tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60294391530767257132012-02-07T14:23:02.830-08:00The Latino literary online magazineArmandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.comBlogger1801100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-80557731136981518192012-02-07T14:23:00.000-08:002012-02-07T14:23:02.860-08:00

By Tommy Villalobos Chapter 7 This was familia front-page news and the folks in the room were quiet. Another storyteller might even describe them as brooding. There were no words being uttered but plenty of eye shifting, people checking people out. Then Margaret found voice.“County?”“Sí, Señorita. Ernie is the guest of Sheriff Leroy D. Baca. In the slammer. He called me from there esta mañana.

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-86873644696475750272012-02-03T22:35:00.000-08:002012-02-03T22:35:57.770-08:00

By Rosa Martha Villarreal On January 17, 2012, the Board of the Tucson Unified School District closed its Raza Studies courses in compliance with HB 2281, which effectively banned the teaching of ethnic studies in Arizona public schools. The rationale was that these classes, particularly Raza Studies, cultivated resentment of whites and a sense of victimhood among Latino students. While on the

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-14198316145528275552012-02-02T00:08:00.000-08:002012-02-02T00:08:28.650-08:00

Commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Book Review of Trespassers on Our Own Land, by Juan P. Valdez and Mike Scarborough By Armando B. Rendón The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo—signed this day 164 years ago—first came to my attention in connection with the news in June 1967 that a group of armed men had stormed the Rio Arriba County courthouse in Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico: a

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-60530258189330262662012-01-30T14:25:00.000-08:002012-01-30T14:25:21.290-08:00

Book Review of Indigenous Quotient/Stalking Words by author Juan Gómez-QuiñonesBy José Luis Serrano Nájera     In our historical moment, we have seen the people of the world announce a global crisis. In 2011 we saw the peoples of North Africa and the Middle East call for an end to oppression and foreign American imperialism. These calls rang a chord with the people of the United States who

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-18714541290396100162012-01-24T00:39:00.000-08:002012-01-24T00:39:21.564-08:00

Book Review of Facing the Light by author Claire Ortiz Hill By Helen Rivas Galván Author Claire Ortiz Hill, in one of her newest books, Facing the Light, describes in ten short stories a path that could conceivably mirror her own path toward a life of peace and love. Her personal journey has led her to the Archdiocese of Paris, France, where she has been a religious hermit for over 25 years.Ortiz

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-31161387073720079362012-01-22T20:52:00.000-08:002012-01-22T20:52:52.321-08:00

By Tommy Villalobos Chapter 6 Pete spoke, although she could not yet frame a complete thought.“Sweet aguacates of Michoacán...”Margaret’s wits were not in the room. She was breathing spiritedly. Doña Risna’s words had sent her mind reeling with visions of a news story written by her Tía Petra. A crazy is seeking to smell her shoes while leaving hand written love platitudes on mirrors, napkins,

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-79485264269383255062012-01-18T12:04:00.000-08:002012-01-18T12:04:39.290-08:00

By Armando Rendón The Tucson Unified School District declared illegal this past week the teaching of Mexican American studies in the district. From several reports, books were literally taken out of children’s hands. So far the TUSD has come short of burning the books; they are simply stored somewhere, perhaps for later destruction.Books have been banned because according to the TUSD and Arizona

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-62649192255526188472012-01-12T10:27:00.000-08:002012-01-12T10:27:33.270-08:00

Lipstick con Chorizo – A novel in serial form: Chapter 5 By Tommy Villalobos Señoras of a certain nature from Méjico, as has been stated, carry themselves with quiet and dignified certitude. Harsh circumstances, foul weather or hard-hearted words are absorbed like so many warming rays from the sun, so one witnesses no visible recoiling. Doña Risna was now breaking the mold. She was now recoiling

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-19388246559319980752012-01-04T18:41:00.000-08:002012-01-04T18:41:12.349-08:00

Lipstick con Chorizo – A novel in serial form: Chapter 4 By Tommy Villalobos High noon, next day, Pete was typing on her laptop, painting visions of a sparkling dancer, vibrant personality and born entertainer in the guise of her sister Lydia. To Pete this was a work of creative fiction. She had done many things in her life, crime reporter, social worker, limousine driver, ice cream scooper, dog

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-4652915479990629942011-12-29T13:23:00.000-08:002011-12-29T13:23:31.876-08:00

Extract from Part One of Indigenous Quotient / Stalking Words – American Indian Heritage as Future By Juan Gómez-Quiñones Mapping American Indian1 ancestries and heritages ought to be integral to K-12 curriculums and university explorations and graduate expositions for obvious reasons – contemporary universalist understandings.2 I refer not to a special presentation, project option, or

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-63618387876648433392011-12-22T14:02:00.000-08:002011-12-22T14:02:03.213-08:00

The Unforgiving - Santo Domingo By Ernesto Uribe Prologue August 1917 “You sure that’s the place?” Still gasping from the climb, the stocky American pointed to a shack at the base of the opposite slope of the hill they had just scaled. “Si, mi sargento, this is where our informant said the man is hiding,” the guardia corporal confirmed with a nod.The American sergeant gave the hurry-up clenched

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-71011409057023345062011-12-21T21:54:00.000-08:002011-12-21T22:00:37.008-08:00

A New Democratic Press Extract from News for All the People: The Epic Story of Race and the American Media By Juan González and Joseph Torres We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us …From the press and the pulpit we have suffered much by being incorrectly represented.                                         “Freedom’s Journal,” March 16th, 1827 A heavy snow was

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-13823699165801212172011-12-20T00:35:00.000-08:002011-12-20T00:35:44.780-08:00

Ü  The Culture of Equality: The Premise of the Culture  Extract from the book: Fourth World  Indigenous Woman:  Symbol for the Sixth Sun By Juan Hernández These  excerpts provide the basic ideology that supported the evolution of the ancient Mexican culture of equality – the culture decimated by the Conquest but resonating today as many contemporary societies struggle with realizing equality and

