HUNGER OF MEMORY: The Education of Richard...

HUNGER OF MEMORY: The Education of Richard Rodriguez by Richard Rodriguez (Bantam: $4.95). Drawing on his own admittedly atypical experiences, Rodriguez argues against bilingual education and Affirmative Action programs in this controversial intellectual autobiography. Much of his opposition stems from the traditional Marxist position that class differences transcend ethnic and cultural boundaries. Arguing that Hispanics are largely denied access to higher education and employment opportunities because they are poor, rather than Spanish-speaking, he notes the irony of middle-class white college students declaring their solidarity with “the people.” Even readers who reject Rodriguez’s contentions will enjoy the eloquence of their presentation: His prose moves with the elegant cadence of an earlier, more literary era.