America Quote by Chinua Achebe
“In America there is really very little knowledge of the literature of the rest of the world. Of the literature of Latin America, yes, But that's not all that different in inspiration from that of America, or of Europe. One must go further. You don't even have to go too far in terms of geography - you can start with the Native Americans and listen to their poetry.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on literary diversity, 1990s
The quote urges expanding literary horizons beyond dominant Western can, including Latin American and Indigenous works, to enrich cultural understanding.
In simple terms: Read more world literature beyond the West.
Explore diverse literary voices.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education curricula
- book clubs
- personal reading lists
- library acquisitions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we make non‑Western literature more accessible?
- What benefits arise from reading Indigenous poetry?
Limited access and translation barriers can restrict exposure.