Latino Poetry- Places We Call Home seeks to foster nationwide conversation through a groundbreaking new anthology. As we read the poems and explore the themes within the anthology, we invite you to join us for Palabras y Artesanias (words and crafts) as a form self-expression, on the theme of each event

Our third event is on the theme of Voice & Resistance. Latino Poetry has a robust tradition of protest and critique. Latinos have participated in all the major social justice and liberation movements in the U.S. in the twentieth- and twenty-first centuries, from the civil rights movement to advocacy for LGBTQ+ and undocumented people, to workers’ rights. Freedom struggles in places such as Puerto Rico stretch back even further. Poets were essential in these movements: at the height of the Chicano movement poets were often featured at political events. What sort of language and imagery do we encounter in the political poems of the Latino poetic tradition? How do the poets understand their role in political struggle?

PALABRAS/ WORDS

There are a handful of featured poems to go with the these which can be accessed at this LINK. Scroll down to the theme we are on.   

“The Black Maria” by Aracelis Girmay

“Operation Wetback, 1953” by Diana García

“No Longer Ode / Oda Indebida” by Uruyoán Noel

Read the essay by Eliza Rodriguez

*If you prefer a paper copy of the poems, ask at the reference desk.

ARTESANIAS / CRAFTS 

In ancient times, pulseras were made by hand using materials readily available in the surrounding environment. For example, Native American tribes used natural elements like feathers, bones, and seeds to create intricate pulseras that reflected their connection to nature.

Symbolisms are often incorporated into the design of Pulseras. For instance, in some cultures, the color red symbolizes love and passion, while blue represents tranquility and protection. Symbols like hearts may signify love or friendship, while animals like turtles can represent longevity or wisdom. By wearing pulseras adorned with these symbols, individuals can showcase their beliefs or convey a particular message without saying a word. What colors and symbols represent your expression of voice and resistance? 

We will demonstrate the technique of woven bracelet making. We will provide a starter bracelet to practice on. We will also allow you to choose the colors and symbolism meaningful to you to take and make a bracelet at home.  

Follow this LINK to see the other poetry themes and crafts and the others in the series.