Achy Obejas
Encyclopedia
Achy Obejas is a Cuban American
writer and journalist
focused on personal and national identity issues, living in Chicago, Illinois.
and attended Indiana University
from 1977–1979, when she moved to Chicago
.
Beginning in 1991, she was a reporter, and later, a freelance entertainment writer for the Chicago Tribune
and other publications. She earned an M.F.A from Warren Wilson College
in 1993. She was the Springer Lecturer in Creative Writing (2003–2005) at the University of Chicago
, as well as an advisor for the online prose magazine, Otium
.
In fall of 2005, she served as the Distinguished Writer in Residence at the University of Hawai'i.
As of 2006, she is the Sor Juana
visiting writer at DePaul University
.
In 2008, she translated Junot Diaz
's Pulitzer-prize winning novel, The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao into Spanish.
Obejas has written the novels Memory Mambo and Days of Awe, and the story collection We Came All the Way from Cuba so You Could Dress Like This?.
Cuban American
A Cuban American is a United States citizen who traces his or her "national origin" to Cuba. Cuban Americans are also considered native born Americans with Cuban parents or Cuban-born persons who were raised and educated in US...
writer and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
focused on personal and national identity issues, living in Chicago, Illinois.
Life and career
Obejas was born June 28, 1956 in Havana, Cuba. After emigrating to the United States at the age of six, she lived in Michigan City, IndianaMichigan City, Indiana
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston. Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, located at 317 Detroit St., is named after the founder....
and attended Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
from 1977–1979, when she moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Beginning in 1991, she was a reporter, and later, a freelance entertainment writer for the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
and other publications. She earned an M.F.A from Warren Wilson College
Warren Wilson College
Warren Wilson College is a private four-year work college in the Swannanoa Valley, North Carolina, United States near Asheville. It is known for its curriculum of work, academics, and service, called "the Triad," which requires every student to work an on-campus job, perform at least one hundred...
in 1993. She was the Springer Lecturer in Creative Writing (2003–2005) at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, as well as an advisor for the online prose magazine, Otium
Otium
Otium, a Latin abstract term, has a variety of meanings, including leisure time in which a person can enjoy eating, playing, resting, contemplation and academic endeavors. It sometimes, but not always, relates to a time in a person's retirement after previous service to the public or private...
.
In fall of 2005, she served as the Distinguished Writer in Residence at the University of Hawai'i.
As of 2006, she is the Sor Juana
Sor Juana
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz , fully Juana Inés de Asbaje y Ramírez de Santillana, was a self-taught scholar and poet of the Baroque school, and nun of New Spain...
visiting writer at DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
.
In 2008, she translated Junot Diaz
Junot Díaz
Junot Díaz is a Dominican-American writer and creative writing professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology . Central to Díaz's work is the immigrant experience...
's Pulitzer-prize winning novel, The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao into Spanish.
Obejas has written the novels Memory Mambo and Days of Awe, and the story collection We Came All the Way from Cuba so You Could Dress Like This?.