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-57873597543028685192011-12-11T21:59:00.000-08:002012-01-04T18:47:38.182-08:00

By Tommy Villalobos “Los Angeles,” said Pete Simala, “ain’t what it used to be. Los Angeles was once a wishing well from which sprang a fairy godmother waving her wand, but now it’s the big, bad wolf wanting its due. It ain’t the old days anymore where everywhere you turned, somebody had a ripe offer that made your heart dance and your toes wiggle right along.”She was having a beer with Jimmy

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-65328735156094034052011-12-09T00:09:00.000-08:002011-12-09T00:09:12.277-08:00

Reseña de Viento habitable: Raúl Caballero García, autor Por Azucena Hernández La primera impresión que nace al tener el libro, Viento habitable (La Chintola, La Zonámbula 2011), de Raúl Caballero García, en las manos, impacta directamente a la vista, ya que la imagen de portada es un elemento para-textual importante el cual siempre colabora en ofrecer un horizonte de interpretación al lector.

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-75749915224735880432011-12-06T21:56:00.000-08:002011-12-06T21:56:48.500-08:00

By David Pérez    On the first day of high school I get detention for taking off my dress jacket. Outside. On a 90° afternoon.The school bell had just buzzed, signaling the end of Orientation Day at Cardinal Hayes High School for 700-plus fellow freshmen. Despite depositing some textbooks in my assigned locker, my backpack is laden with enough books and three-ring binders to feel as if I’d been

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-90183142583899607992011-12-01T22:18:00.000-08:002011-12-01T22:18:24.346-08:00

By Marcelo Hernandez Castillo Why don’t you write like a Chicano? What is the Mexican Experience? I should have pleased him by saying something about labor. How my father worked from sun up to sun down, tirelessly picking oranges, peaches, you name it and selling some extra he would bring home; my mother cutting the central valley in neat geometric lines or how difficult it is to be understood by

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-83054722532939097902011-11-28T20:47:00.000-08:002011-11-28T20:47:54.366-08:00

Por Alvaro Ramírez En un lugar de la Ciudad de México de cuyo nombre me acuerdo muy bien porque está en la famosa Avenida Reforma, un par de manzanas después de la estatua de Cuauhtémoc, en el camino de la Torre del Caballito hacia el Castillo de Chapultepec. En este lugar, digo, está una tiendita de esas que han plagado al país mexicano, desde el norte hasta el sur, del este al oeste. Algunos

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-61089789829101848512011-11-25T21:09:00.000-08:002011-11-25T21:09:48.194-08:00

By Marcelo Hernandez Castillo The arrival of each morningis an erasing.In its closing into beingit is already going away. In that happening,nothing is happening,because it already happened.Every day we have to wakeand create ourselvesto become something different. The way we learn about death,So that’s what it is,the glamour, the celebration. Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, who was raised in Yuba

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-49061537446209163572011-11-23T22:21:00.001-08:002011-11-24T02:19:50.151-08:00

On this occasion of holiday tamale-making By Armando Rendón After playing host to a “tamalada” these past few holidays, I am convinced that making tamales is a metaphor for life, yes, I would even say the Chicano version of the universal search for individual realization.Those who know what a tamalada is may agree with me or accuse me of a gross violation of my literary license. However, after I

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-29607133026703712862011-11-22T23:58:00.000-08:002012-01-04T18:49:34.528-08:00

By Tommy Villalobos Jimmy Atañya was buying lunch for Margaret Telliz at the Sunburst Café near the campus of the university. He wanted to take her to Edge of Texas or Bella Napoli, but Margaret cast hard eyes on men exposing their wallets to the world, even if they have just won a grand sum in the lottery. Like Ernie back home in City Terrace, she was learning to be appreciative of cold hard

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-41772296142116354242011-11-21T23:16:00.000-08:002011-11-21T23:33:44.155-08:00

Por Raúl Caballero Extractos de su más reciente libro, Viento Habitable Dos BoletosPlease come to L.A. and live foreverD. Loggins / J. Báez Cuando alcances mis sueños partiremosTendremos un océano que dé a una casaTú no te pareces a PenélopeYo no soy UlisesDespués de todo ¿qué es el final?Mañana principiará todoSé cómo recorrer el puenteY miraremos desbordarse lo posiblePodremos contemplar la

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-57139734865681901812011-11-18T15:12:00.001-08:002011-11-18T22:07:19.872-08:00

By Marcelo Hernandez Castillo 1. Tarahumara:The native tribe of the northwhere the desert swallowsa hundred suns each dayand each day, leaks backone less sun until the night’s presenceseems all the days ever there were. 2. Tarascos:Valley tribe of the Sierra Madreat war with the silences of their diminished godsor at war with themselves;makes no difference if you’ve seen them.These are my mother’

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-89832944918795962482011-11-17T15:00:00.000-08:002011-11-17T15:00:06.908-08:00

By Felipe de Ortego y Gasca I thought I had expunged that period of my life from memory, that period when I lived at 1210 Pine Street. For years I had nightmares about that house, waking up in cold sweat with palpitations, fleeing for my life from a thing I never saw but knew it was so hideous I did not want to see it. In the nightmare, as I fled from it, it was always right on my heels,

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-10954655385824072932011-11-13T23:13:00.000-08:002011-11-13T23:14:53.604-08:00

By Ernesto Uribe The text that follows is an extract from Chapter 2 of “Rumors of a Coup,” a novel set in a fictitious coca-producing Latin American republic held in the grip of a ruthless military dictator. A beautiful woman in her mid-thirties sat alone at a corner table in the rooftop restaurant of the El Conde Hotel in Santa Catalina. She wore a light, tropical weight salmon-colored business

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-24025322968586778522011-11-11T00:23:00.000-08:002011-11-14T23:33:53.573-08:00

