Puerto Rican Writers, Poets, and Essayists

Puerto Rican Writers, Poets, and Essayists As most know, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on Tuesday, September 20, 2017. It was the worst storm the island has seen in 89 years. Words like catastrophic and apocalyptic work well to describe the aftermath. There was damage to the entire electrical grid, and there are still very limited communications. This is along with flooding, ridiculous amounts of wind and water damage, and agriculture being wiped out. It would be an understatement to say it will take a long while to recover. I’m Puerto Rican. On the island are family members and a lot of people I care about. The island is a place I love. I have not lived there since before third grade, but it doesnt just leave you. It lingers, and in some ways it will always be home. I’m devastated about the state of Puerto Rico, and about the way everything has been handled after this disaster. To counteract my immense sadness, I’m remembering the beautiful aspects that make up Puerto Rico and its people. This has made me realize that I hardly ever see anything about Puerto Rican writers. I mean, I rarely see news about anyone from Puerto Rico unless it’s a tiny group of celebrities. The intellectual and creative culture of the island isn’t something a lot of people get to learn about. But its rich, and there is a deep history of people using their minds and words to spread ideas, and create stories. I want to try and spread some Puerto Rican culture. Plus, I want to try to show that we are more than the fiery personalities or ample curves that are so often highlighted in media depictions. Puerto Ricans are complex people, defined by a complicated history. There is no singular Puerto Rican viewpoint, perspective, or character. Were artists, were farmers, were musicians, were revolutionaries, were storytellers, were survivors, and were a million other things. Puerto Rican Writers One of the best ways to show the life of a culture is through reading its writings. So, I’ve compiled a list of some Puerto Rican writers. This is by no means an official, complete list, but it might help you find an author whose writing you want to check out. Ive tried to include writers of different formats and genres, so hopefully there is someone for everyone. I think it cant hurt to expand your reading horizons, especially when it leads to a better understanding of other cultures. Esmeralda Santiago   Novelist, also known for her memoirs. When I Was Puerto Rican Victor Hernandez Cruz Poet. Part of the Nuyorican Movement. Snaps, The Mountain Sea: Poems Quiara Alegria Hudes Playwright and composer. Elliot, A Soldiers Fugue Enrique Laguerre Novelist, playwright, newspaper columnist, critic. Benevolent Masters Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro Novelist, short story writer, and essayist. Ojos de Luna (Moon Eyes) Miguel Algarin Poet. Co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Times Now/Ya Es Tiempo Manuel Zeno Gandia   Novelist, also a medical doctor. The Pond  (generally acknowledged as the first major Puerto Rican novel) Alejandro Tapia y Rivera Novelist, poet, playwright, essayist. El Heliotropo   Luisa Capetillo Feminist, labor organizer, anarchist, writer.  Interesting fact: known as the first woman in Puerto Rico to wear trousers. She was actually arrested for wearing trousers when she went to Cuba. A Nation of Women: An Early Feminist Speaks Out; Mi Opinion Sobres Las Libertades, Derechos y Deberes de la Mujer Maria Bibiana Benitez First female poet of Puerto Rico. Also a playwright. La Ninfa de Puerto Rico, La Cruz del Morro   Eleanor Parker Sapia   Novelist. A Decent Woman   Judith Ortiz Cofer Poet, novelist, essayist. Silent Dancing: A Partial Remembrance of a Puerto Rican Childhood Rosario Ferre Short story writer, novelist, essayist, critic. Eccentric Neighborhoods,  The House on the Lagoon   Miguel PiÃ'ero Playwright, co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Short Eyes.   Eduardo Lalo Novelist. Simone Erika Lopez Novelist, cartoonist, performance artist. Flaming Iguanas: An Illustrated All-Girl Road Novel Thing Zoe Jimenez Corretjer Poet, short story writer, novelist, academic essayist. Cantigos del Lago Giannina Braschi Poet, novelist, essayist, dramatist. Yo-Yo Boing!   Mayra Santos-Febres Poet, novelist, essayist, literary critic, professor of literature. Sirena Selena   Eugenio Maria de Hostos Novelist, lawyer, sociologist. La Peregrinación de Bayoán Luz Maria Umpierre Poet, literary critic. The Margarita Poems Piri Thomas   Poet, also know for his memoir. Part of the Nuyorican movement. Down These Mean Streets Nicholasa Mohr   Novelist, childrens book author, playwright, short story writer. First Hispanic woman to have her work published by the major publishing houses in modern times. El Bronx Remembered Marta Moreno Vega Memoirist. Founder of the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute. When the Spirits Dance Mambo: Growing Up Nuyorican in El Barrio   Irene Vilar   Memoirist, often writes about generational trauma and reproductive rights. The Ladies Gallery: A Memoir of Family Secrets Jose de Diego Journalist, poet, lawyer. Cantos de Rebeldía Julia de Burgos Poet Song of the Simple Truth: The Complete Poems of Julia de Burgos   RenÉ MarquÉs Short story writer, playwright. The Oxcart/La Carreta   Ricardo AlegrÍa Cultural anthropologist, archaeologist, Puerto Rican scholar. Discovery, Conquest and Colonization of Puerto Rico, 1493â€"1599