I did not want to write this book as a way of explaining the humanity of Vietnamese. Toni Morrison says in Beloved that to have to explain yourself to white people distorts you because you start from a position of assuming your inhumanity or lack of humanity in other people's eyes. Rather than writing a book that tries to affirm humanity, which is typically the position that minority writers are put into, the book starts from the assumption that we are human, and then goes on to prove that we're also inhuman at the same time.
In "The Sympathizer," Viet Thanh Nguyen expresses his reluctance to write a book that seeks to validate the humanity of Vietnamese people. He acknowledges the pressure on minority writers to recognize their humanity in a society that often views them as less than human, reflecting on Toni Morrison's insight that such explanations can distort one's identity. Rather than conforming to this expectation, Nguyen’s narrative begins from a premise that Vietnamese people are inherently human and explores the complexity of their experiences, which includes both humane and inhumane aspects.
Nguyen aims to break free from the constraints of needing to justify or defend the humanity of his characters. Instead of focusing solely on affirming their existence, he delves deeper into the dualities of human nature, presenting a nuanced portrayal that acknowledges both moral complexity and contradictions. This approach allows for a richer understanding of identity and experience, elevating the discourse beyond simplistic binaries and affirmations typical of minority writings.