In memory of all the Americans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, and particularly to those who have paid the ultimate price for preserving our freedom with their lives.Here are the names of special ones we remember on this Memorial Day, November 11, 2011, Americans of Hispanic background, recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, whose legacy goes back to

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-62391770502903212252011-11-07T20:55:00.000-08:002011-11-07T20:55:20.073-08:00

By Marcelo Hernandez Castillo You said the aspens are tongues strokingthe sun down the middle,which means you are on your periodas you slip into your long pajamas.             We turned            on each other, became like            the creatures of my seldom            childhood, skinny through the night.            You, Ojo de Vaca like the swollen

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-76343562099167530822011-11-06T15:22:00.001-08:002012-01-04T18:50:56.894-08:00

By Tommy Villalobos The sun, which is such an agreeable fixture in and around Southern California, had to work overtime this day to get through the haze and onto the streets of East Los Angeles. On such days, East Los seemed to sit on a remote planet 200 hundred light years away from Mother Earth. The sun took on the appearance of an overripe tangerine in an off-blue sky, sharing its rationed

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-68286408626981519452011-10-22T21:46:00.000-07:002011-10-22T21:46:40.337-07:00

Por Teresinka Pereira Aquí las hojas amarillasse oscurecen abandonadas en el patio,se desnudan los árbolesy las ardillas, las tortugas,los conejos, los venados, los zorrillosque habitan el jardínestan alborotados con la amenazade que la nieve vendráantes de la navidad.Yo me acomodo en el rincónde mi cuarto, como una palomaque se ha olvidado de volarantes de la tormentay la distancia de la tarde..

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-77151921943038545672011-10-11T10:14:00.000-07:002011-10-11T10:14:08.653-07:00

By Jim EstradaImmigration is an issue in the United States that could greatly influence the election of our nation’s next president. Not because an estimated 10-million undocumented Latino immigrants can’t vote, but because the registered voters who are part of the 40-million U.S.-born and naturalized Latinos can!Why are so many U.S. Americans opposed to comprehensive immigration reform? What is

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-87365524239632186172011-10-05T21:15:00.000-07:002011-10-05T21:15:03.443-07:00

Por Adriana Martinez-Chavez Mujer: Redonda, Ancha, Profunda. Cántaros de miel, Vientre incubador de vida, Sustento, Puerta, Guarida, Umbral. Abrásame con tu calor ferviente, Abrázame con tus brazos fuertes, Prótegeme, Acógeme, Sosiégame. Empújame a probar mis alas, Pero no me olvides. No alejes tu mirada de mi despegue. Quiero una y otra vez, regresar hasta tu cueva, Cálida, Húmeda, Fértil,

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-20086618002843596082011-10-04T09:50:00.000-07:002011-12-20T11:27:05.674-08:00

Ü  Se Necesita: Escritores de Reseñas — Wanted: Book Reviewers  Wanted: Book ReviewersBooks by Latina and Latino writers on all kinds of topics and genres are being published everyday but they’re not always getting proper reviews and enough exposure. Somos en escrito aims to focus more attention on our writers, but we need some of our readers to become reviewers. Send a note to somossubmissions@

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-60941686992515727122011-10-02T20:29:00.000-07:002011-10-02T20:29:39.955-07:00

By Hugo César Garcia  Chapter 3 Diego stayed in touch with Pete and found out the date Dodge and the KKK were to start patrolling the border.Pucho was pleased with the first edition of “El Pais” for many of his friends and colleagues in the Argentinean colony were impressed with its content.Grudgingly, he agreed to boost the payment to $50 for the follow-up story in San Diego.“We talking $50

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-86156483479269764092011-09-27T22:05:00.000-07:002011-10-04T13:37:12.883-07:00

David Vela revealed his insights into the influence of Irish literature on Latin American writing in a first of its kind setting in Dublin, Ireland, this past July 26. We publish his essay here to illustrate Prof. Vela’s remarkable achievement, of course, as well as the rich origins of Latin American literature and the unlimited possibilities that lie ahead for American Latino and Latina writers.

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-65504380471481818892011-09-26T09:58:00.000-07:002011-09-26T09:58:10.216-07:00

We so enjoyed Cesar Love's first story that we published last month that we decided not to pass up the chance to offer our readers another one of his tales right away.By César V. LoveSoon after he turned forty, Ernesto got the only tattoo he would ever have, a black hourglass over his heart. When people saw him with his shirt off, they thought of black widow spiders and assumed Ernesto wanted the

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-81819434596067148822011-09-25T23:28:00.000-07:002011-09-25T23:28:06.038-07:00

Latinos Unidos, a student organization at Stanford University striving to represent all Latin American cultures and ethnicities, will be celebrating Latino Heritage Month during the month of October! The month will be devoted to showcasing visual, graphic, poetry, and prose artwork that honors Latino/a culture, literature and/or history, and by hosting other events. They ask that a small blurb

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-61422969146273341222011-09-17T01:12:00.000-07:002011-09-29T17:21:48.218-07:00

By Felipe Ortego y GascaSabine Ulibarrí would have been 92 years old this September 21stI first met Sabine Ulibarrí 45 years ago in the summer of 1966, the first summer that I spent at the University of New Mexico as a doctoral student and Teaching Fellow in English. Unfortunately, I was only able to study for the doctorate during summers. The rest of the year I was an Instructor of English at

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-88332960327280883892011-09-12T23:48:00.000-07:002011-09-12T23:48:54.975-07:00

By Armando Rodriguez   We offer two chapters extracted from the author’s autobiography which covers a lifetime of service to his community and his country: recommended reading as an inspiration to  all ages  and for the little known history of significant events in the Chicano Movement of which he was a part. Chapter One: The Early Years, 1921-34 What would be the odds of a poor Mexican boy,

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-81989482809209175002011-09-08T00:02:00.000-07:002011-12-20T11:45:31.083-08:00

