Junot Diaz, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, wrote Monday in The New Yorker about the importance of "radical hope" in the face of Donald Trump's surprise victory in the U.S. presidential election. The politically outspoken Diaz was one of 16 writers to pen an essay for the magazine's collection of musings on Trump's America, calling for those disillusioned with their president-elect to "connect courageously with the rejection, the fear, the vulnerability that Trump's victory has inflicted on us" before coming together to fight.
"For those of us who have been in the fight, the prospect of more fighting, after so cruel a setback, will seem impossible," Diaz wrote. But he urged individuals to carry on because "once the shock settles, faith and energy will return," and invoked philosopher Jonathan Lear's theory of radical hope:
"Radical hope is our best weapon against despair, even when despair seems justifiable; it makes the survival of the end of your world possible. Only radical hope could have imagined people like us into existence. And I believe that it will help us create a better, more loving future." [Junot Diaz, via The New Yorker]
The essays appear in The New Yorker's latest print issue. You can also read Diaz's full piece — alongside essays on Trump's America from Jia Tolentino, Larry Wilmore, and more — online at The New Yorker.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Are car headlights are too bright?The Explainer 82% of UK drivers concerned about being ‘dazzled’ as LED bulbs become more common
-
Saudi Arabia could become an AI focal pointUnder the Radar A state-backed AI project hopes to rival China and the United States
-
What you need to know about last-minute travelThe Week Recommends You can book an awesome trip with a moment’s notice
-
Shutdown stalemate nears key pain pointsSpeed Read A federal employee union called for the Democrats to to stand down four weeks into the government standoff
-
Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan adspeed read The ad that offended the president has Ronald Reagan explaining why import taxes hurt the economy
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
