From the GALE Newsletter: Summer 2003

Impressions from Alice Walker's Yokohama Visit
Alice Walker, April 23rd, 2003 at the Yokohama Women's Forum

 

By Kris Mizutani

When I first heard she was coming to the Yokohama Women's Forum to promote her 1997 book "Anything We Love Can Be Saved" I panicked with excitement. Two months before the event, I was sure tickets were already sold out. I was able to procure a few seats for myself, my students and a few friends (also GALE members). I was curious about what her audience would look like. Would they be old? Women? Radical?

Much to my pleasant surprise, there was a wide mix in age. Though a predominately Japanese audience, my gaydar was on high alert. I spotted at least 8 other dykes, and wondered where I could find so many again in Yokohama.

Then I noticed these funny little earcups everyone had. They were just like in television, the ones they wear at the United Nations. I felt so special. There were two simultaneous interpreters working in a pseudo-soundbooth within sight. Tre cool!

Walker spent the first 45 minutes or so basically reading from her book. Though I was thoroughly moved by her reading, many of my students who attended later reported how disappointed they were that she didn't dialogue more with the audience. They felt the brief question and answer period afterwards was the most fruitful. The audience questioned her about her views on female genital mutilation, to her impressions of Japanese culture (I thought it classic that a culture question was asked. I teased my students later that its SO Japanese for Japanese to ask a non-Japanese about Japanese culture. I waited with baited breath for the "Do you like natto ?" question. It never came.

But Walker did read and discuss her views on motherhood and the importance of mother/daughter relationships. So I began the question and answer session by asking Walker about her relationship with her daughter because she so beautifully described her relationship with her own mother. My question didn't go over so well with Walker, with a brief "She's 30 (years old)" response. Hmm...did I push a button? Did I ask too personal a question?

Maybe since I've been living in Japan for awhile now, I ask questions that I wouldn't have, had I lived in America. But I know Walker would advocate for freedom. Freedom to ask any questions and the freedom to refuse to answer.