Ü  El Vate / The Bat (1952) El Vate Un extracto en español e inglés de un inminente libro, titulado “Nena”, por la autora. Por Idalie Muñoz Muñoz “La autonomía…los Yanquis…,” los hombres hablaban animadamente en las calles, en los balcones, en los parques, a veces las esposas tomando parte, hablando de “la política.” Papi siempre se aprovechaba de cualquier oportunidad para hablar con los demás

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-24422613626896197082011-08-27T01:46:00.000-07:002011-08-27T01:46:56.999-07:00

The following are selected poems from the just published anthology, Me No Habla With Acento: Contemporary Latino Poetry, edited by Emanuel Xavier, a New Yorker of Ecuadorian and Puerto Rican descent (his website is at www.emanuelxavier.com). To purchase a copy, click: MeNoHablaWithAcento at Rebel Satori Press. A Tale of Late October By Myrna Nieves on our way homemy daughter recoiled at the

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-49177862833422722542011-08-26T14:46:00.000-07:002011-08-26T14:46:43.645-07:00

By Devon G. Peña, Ph.D. Joseph Campbell has long been one of my favorite scholars in the field of comparative religion and the study of mythology. I first encountered Campbell's magnificent work as an undergraduate in, of all places, a Chicano Studies course on poetry taught by Alurista at the University of Texas in 1974. The work I personally encountered during that class was The Hero's Journey

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-30540662788943408512011-08-25T14:16:00.000-07:002011-08-25T14:16:58.337-07:00

By Roberto Haro Roberto Haro raises a number of questions which can only be touched upon in this provocative and challenging essay. At the end of his essay,  we list a series of inquiries which could lead to equally evocative insights and writings about American Hispanic literature. We welcome others adding their voices to the conversation. The identity of a people is often defined, wrongly or

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-21197108098693730372011-08-09T22:00:00.000-07:002011-08-10T15:23:22.468-07:00

The following is the foreword by the editor of the just published anthology of Latino poetry; a representative poem from the book follows. Sin pelos en la lengua By Emanuel Xavier Writing an introduction for this anthology has been quite a dare. Perhaps it is because experience has taught me there is absolutely no way one person could ever speak for an entire community. Within the modern day

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-4528947328663440192011-08-09T10:17:00.000-07:002011-08-09T11:33:11.971-07:00

By Armando Rendón On June 29, 1944, in the Tuscany region of Italy, in a village settled high above the Valdambra Valley, where farming families had lived peacefully for generations amid rustic stone buildings, disaster struck.For several weeks, Allied Forces had been clawing up the great rugged terrain of the boot called Italy, pushing before them Nazi battalions committed to making the American

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-71767122841967187462011-08-08T22:28:00.000-07:002011-08-08T22:28:10.285-07:00

Por Teresinka Pereira El silencioes mas sabioque la palabra abiertaen una pagina traspasadade pasión.Cruzando la distanciael silencio se hacesonoro prodigioque resuelve ardermás alla que el horizonte.La presencia exigiríacaricias que no abrazano inocencias amenazadaspor sueños desatinadosque las soledades vana condenar al abandono. Teresinka Pereira, a native of Brazil who now lives in Toledo,

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-24415424342806464492011-07-27T00:57:00.000-07:002011-07-27T00:57:50.407-07:00

By César V. Love Juan had never known his grandfather, but this Dia de Los Muertos he was scrubbing his grandfather’s tombstone for the better part of the afternoon. At twilight, he heard a voice. An old man, the color of white flour, appeared.  “M’iho, you’re giving yourself blisters, and I don’t like the smell of bleach.”“Abuelito, it’s you! What took you so long?”“What took me so long? What

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-63756306899635103702011-07-26T13:40:00.000-07:002011-07-26T13:40:24.557-07:00

By Jim Estrada  Why are U.S. Latinos skeptical about “enforcement” solutions regarding comprehensive immigration reform being placed in the hands of non-federal law enforcement personnel? Simply stated, Latinos are dubious about how such enforcement will be implemented. Of the more than 50 million Latinos in the United States, nearly 40 million are native-born or naturalized citizens of the USA!

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-48605789644992350602011-07-24T23:00:00.000-07:002011-07-24T23:00:55.982-07:00

by Tommy VillalobosNo dweller on either side of Arizona Avenue would have envisioned Arturo Solunaz’ heart in its current state—it was beating irregular thumps like a blown tire every time he saw Daniela Ferpádez. Or that he wanted to bite off a good chunk of his tongue every time he saw her walk. To Artie, she was a beautiful and sacred thing. Artie, as those both close and remote would

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-12856933066924773512011-07-22T15:40:00.000-07:002011-07-22T15:40:51.023-07:00

Por Raúl Caballero En los años recientes los Latinos en los Estados Unidos hemos venido atestiguando múltiples signos y acciones anti-inmigrantes, de hecho lo seguimos haciendo y lo más grave es que ya no provienen como antaño de casos aislados accionados por las consabidas organizaciones racistas de la frontera, ahora esas actitudes se han incorporado a los recintos legislativos en todos los

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-72743068062523095492011-07-14T12:18:00.000-07:002011-07-14T12:18:00.413-07:00

To paraphrase Charlie, what is happening in this poem has everything to do with remembrance of a child ’hood in the Bronx. -Editor. By Charlie Vázquez 1 Bronx, 1976 (à la cubana) It’s cold for the Sun People and the rainbow lightsBlink on the fire escape like electric faerie vinesMagical, through the clean and foggy windowsNot in step with the congas, bongos, brass thatFlourish and hail in a

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-67789472814547244622011-07-12T09:56:00.000-07:002011-07-12T09:56:19.235-07:00

By Salomón Baldenegro, Sr.A few years back The Texas Tornados recorded a song (“She never spoke Spanish to me”) that asserts that “Saints and sinners all agree, Spanish is a lovely tongue...” Indeed it is, yet, perversely, for some folks it is a target of hate.  Of course, it’s illogical to hate a language—the haters really hate the speakers of the language, not the language itself.  “Spanish” is

