The strange dilemma of the 'ethnic-fiction' writer is that you are supposed to carry a banner for your homeland, be a voice for it, and educate the rest of the world about it, but I think that's far too onerous a burden for any writer to bear.
Interpretation
Writers from specific ethnic backgrounds face the pressure to represent their culture and educate others, which can be overwhelming.
Khaled Hosseini expresses the challenge faced by 'ethnic-fiction' writers who are often expected to serve as cultural ambassadors for their homelands while also fulfilling the artistic demands of their craft. This expectation can be a heavy burden, as it places the responsibility of representation and education on the individual writer, which may detract from their personal expression and artistic freedom.
In practice
In a speech about multicultural literature, one might quote this to highlight the pressures faced by ethnic writers.
You're gutless. It's how you were made. And that's not such a bad thing because your saving grace is that you've never lied to yourself about it. Not about that. Nothing wrong with cowardice as long as it comes with prudence. But when a coward stops remembering who he is... God help him.
There was brotherhood between people who had fed from the same breast, a kinship that even time could not break. - Amir
I don't outline at all; I don't find it useful, and I don't like the way it boxes me in. I like the element of surprise and spontaneity, of letting the story find its own way.
And that's the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too.
Perspective [is] a luxury when your head [is] constantly buzzing with a swarm of demons.
The desert weed lives on, but the flower of spring blooms and wilts.
I hope my recordings of my own works won't inhibit other people's performances. The brutal fact is that one doesn't always get the exact tempo one wants, although one improves with experience.
I collect my tools: sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing, intellect. Night has fallen.
Meet some people who care about poetry the way you do. You'll have that readership. Keep going until you know you're doing work that's worthy. And then see what happens. That's my advice.
A few can touch the magic string, and noisy fame is proud to win them: Alas for those that never sing, but die with all their music in them!
Lord, heap miseries upon us yet entwine our arts with laughters low.
A writer needs a pen, an artist needs a brush, but a filmmaker needs an army.
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