Some students want to study the flamboyant American poet, Ai. Category: Under what racial ancestry?

Question

Florence Anthony (born 1947) is an American poet. She has legally changed her name to Ai, the Japanese word for "love".

Of course, she's "American" in tone, culture, character, mien, and all, but given America's obsession with racial categories, how should we catogorize Ai? please assist.

She was born in Albany, Texas but grew up in Tucson, Arizona. Her ancestry is part Japanese, Choctaw-Chickasaw, African American, Irish, Southern Cheyenne, and Comanche.
Her brief bio is here: http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/268

Some of her poems that include "Conversations" and "Grandfather says": are here: http://www.poemhunter.com/ai/

Answer 1

Is "racial category" absolutely necessary when you read poetry???

To me, your question is surrealistic. But I'm French... (nobody's perfect). When I go to the US, I am always surprised I have to give my ethnicity, because in my country it would be unthinkable to ask somebody to do so. Just different traditions, I guess.

Anyway, I had a look at Ai's poetry. Looks good. Thank you!