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-20447158441846299362011-06-27T12:21:00.000-07:002011-06-27T22:33:23.136-07:00

By Richard J. Griego, Ph.D. Arturo, El Drácula His name was Arturo, but he was known to his camaradas as Count Dracula or just El Drácula, and he was my brother-in-law, at least for the short year that he and my sister were married. The unusual nickname was given to Arturo at age fifteen when he was working as an assistant in a funeral parlor. One day the body of a young lady friend of his came

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-86730730123583054402011-06-24T22:45:00.000-07:002011-06-24T22:45:38.058-07:00

By Diego Gallegos En los surcos de este valleYo mi juventud dejeHortaliza y hortalizaCon mi sangre las regué. Estas manos ya quebradasNomás sirven pa piscarMi cuerpo está cansadoY no puedo descansar. En aquellos tiempos idosYo era muy buen piscadorY desde que el sol salíaNo dejaba el azadón. Muchos estados recorríaUn día aquí un día alláPero siempre donde andabaNo hacía falta la amista. Al llegar

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-63350732818449926002011-06-16T11:39:00.000-07:002011-06-16T11:39:01.518-07:00

Por Raúl Caballero En 2008 la Agencia de la ley federal de Inmigración y Aduanas (Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE) creó un programa que se ha convertido en un ente ominoso en términos de orden y justicia. Ominoso en los departamentos policiacos, ominoso porque incrementa presupuestos, pero principalmente ominoso para la comunidad inmigrante.Se trata del programa mal llamado Comunidades

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-61682487068357708022011-06-04T19:14:00.000-07:002011-12-20T11:35:52.079-08:00

Ü  Cuando llegué a Cuba / When I arrived in Cuba  Por Odilia Rivera Santos Cuando llegué a Cuba, se me pegó un hombre;tenía manos fuertes y ojos agresivoscuando llegué  a Cuba, la brisa me confundiólas mujeres me miraronse sonreían, sus sonrisas brillantesremedidas con oroCuando llegué a Cuba, no me sentí tristerespiré el aire libre pero un hombre hablóde la libertady me enseño algo que no

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-21702516851750462772011-05-25T17:55:00.000-07:002011-05-25T17:55:27.461-07:00

During this time of graduations, a long-time Chicano activist and scholar shares his dream for America to a new group of college graduates.By Carlos Muñoz, Jr., Ph.D.Thanks to the Chicano Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and in particular to the student activists of that generation who struggled to open the doors to these previously all white institutions, you are here tonight. In particular,

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-34412454300066389772011-05-24T14:11:00.000-07:002011-05-24T14:11:17.307-07:00

This essay-memoir first appeared in the May 20, 2011 issue of New America Media. By Alberto Ledesma Sofia and I had been making that turn since we had moved to Castro Valley. In those five years, the protesters at the corner of Castro Valley Boulevard and Redwood Road had become a constant example of the way politics worked in the United States. Each time, after I picked her up from abuelita’s

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-8519134688440714722011-05-21T00:23:00.000-07:002011-05-21T00:26:44.047-07:00

From an address to 500 young men at Hermanos Unidos/Brothers United conference at San Diego Community College, March 11, 2011 By Refugio I. Rochín, Ph.D. Preface Let me begin by explaining these words: “Carlos-Malo, Califas.” They are Caló. According to Chicano artist and writer José Antonio Burciaga: "Chicano Caló is the combination of a few basic influences: Hispanicized English; Anglicized

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-32751155914666885272011-05-17T19:01:00.000-07:002011-05-24T18:18:26.209-07:00

Gonzalo Adolfo is a young poet and novelist who is already a contributor to Somos en escrito, but he is also a musician, facile with the guitar and the piano. In this clip, he reads from one of his novels, Golden Rushes, while playing a melody of his own making.We welcome other video clips showing Latino/a writers performing their works at readings or for the camera.Armando Rendón, Editor

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-32556898646554310222011-05-14T02:26:00.000-07:002011-05-14T10:42:37.281-07:00

The 30th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival runs in San Antonio May 10-12 at the Guadalupe Theater, 1300 Guadalupe, and continue May 13-15 atRosedale Park, 303 Dartmouth. For information and tickets, visitwww.guadalupeculturalarts.org or call 210-271-3151.During the event, Somos will feature literary works submitted to the organizers of the festival based on the conjunto experience for inclusion in

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-74110831647527405722011-05-11T00:14:00.000-07:002011-05-14T02:16:55.008-07:00

The 30th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival runs in San Antonio May 10-12 at the Guadalupe Theater, 1300 Guadalupe, and continue May 13-15 atRosedale Park, 303 Dartmouth. For information and tickets, visitwww.guadalupeculturalarts.org or call 210-271-3151.During the event, Somos will feature literary works submitted to the organizers of the festival based on the conjunto experience for inclusion in

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-82314024422964124482011-05-09T17:42:00.000-07:002011-05-09T17:42:00.343-07:00

The 30th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival will open in San Antonio May 10-12 at the Guadalupe Theater, 1300 Guadalupe, and continue May 13-15 at Rosedale Park, 303 Dartmouth. For information and tickets, visit www.guadalupeculturalarts.org or call 210-271-3151.Starting today, we will begin featuring literary works submitted to the organizers of the festival based on the conjunto experience for

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-25467341562668445572011-05-05T16:03:00.000-07:002011-05-05T16:04:58.194-07:00

By Tommy Villalobos Roberto Urasmontez, lawyer, sat at his desk waiting for the telephone to ring. Roberto’s practice was four months along and consisted of one desk, one chair, a telephone, one window and not one client. He had defended a cousin, Alfredo Bacantar, against a drunken driving charge. However, Alfredo was not a paying customer or even a case to promote Roberto’s hazy notions of

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-29936811494961024282011-05-04T23:03:00.000-07:002011-05-04T23:03:07.782-07:00

