“One problem for the student of color is the feeling that if she is silent about a piece of writing that is racially problematic or insensitive or simply racist , she will be condoning such writing. Moreover, the student may believe that to be silent is to be a coward. At the same time, if the student of color persists in her critiques she will be increasingly attacked and begin to feel isolated and powerless. The student may feel then that to persist with her critiques is an attempt to maintain or regain power. But Sun Tzu teaches that to retreat or lay low in times when one does not have power or sufficient number is not weakness; it is wisdom. Sun Tzu teaches that taking time to build allies and gather forces is not weakness, but wisdom. ... Or as I wrote to one such student, being an activist artist is not a sprint. It is a marathon. Artists need to plan and strategize and build their forces for the larger battles to come, to fight from strength not weakness.”
Quote by David Mura
Work
A Stranger's Journey: Race, Identity, and Narrative Craft in Writing
Browse quotes and source details for this work. more
Author
David Mura
David Mura is an American author born in 1952. His works primarily explore themes of race, identity, and culture, with a particular focus on the experiences of Japanese Americans. Mura's writing includes novels, essays, and poetry, influenced by his Japanese and Hawaiian heritage. more
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