Concerning the GFR, the issue is not the heritage of the author, but rather his skills and the choices he made in designing this story. Sure, someone who was submerged in the culture could color the story with sensitivity, but a bad book is not a result of culture or DNA.

Sonny Corleone was pure Sicilian, but his heritage could not control his brain. As MLK once suggested, somethings are based on the content of character and beyond genotype and phenotype.

Let's just take a deep breath, assume the Lotus position and accept the fact - either you have it or you don't. If it is wrong to use heritage as an excuse for failure sociologically, then the same is true for literary efforts. GFR is (as of this second) #96 on the Amazon list. It has 3 1/2 stars and the price is on 34% off instead of 40% off, but it there for a reason. The author, regardless of his background, did not have the skills to pay the bills on this one.