Why Chicanos Celebrate Cinco de Mayo By Felipe de Ortego y Gasca, Ph.D. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) commemorates the triumphant victory of Mexican forces over French interventionists in 1862 at Puebla, Mexico, a city just East of the nation’s capital. Outnumbered Mexican forces acquitted themselves valiantly against highly trained and equipped

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-22076695853253287672011-03-20T22:10:00.000-07:002011-03-20T22:10:07.216-07:00

The 2010 Census reports of marked Hispanic population increases suggest tipping points in many states affecting diverse social, political and economic fields. Louis Serna opens a discussion that should spread throughout the Latino community. By Louis F. Serna A headline in the Albuquerque Journal (March 16, 2011) reads; “N.M. Hispanics Overtake Anglos” by Dan McKay, in which he states that; “

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-90666769637377177732011-03-20T13:01:00.000-07:002011-03-20T13:01:28.562-07:00

By Jennifer Martin The funeral director and I stood over the open casket of my cousin, Billy. The air in the funeral home was as still and cold as his body. I took in the scent of the white and yellow roses in the spray that sat atop his wooden coffin and glanced at the ribbon affixed to the spray; read the printed words, Beloved Son. I wondered who decided on that wording. Certainly not his

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-75428553166636028612011-03-16T11:07:00.000-07:002011-03-16T11:07:02.116-07:00

In honor of St. Patrick's Day By Armando Rendón  ‘Tis the ballad of Irishmen seeking a dream;They had come to America crossing the sea,Yet were branded and hanged for devotion to truthAnd the right as they saw it for men to be free. You’ll remember forever the fabulous name,Batallón San Patricio, and their well-renowned fame.For forsaking the arms of the tyrant, they insteadChose the banner of

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-86461040239948554512011-03-16T10:43:00.000-07:002011-05-04T23:06:18.132-07:00

La Pura Verdad - Somos en escrito welcomes essays dedicated to correcting and promoting factual accounts about the history of Americans of Hispanic origin in the U.S. By Lino Garcia, Jr., Ph.D. The American Revolution (1775- 1783), also known as the American War of Independence, had its beginning as a civil war by the American colonies against Britain, but Spain later joined this conflict in 1779

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-72712892831068577542011-03-09T11:22:00.000-08:002011-03-09T11:22:27.101-08:00

Por Raúl Caballero La tendencia viene desde hace décadas cada vez de manera más notable, el crecimiento de la población latina —el grupo minoritario más numeroso de los Estados Unidos— viene modificando el mapa político.Los latinos somos la minoría más numerosa y esta realidad proyecta distintas reacciones y esperanzadoras estrategias.Ya no hay dudas, ya no hay conjeturas, ya no hay, tampoco,

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-6410088954759808232011-02-02T16:00:00.000-08:002011-02-02T16:00:24.217-08:00

The Ballad of Preacher Paul By Martin Hill Ortiz The polished sun of noon by sunset turned to rust.The skyline blazed in flames, the badlands roiled with dust.In the husky-throated darkness chirring crickets trilled.An amber brilliance spilled from a church house on a hill,A beacon luring sinners to the realm of Preacher Paul. The evening show commenced as Paul crooned "Free From Sin." Performing

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-38893131723976986802011-01-31T22:30:00.000-08:002011-01-31T22:30:02.094-08:00

This is the third short story in Somos en escrito from the fertile and funny mind of the East Los native. By Tommy Villalobos Antonio Lejos was contented with his pocket-sized yet prosperous chili import business. He imported chili from a remote corner of Mejico, which delivered the reddest, hottest and tastiest chilies from its slice of Mother Earth. He had one client, American Chili King Rory

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-11363874895293202562011-01-31T22:03:00.000-08:002011-01-31T22:03:46.629-08:00

Por Raúl Caballero Los cables informativos fueron desgranando el discurso de Barack Obama la noche del martes. Durante y después del informe de gobierno se sucedían las notas que daban cuenta del mensaje presidencial. Así la prensa expuso de primera mano la posición del primer mandatario estadounidense, su postura de estadista ante el país y el mundo: “Obama quiere controlar el déficit del

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-87661210887176946002011-01-17T22:03:00.000-08:002011-01-17T22:03:13.408-08:00

By Devon G. Peña Pundits and analysts are engaged in mostly thoughtful and insightful discussions of the social, cultural, political, and economic context of last Saturday”s mass murder in Arizona. According to Michael Nagler, there is growing recognition of "...an apparently forbidden truth: that we bring violence on ourselves when we promote it, glorify it, or legitimize it — as in this case by

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-22130942866896205252011-01-16T12:06:00.000-08:002011-01-16T12:06:23.990-08:00

Por Raúl Caballero El enorme espectro de la diáspora de mexicanos en los Estados Unidos se ha visto, en los meses recientes, diversificado de una manera tan inesperada como abrupta. A los expulsados por la falta de alternativas se les han sumado los expulsados por la falta de seguridad.En Monterrey —y en otras varias ciudades de la República Mexicana como Ciudad Juárez, Guadalajara y México DF

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-84780239452292085692011-01-06T10:42:00.000-08:002011-01-06T10:42:24.656-08:00

This is the third and final story extracted from the author’s book, Facing the Light. By the Sea By Claire Ortiz Hill I used to listen for him then. Mostly walking by the sea at night for the sake of some strain of silence, beautiful and profound, amidst the many words. And sometimes I just sat and watched the sea. Wishing for peace in every greeting. Yearning for lasting peace in every moment of

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-57922188748971665992011-01-05T23:15:00.000-08:002011-01-05T23:15:59.259-08:00

By Julio Ricardo Varela, an extract from a novel in progress “This is the last car you will ever get from me, Francisco,” Don Octavio Benítez said as he handed his son a silvery set of keys to a 1969 Alfa Romeo Spider. “You crash this one, and you might as well leave this house and move back to the mountains. Happy birthday, son.”Francisco Antonio Benítez took the keys from his father, whistled,

