On April 20, 2012, acclaimed Chicano author Rudolfo Anaya was awarded the Robert Kirsch Lifetime Achievement Award by the Los Angeles Times. This award recognizes a lifetime of achievement by a living author whose work has a substantial connection the West. Previous winners include Ray Bradbury, Carolyn See, Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry. Anaya is the first Latino to win this coveted award. He could not attend the award ceremony but instead sent this acceptance speech on video. Latinopia is proud to post this acceptance speech and sends warm felicitaciónes to our friend Rudy Anaya!