Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez by Richard Rodriguez

Book Description
Hunger of Memory is the story of Mexican American Richard Rodriguez, who begins his school in Sacramento, California, knowing just 50 words of English and concludes his university studies in the stately quiet of the reading room of the British Museum. Here is the poignant journey of a “minority student” who pays the cost of his social assimilation and academic success with a painful alienation from his past, his parents, his culture – and so describes the high price of “making it” in middle-class America. Provocative in its positions on affirmative action and bilingual education, Hunger of Memory is a powerful political statement, a profound study of the importance of language…and the moving, intimate portrait of a boy struggling to become a man. Published in 1983, 195 pages.
Description from book jacket

Research the author and the book using library resources
Information on the author’s life and works is available through our library’s online resources. Recommended online resources for Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez by Richard Rodriguez include Biography Resource Center and Literature Resource Center. Enter your library barcode and then use the author’s name or the book title to search for full-text encyclopedia or magazine articles.

Discussion questions
Memoir discussion questions from readinggroupguide.com
Hunger of Memory discussion questions and online study guide

Additional information
Biographical information on Richard Rodriguez from the Online NewsHour. 
“The New, New World: Richard Rodriguez on culture and assimilation” Interviewed by Virginia I. Postrel and Nick Gillespie in Reason magazine.
“It’s CLASS, Stupid!” By Richard Rodriguez.  Rodriguez argues in Salon, that affirmative action does not address the true problem – poverty. 
“The Myth of the Melting Pot” by William Branigin.  The Washington Post looks at immigrant assimilation. 

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