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-5498734885551559312010-12-31T23:52:00.000-08:002011-01-06T10:37:57.073-08:00

This is the second of three stories Somos en escrito is unwrapping for the holidays from the author's book, Facing the Light. Out of the Ravine By Claire Ortiz Hill Once in a ravine of unrest I waited at my window, peering out into the darkness … trying to understand the night, struggling to penetrate its long darkness. Through the aspen trees shone a star rich sky. Everything was dark under

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-85122784272676256272010-12-23T21:03:00.000-08:002010-12-23T23:27:05.617-08:00

By Gloria Alcozer Thomas It has been often said that curiosity is the worst sin of all, and I had bags of it as a child, while attending Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School on the Westside of Chicago. My worst offence was my constant curiosity as to why, every Monday morning, Father Ryan would interrupt our lessons to call out various students from the classroom. As he entered our classroom,

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-24251181297664960462010-12-23T20:22:00.000-08:002010-12-23T20:22:12.552-08:00

By Louis Serna ‘Twas the night before Christmas And all across el estado Not a creature was stirring  Pues todos acostados! Por el pueblo de Taos Los Indios tocando Sus tambores de cuero Mientras otros cantando! En Tres Piedras esperan Muy bien contentos Mientras que los de Questa Estan muy atentos! Pues todos estabanEsperando aquel Viejo Que viene de noche Del norte, muy lejos! Pues viene del

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-47388393775406239072010-12-17T14:29:00.000-08:002010-12-17T14:29:56.072-08:00

By Luis Chaluisan aka “El Extreme”  Blue Winds and CaneFor Abuelita-Christina Batlle y Medina She witnesses the worldThrough pastel powder eyesA sweet bird of paradiseThat darts in the airAnd splashesOn distant watersShe prays for all that areDrowning on dry landHer hope bearingA mystical promiseThat appears as a rainbow After a storm of sensitive drops Daylight breaks the nightAnd she drinksFrom

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-78570748227220148052010-12-14T10:28:00.000-08:002010-12-22T13:33:05.677-08:00

Somos en escrito will publish three stories from Claire Ortiz Hill's book, Facing the Light, one each week through December, our Christmas present to our readers. Feliz Navidad y Joyeux Noel.  On the Porch By Claire Ortiz Hill I have often thought that in art and literature especially only those counted who threw themselves into the unknown. We discover no unknown land but that we lose sight, at

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-11074865169960092152010-12-09T00:12:00.000-08:002010-12-09T00:12:34.829-08:00

By Charlie Vazquez The eternal flow of your dry leafWhispers, a survivor in your ownRippling skinA sliding ribbon akinTo dark fleshy hips writhingTo watery rhythms magnificent Oh, you river of emptinessOh, you river of desperationPride of fallen chiefsManic like a thiefYou even whisper like a villainA dagger unsheathed (What remains strewn aboutLies discarded for truthsLike the rocks that

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-89723699472631014302010-12-06T23:17:00.000-08:002010-12-06T23:17:46.632-08:00

A Memoir and a Poem by Bessy Reyna The Immigrant’s Ride By Bessy Reyna The night I stepped out of the terminal building at JFK in New York I had no idea I was about to start my transformation into an immigrant. I thought of myself instead as just another college student, excited and challenged by the opportunity to spend a year studying abroad. In my case, the chance was the result of a bit of

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-10608562237782116702010-11-30T21:56:00.000-08:002010-11-30T21:56:40.238-08:00

By Felipe de Ortego y GascaNo name in Chicano literature is as well known as Rudolfo Anaya’s, earning him the sobriquet of “Godfather of Chicano Literature.” It’s not an undeserved recognition, for indeed Anaya has advanced awareness of Chicano literature as no other writer has. This is not to diminish the literary contributions of other Chicana/o writers.When I received the Patricia and Rudolfo

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-554316542516070732010-11-30T20:53:00.000-08:002011-01-16T12:03:00.104-08:00

Por Raúl Caballero Hace poco más de un mes, cuando se aproximaba su estreno y supe del elenco de Machete, me llamó la atención su diversidad. Luego cuando tuve oportunidad de ver la película, pues aún más toda vez que Robert Rodríguez materializa fantasías adultas —entre la comunidad latina de los Estados Unidos— en ese comic cinematográfico.Con un reparto que puede considerarse alternativo,

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-59230311239799761032010-11-20T23:39:00.000-08:002010-11-20T23:39:29.466-08:00

Guillermo (Wil Wynn) Echanique si me preguntas quien soyte responderédepende diariamente inconclusocamino en cuerda flojame lleno de alimañasempedernidamentecabizbajasentre las dos utopíasde allá-aquí en Sud Américay de aquí-allá en el USA vivo de lo que fuey ha sidoagobiado de entoncescargado de aquellos díasel “quien eres” perdidoen largo laberinto de días y de noches ni de aquíni de

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-48110785651873069422010-11-15T11:27:00.000-08:002010-11-15T11:27:09.731-08:00

By/Por Charlie Vazquez La cruz sagrada La cruz no colgó de unaCadena oscilando a través de tuPecho recordando ese horror(No necesitábamos leyendas en esos días) Golpearon el nene blanquitoEn el sótano, reventaron su cabezaContra la pared blanca (como hueso), y dejaronUn sendero de sangre pura y virginal, tú Pusiste tu dedo en la sangre y dibujasteUna cruz marrón, carmesí, hacia arriba hasta

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-64291234483624040822010-11-15T10:47:00.000-08:002010-11-15T10:47:28.941-08:00

Personally, I couldn't be more pleased to learn from PEW researchers (see below) that no single Latina or Latino leader somehow wears the mantel of national leader--that's how it should be. Let the leaders multipy! PEW should have asked the question, do Latinos need a national leader? From my perspective, the answer shold be, No. The Latino community is too diverse, some might say too fragmented,

