Writer Percival Everett: “In ownership of language there resides great power”
Besides Percival Everett, who else would have a crow as a pet and name them Jim Crow? Everett shared that while writing his novel “Erasure,” the crow would often sit on his shoulder and if he wasn’t giving it enough attention, it would peck at the keys on his arm. He even gives credit to the crow for helping write parts of the novel.
Percival Everett
Think about the situational contradiction (a literary technique favored by Everett) that “Jim Crow” aided him in creating a story about race – a book within a book that mocks the involvement of the publishing industry in continuing stereotypes of African Americans. Everett’s novel, “Erasure,” was released in 2001 and has since been adapted into the award-winning movie, “American Fiction,” featuring Jeffrey Wright.
Ironically, Percival Everett’s visibility has been boosted more by a film he had no involvement in but enjoys, rather than by the 30+ books he has written or his nominations for the Booker Prize and Pulitzer.
“James” is an adaptation of Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” that is told from the perspective of Jim, Huck’s enslaved companion. The use of language is a recurring source of humor, but it also carries potential danger.
The enslaved people, Jim in particular, speak in what would commonly be called standard English. But they slip into dialect when they’re around White people.
“Father, what is the reason for us having to acquire this knowledge?”
I expressed that there is pressure for people of color to conform to certain speech norms, and it may benefit us to comply in order to avoid disappointing them. However, ultimately it is we who suffer when we are made to feel inferior by conforming.
Doubleday
In the story “James,” a man is hanged for taking a pencil without permission so that Jim can use it to write his own narrative.
Everett acknowledged the immense power and potential for achieving freedom that language bestows upon individuals and their ownership of it.
The individual utilizes language that is deemed socially unacceptable, including the use of the N-word. When questioned about this, Everett justified his use by stating that he believes in speaking the truth. He clarified that he would not be any less offended if someone were to directly call him the N-word instead of using a censor. In his opinion, focusing solely on the use of the word detracts from the real issue at hand. He prioritizes the intent and significance behind the language, rather than attempts to conceal or sugarcoat it.
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Everett, born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, is the son of a dentist. Coming from a family of doctors, he always knew he didn’t want to follow in their footsteps.
Why? “They had to be around people all the time!” he explained.
He realized that he enjoys being in the company of animals (“I have never been lied to by an animal!”). On his journey to becoming a successful writer and a renowned professor of writing at the University of Southern California, Everett also worked with horses and mules.
He values his privacy and is very protective of his personal life and loved ones. He only attends book-related events when necessary, preferring to spend his time fly-fishing. He even ties his own flies, especially for small streams, as it gives him a sense of mental freedom.
He is also an artist who paints. His fourth solo exhibition opens in Los Angeles next month. His artistic language is just as abstract as his writing is direct.
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He expressed that working with stories involves introspection and requires a lot of sitting. However, he enjoys the physical aspect of creating paintings. He does not see a distinction between the two and views them as a means of understanding his role in the world.
I am curious about Percival Everett’s perspective on race and how it is addressed in his books. Does this topic occupy his thoughts? While it may not be at the forefront of his mind, he acknowledges its presence. He also contemplates sadness, as it is an inevitable part of life. However, he does not dwell on it and recognizes that it is a result of historical events that he cannot change.
Does writing his books contribute towards that goal? He chuckled, saying, “One can only hope! I simply do what I can and keep moving forward.”
WEB BONUS: Percival Everett condemns book banning as an act of fear and weakness (YouTube Video)
Read an excerpt:
The novel titled “James” written by Percival Everett.
Read an excerpt:
The novel “Dr. No” written by Percival Everett.
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This story was created by Amol Mhatre and edited by Chad Cardin.
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Source: cbsnews.com