Columbia Celebrates 50th Anniversary of The Woman Warrior with Maxine Hong Kingston

On Tuesday, October 27, Columbia University’s Asian American Initiative (AAI) and the Department of English and Comparative Literature co-hosted "THE WOMAN WARRIOR: A Reading with Maxine Hong Kingston"—a special event honoring the 50th anniversary of Kingston's groundbreaking book and celebrating her birthday.

AAI Director Qin Gao welcomed Kingston to a packed World Room in Pulitzer Hall. Denise Cruz, Professor of English and Comparative Literature, introduced the evening’s guest readers, who presented excerpts from The Woman Warrior: Columbia College students David Chen and Nicole Dao; PhD candidate and poet Jay Gao; playwright and Professor David Henry Hwang; and Professors Rachel Adams, Ken Chen, Sharon Marcus, and Marie Myung-Ok Lee.

Prof. Sharon Marcus, Orlando Harriman Professor of English and Comparative Literature, reflected on the success of this year's partnership between the English Department and the Asian American Initiative:

“Every year the Department of English and Comparative Literature brings together students and faculty to read aloud from a beloved text. This year we collaborated on this reading with AAI, and I am delighted that our event gathered people from all over campus to celebrate a book that itself is known for blending genres and crossing borders.”

Taking the stage to warm applause, Kingston captivated the audience of students, faculty, staff, and guests with selections and reflections from The Woman Warrior, The Fifth Book of Peace, and I Love a Broad Margin to My Life. The evening concluded with a standing ovation, birthday cake, and a spirited room-wide chorus of “Happy Birthday.”

"I loved hearing the words of this novel—the book that changed my life—read aloud and framed by such a thoughtful, smart, creative, and inspiring group of people," reflected Professor Cruz. "To hear Maxine speak about her writing, its meaning, and the promise of peace was incredible... everyone was so thrilled to have the chance to meet Maxine and thank her in person.”