS. What
do you think? Sibling stories you’d highlight?
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