"Two Pounds, Night Sky Notes,” “Southwest Philadelphia, 1988,” “Maldicion de Boriken,” “Tango Criollo,” and “Bull| Machete | Bullet | Laurel| Time"
SMC Affiliated Work
1
Status
Faculty
School
Kalmanovitz School of Education
Department
Teacher Education
Document Type
Poem
Publication Date
2017
Publication / Conference / Sponsorship
¡Manteca!: An Anthology of Afro-Latin Poets
Editor
Melissa Castillo-Garsow
Publisher/Venue
Arte Publico Press
Description/Abstract
Overview
Manteca! an Anthology of Afro-Latin@ Poets by Melissa Castillo-Garsow
We defy translation, Sandra María Esteves writes. Nameless/we are a whole culture/once removed. She is half Dominican, half Puerto Rican, with indigenous and African blood, born in the Bronx. Like so many of the contributors, she is a blend of cultures, histories and languages. Containing the work of more than 40 poetsequally divided between men and womenwho self-identify as Afro-Latino, ¡Manteca! is the first poetry anthology to highlight writings by Latinos of African descent. The themes covered are as diverse as the authors themselves. Many pieces rail against a system that institutionalizes poverty and racism. Others remember parents and grandparents who immigrated to the United States in search of a better life, only to learn that the American Dream is a nightmare for someone with dark skin and nappy hair. But in spite of the darkness, faith remains. Anthony Morales grandmother, like so many others, was hardwired to hold on to hope. There are love poems to family and lovers. And musicsalsa, merengue, jazzpermeates this collection. Editor and scholar Melissa Castillo-Garsow writes in her introduction that the experiences and poetic expression of Afro-Latinidad were so diverse that she could not begin to categorize it. Some write in English, others in Spanish. They are Puerto Rican, Dominican and almost every combination conceivable, including Afro-Mexican. Containing the work of well-known writers such as Pedro Pietri, Miguel Piñero and E. Ethelbert Miller, less well-known ones are ready to be discovered in these pages.
ISBN
9781558858428
Disciplines
Education | Teacher Education and Professional Development
Original Citation
León, Raina J.“Two Pounds, Night Sky Notes,” “Southwest Philadelphia, 1988,” “Maldicion de Boriken,” “Tango Criollo,” and “Bull| Machete | Bullet | Laurel| Time.” In ¡Manteca!: An Anthology of Afro-Latin Poets, ed. Melissa Castillo-Garsow. Houston, TX: Arte Publico Press, 2017.
Repository Citation
León, Raina. "Two Pounds, Night Sky Notes,” “Southwest Philadelphia, 1988,” “Maldicion de Boriken,” “Tango Criollo,” and “Bull| Machete | Bullet | Laurel| Time" (2017). ¡Manteca!: An Anthology of Afro-Latin Poets. Melissa Castillo-Garsow. Arte Publico Press. [poem]. https://digitalcommons.stmarys-ca.edu/school-education-faculty-works/331
