National Poetry Month
This month of April we would like to celebrate National Poetry Month by hosting our very own poetry contest, curating our own poetry anthology featuring poets from various varrios, as well as highlighting influential POC poets. These poets we honor today are Sandra Cisneros, Rodolfo Gonzales, and Yesika Salgado have paved the way as we further look to understand more about our own interactional identities. Each of the poets speak from different perspectives and we hope one of them moves you. Enjoy the following, and continue embracing our community’s talented voices
Many know of Sandra Cisneros is a poet, novelist, short writer, and overall artist. In her writing she highlights the issues of poverty, Latinos, and lives of women. I remember first reading, The House on Mango Street, is about a young Chicana growing up in Chicago. Her writing is very important to us young reader across America, not only does it show us a different leader putting her words out there. But it motivates young writers to keep writing, to keep putting our words out there for others to listen, make a bigger space for people of color writings to be displayed. Cisneros work is now part of a mandatory curriculum in K-12 and Universities as well. Proud moment for the Chicanx and Latinx communities, for so long we our written words have been banned, burned, and taken for “treasures” by those who were against our words.
“When your writing is unselfconscious, when it comes from your heart, that’s when its powerful.”
Rodolfo Gonzales, better known as Corky, is know for being a featherweight boxer that landed him to being to Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1988. But is also known for becoming a leader in the Chicano Movement. Corky founded the Crusade for Justice, advocate the uprising against West High School due to a teacher making racist comments. He also, help to make the Ballet Chicano de Aztlan and El Teatro Pachuco both of these were demonstrations of cultures through dance and play. In 1970, he opened Escuela Tlatelolco for young Chicanos. This was a place where young Chicanos and Latinos, were able to get a education. On top of knowing more about culture and advocating for social justice.
Corky is not only known for his fighting with his gloves and movimentos but uses his words to throw his right hooks. His famous poem, “Yo Soy Joaquin” or “I am Joaquin”, published in 1967. This poem became a inspiration to young Chicanos and the Chicano Movement, helping them with self-identity issues and uprising against of social oppression.
His poem found in the following link:
“I am the masses of my people and I refuse to be absorbed.”
Yesika Salgado a Salvadoran poet in the Los Angeles area. Yesika writing consist of family, culture, city, and body positivity. Yesika’s work has blesses her with having two time National Poetry Slam finalist and being a recipient of the 2020 International Latino Book Award in Poetry. Yesikas best sellers are Corazón, Tesoro, and Hermosa. We are so grateful and blessed to have a Women poet, who as well is a Los Angeles product, breaking barriers of a types of creative writing. The love and advocacy for body positivity is highly appreciative in world that had certain expectations of what is beautiful body is. By writing it on a poetic piece she allows words to resonate with the readers.
“Sometimes self love is letting someone else love you too”