THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: RICHARD GARCIA READS FROM GUERNICA, REVISITED, SAL BALDENEGRO ON BARRIO HOLLYWOOD, RICARDO ROMO ON CARMEN TAFOLLA AND CARMEN TAFOLLA ON CHALLENGING THE CANON.
Lots of great ideas this week on Latinopia. We begin with poet Richard Garcia reading from his collection of poems, Guernica, Revisted at a Florycanto gathering at the home of Michael Sedano. Cool poetry by one of our most talented poets.
Sal Badenegro’s Political Salsa y Más looks at his old neighborhood in Tucson, Barrio Hollywood. This Chicano barrio has produced two extraordinary Chicanos who have both authored books recently. Frank Cruz is a celebrated entrepreneur and newscaster and Frank Sotomayor is a veteran journalist who co-edited a Pulitzer prize winning series of essays for the Los Angeles Times. Don’t miss Sal’s recollections of his old barrio and the amazing people who came from it.
Ricardo Romo’s Tejano Report this week looks at the phenomenal writing of poet and narrative author Carmen Tafolla, who was President of the Texas Institute of Letters in 2019 and has also been named Texas poet laureate. Check out Ricardo’s essay and then also check out Carmen, herself, in her own words, as she speaks about the canon in American letters, why Latinos are continually excluded, and what we can do about it.
Enjoy your week on Latinopia!
Tia Tenopia