LatinoLit

Recently, I had the great pleasure of speaking with Nelson Denis, author of War Against All Puerto Ricans. I have long had an interest in the subject of Puerto Rico’s 1950 Revolution and whether you are familiar with this largely suppressed moment in our history or not, Denis offers sharp and exciting insights on mid-century […]

St. Patrick’s Day is very special in Mexico because it is a time when Mexicans remember the San Patricios, or the Battalion of St. Patrick.

I’d just returned to New York from a trip to Puerto Rico in 2011, when my mother recounted a family tale to me that her paternal grandfather had told her many times when she was little, one that even I had heard throughout the years. (Photo by Bella Vida Letty.) I’d invented characters and worlds […]

Remember earlier this year when Nate Cohn of The New York Times let the world know that a significant number of U.S. Latinos were becoming more “white” by misrepresenting a study that had yet to be finalized? This week that study was finally published. Here it is: America's Churning Races: Race and Ethnic Response Changes […]

You came to my land To look for oil, Took most Of the profit To New York, Houston, Detroit, You exploited The weak all along, Knowing, You were wrong. Guess what? It made us Stronger. No longer will we Sit back While you stick Your instruments In our earth. Slick and slick, Stone and stone, […]

I was 4 years old in a comfy neighborhood 4 year old dreams of running running through fields of tall grass the top of my head and the soles of my feet are all you can see I am 4 years old casually walking into neighbors’ houses asking for cookies and juice to their bemusement […]

Bronx Writers Center director and Rebelde Charlie Vázquez sat with Daniel José Older at a Brooklyn restaurant to discuss —among other things— the spirit world in storytelling, the importance of building community and how the publishing industry needs to restructure its acquisitions and marketing strategies if it wishes to engage more Latino readers.   CV: […]

We don’t need to be on a cup. That’s not the point. The point is actually a box. A school district in Arizona can box up and physically remove from classrooms seven books in a Mexican-American studies program, and then place the rest on a watch list of literature not to be taught. The point is the […]

This just in from Ysleta Independent School District, which serves the El Paso, Texas area: YISD School Board Meeting – El Paso, TX- March 5, 2014 – At 6pm tonight, the Ysleta Independent School District is set to be the first Texas school district to endorse a Mexican American Studies program. The implementation of Culturally and […]

Many were wondering when author Junot Díaz would respond to a barrage of critiques, including those from a Dominican author and a government official. This morning, Díaz’s Facebook page posted the following comments:

Quesadillas is the second novel by Mexican writer Juan Pablo Villalobos, author of the brilliantly comic Down the Rabbit Hole (nominated for the 2011 Guardian first book award). Where his earlier book gave a first hand account of life inside a Mexican cartel boss’ palatial home, told from the perspective of the kingpin’s son, his latest efforts […]

We received the following release from Librotraficante: Houston, TX (October 21, 2013) – The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) is set to approve course requirements for the Foundation Graduation plan as well as what can be included for Arts and Humanities for Texas schools 9th–12th grade. This will shape Advanced Courses as well as […]

Twitter is a fascinating place. Atlanta Brave legend and future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones can attest, after his “just kidding” tweet suggesting that Florida gators can be shipped to the Rio Grande to “stop the illegals” hit the national media (LR reported it first early yesterday morning, thank you, NBC Latino) and led to […]

California. Proposition 187. Pete Wilson. Arizona. HB2811. Jan Brewer. Texas. HB1938. Giovanni Capriglione. Texas. SB1128. Dan Patrick. The Librotraficante Movement is thrilled to announce that America can erase the last two entries from the above list of oppressive laws attacking our culture. Texas Republican Senator Dan Patrick introduced SB1128, and Texas Republican House of Representative […]

Un poco de poesía para hoy. La sangre es un mar inmenso por Nicolás Guillén La sangre es un mar inmenso que baña todas las playas… Sobre sangre van los hombres, navegando en sus barcazas: reman, que reman, que reman, ¡nunca de remar descansan! Al negro de negra piel la sangre el cuerpo le baña; […]

It is National Poetry Month. Here is the first of many poems we will be sharing this month.   Hoy mujeres y hombres por Xánath Caraza Ciudad con campos de flores rojas. Cada pétalo lleva El nombre de estudiantes que conocí.   Hoy mujeres y hombres. Ya no niños inocentes, Ni adolescentes rebeldes. No hubo tiempo. […]

Texas SB 1128 is a bill introduced by Houston state senator Dan Patrick. On the surface the bill appears tame enough, “relating to curriculum requirements in American and Texas history” for the state’s public higher education institutions. But if you ask Librotraficante (and Rebelde) Tony Diaz and many others who protested in front of the […]

This one comes from HuffPost Latino Voices: A New Mexico state representative wants to keep Hispanic history books out of public schools, following in the footsteps of some of her conservative colleagues in Arizona. New Mexico state Rep. Antonio Maestas (D-Albuquerque) proposed a memorial on Monday praising diversity in the state’s curricula and slammed Tucson’s […]

Here is an amazing piece by @CelsonM3. It is called “Thoughts at 30,000 Feet.” Enjoy.

This is a review submitted by Rebelde Claudia Serrano. Yeah, she loved the movie. For showtimes, visit the official page of “Bless Me, Última.” This film, “Bless Me, Ultima” is love letter for our Mexican-American fathers. Similar to the love letters Linda Ronstadt shared with “Canciones de mi padre,” you can rename this movie “Cuentos […]

During the past few years, it’s been easy for some to ask: What is the deal with Arizona? Or, more specifically, what is the deal with that sheriff? With banning books — Shakespeare, really? With the racist SB 1070, which requires anyone who might not look right to carry proof of citizenship or legal residency? […]