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-52996840469889565142010-11-10T23:42:00.000-08:002010-11-10T23:42:15.084-08:00

By Felipe de Ortego y Gasca S ince the founding of the nation, some 48 million men and women have served in the U.S. military. More than half are alive today.  A small number of World War II veterans are still with us, though they are dying at the rate of about 1,000 a day.In the United States there are two days that honor American veterans: one is Memorial Day—the last Monday in

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-30417580343218113672010-10-21T12:06:00.000-07:002010-10-21T12:06:22.986-07:00

For continuous contact with the latest manuscripts published by new and established Latino writers, subscribe to Somos en escrito, the unique online Latino literary magazine–        it’s free and free-spirited. There’s two ways to make sure you keep up to date on new material: Click on Subscribe and you can choose from the following automatic feeds:        Add to Google, Netvibes, Newsgator, My

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-866540079710600212010-10-19T13:16:00.000-07:002010-10-19T13:16:03.985-07:00

Por Raúl Caballero Bienvenida múltiple concéntricallegarás con tu carga de aventuras y desventuras en el corazónpero sabrás que tu sitio lo tienes siempre en éste que se me agolpa;a todas partes llevas a este loco que te ama La casa ha sido obscura e inmensa.Sin ti su multiplicidad es un infinitotú eres el centro de sus dimensiones,el eje de mis evocacionesdonde te encuentras está mi hogar

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-18911486373086755822010-10-05T21:13:00.000-07:002010-10-13T17:39:42.119-07:00

Book Review by Arnoldo Carlos Vento     Tunaluna represents Alurista’s tenth collection of poetry, which in the course of his evolution of Xicano poetry, is the fifth cultural wave that brings into synthesis all that has come before. To Alurista we are in a transition from the old age of faith and devotion to one that is forthcoming with reason and wisdom. This follows the Mayan astronomical and

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-17846319452369426422010-10-01T00:42:00.000-07:002010-10-01T00:42:31.154-07:00

By Jennie Campbell Dark Wood I feel like an empty husk of a human,lacking words.I feel numbed by my own tranquil existence. This is what I have always wanted, and I seem to have traded my talent for the passive person I have become. I like Peace but I wish I could write something profound. I could write about my past pain and the resentment that is engaged with it,but fear is attached to that

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-30946677577103347232010-09-11T10:03:00.000-07:002010-09-16T00:22:35.477-07:00

By Gonzalo Adolfo - Excerpts from his book, Golden Rushes It is a calm gathering.  The pace is as if this night is forever and the next day will never come.  People float between the other clusters—talking, moving, laughing—and he sees attractive girls but none that strike him as his.  Usually he knows in a glance which girl is for him.  Probably because he connects with so few.  Also, he does

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-12602631992854681832010-09-10T21:14:00.000-07:002010-09-13T10:18:40.721-07:00

El camino hacia noviembre 2010 Por Raúl Caballero Desde agosto corren las predicciones de que los republicanos las llevan de ganar, que los electores están disgustados con los demócratas, que van a castigar a Obama por la economía, por las promesas no cumplidas, por sus políticas, por lo que usted quiera... y puede que así sea. Pero si bien es cierto que la mayoría de electores se manifiesta con

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-36719920049940611172010-09-03T14:48:00.000-07:002010-09-03T14:48:20.685-07:00

Today, September 3, 2010, is the anniversary of the death of Richard Sánchez in 1995. The essay below by a lifelong friend of the poet is our way of commemorating Sánchez' life and works.  –The Editor. Ricardo  Sánchez - Liberationist and Humanist PoetBy Arnoldo Carlos Vento, presented at the Ricardo Sánchez Celebration, El Paso, 1996.My first encounter with Ricardo Sánchez occurred during a

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-35982837046913831992010-09-03T09:24:00.000-07:002010-09-03T09:24:50.882-07:00

Today, September 3, 2010, is the anniversary of the death of Richard Sánchez in 1995. The last book of poems by Sánchez, Journeys through the Pass, is a culmination of the poet’s life and works, and a gateway for other poets to pass through and to build upon in creating a new idiom, a new poetic voice that speaks for all Latinos.  –The Editor. Introduction to Journey’s through the Pass - Ricardo

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-54179888664529663192010-09-01T00:19:00.000-07:002010-09-01T00:19:01.683-07:00

Encyclopedia of Latino Issues TodayEdited by Felipe de Ortego y Gasca, Magdaleno Manzanarez, Gilda Baeza Ortego, Alexandra Neves, and J.J. Wilson Editorial Advisory BoardMario Garcia, UC Santa Barbara; Carlos Vasquez, National Hispanic Cultural Institute; Maria Caminero Santangelo, University of Kansas; Jose Gonzalez, Coast Guard Academy; Roberto Calderon, University of North Texas Greenwood

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-25680275223086120762010-08-26T15:49:00.000-07:002010-08-26T15:49:31.469-07:00

Por Raúl Caballero Gana McCain primaria republicana para el Senado de Arizona. Gana Brewer candidatura a gubernatura de Arizona. Gana Marco Rubio postulación al Senado en Florida. Gana Lisa Murkowski en Alaska. Gana... en realidad el que ganó en estas primarias que definen algunas de las disputas de noviembre ha sido el discurso anti-inmigrante. Tales resultados llegan luego de una temporada de

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029439153076725713.post-63629849271986387612010-08-17T22:34:00.000-07:002010-08-17T22:34:15.881-07:00

By Tommy VillalobosArtie Solunaz sat in his living room, dozing in reverie, taking pleasure in the cool breeze floating through the screen door, savoring the latest Dodger win while knocking key plays around in his head. Most of all, Artie was thoroughly enjoying the absence of Henry Crastro. It had been days since he had experienced the displeasure of Henry’s presence. Such are the bends in life

Armandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14191456223251101786noreply@blogger.com0