Cathy Park Hong

Cathy Park Hong is a Korean American poet, writer, and professor. She is the author of three poetry collections: "Engine Empire," "Dance Dance Revolution," and "Translating Mo'um." Her work has been published in various journals and anthologies, and she has received numerous awards and fellowships for her contributions to literature.

Background and Education

Hong was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in a bilingual household. She earned her BA from Oberlin College and her MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Her experiences as a second-generation Korean American have deeply influenced her writing, which often explores themes of identity, language, and cultural heritage.

Career and Achievements

In addition to her poetry collections, Hong has written essays and articles for publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and The New Republic. She is a recipient of the Windham-Campbell Prize, the Guggenheim Fellowship, and the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. Hong currently serves as a professor at Rutgers University-Newark, where she teaches creative writing.

Minor Feelings

"Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning" is Hong's first book of essays. The collection has been widely acclaimed for its incisive and candid exploration of race, identity, and the Asian American experience. Through a blend of memoir, cultural criticism, and history, Hong challenges the model minority myth and addresses the emotional landscape of living in a society that often marginalizes and stereotypes Asian Americans.