Poet Luis J. Rodriguez at the Latin American Center

By Ann Ernst
HippoPress.com

His formidable reputation precedes him, so it’s hard to know what to expect before meeting poet, author and activist Luis J. Rodriguez.

He shakes hands with everyone as we arrive at the Latin American Center on Sunday, May 5, slipping easily from English to Spanish and back again. In person, his presence is striking. A man of medium height with black hair brushed back from his forehead, Rodriguez wears a dark suit with a dark shirt underneath. Though his presence is powerful, he speaks respectfully and gently to the children who approach him to shake his hand and get his autograph.

By speaking Spanish first, he reinforces the bond of two cultures that these American-born, bilingual children share.

Rodriguez, 47, grew up in the barrios of East Los Angeles, and from ages 11 to 18 was heavily involved in gang life and drugs. Through the guidance of people who believed in his capabilities and intelligence, and his own strength of will and character, Rodriguez eventually renounced gang life and drugs, and began to look to writing as his way into a new future.

He spoke with pride of his eight books, noting how hard it is to get published, even more so as a Latino. Introducing his three books of poetry, “Poetry Across the Pavement” (1991), “The Concrete River” (1992) and “Trochemoche” (1998), he credited Pablo Neruda as his favorite poet and said poetry is what he loves best.

His autobiography, “Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A.” (1993), tells the often brutal stories of a young life involved in gangs and drugs. It was written for his son Ramiro as a cautionary tale, because at 15 Ramiro had joined a gang in Chicago where he lived with Luis. Rodriguez shared the painful story of his son’s gang experiences and his incarceration today.

Working with young children in schools, Rodriguez noticed that there were no children’s storybooks that depicted the Hispanic people these children knew, and that their lives were not adequately represented either. In an effort to give these kids another, more relevant reading experience, he has written two children’s books, “America Is Her Name” (1997) and “It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way: A Barrio Story” (1999).

Last year Rodriguez published “Hearts and Hands: Making Peace In A Violent Time,” a compilation of his 22 years of experience working with youth. And this year he has just released his first short story anthology, called “The Republic of East L.A.” These are stories about the people other than gang members who inhabit the barrios, trying to make lives for themselves.

In his first visit to New Hampshire, Luis Rodriguez spoke with passion about the need to provide youth with a brighter future. He says we can do this by becoming and staying involved with them, by fighting for them when we must, and by treating them always with respect. In an interview at the Latin American Center, Rodriguez shared his thoughts with HippoPress.

About being the child of immigrants:

The Mexican culture of Rodriguez’s parents encouraged silence in the face of adversity or mistreatment. This attitude is very different from that of most Americans, even the American children of immigrants. It is important to listen with respect to what our children are telling us, and work or fight hard to make the changes necessary for their success.

About pride and self-esteem:

Rodriguez remembers never being allowed to speak Spanish in any of the schools he attended, and believes that if his parents hadn’t spoken Spanish to him at home he might not be able to speak it now. Until his last years of high school, when protests and walkouts brought the disrespect for Chicano students into the spotlight, Latin American culture was never discussed or acknowledged. By integrating this culture into the curriculum, Hispanic students began to feel the pride and self-worth that comes with knowing and appreciating one’s history.

About Hispanic culture in America:

Children who learn about the accomplishments of their ancestors are rightfully proud, and this engenders increased self-esteem. These stronger, confident children feel more able to incorporate into American culture, without losing their own culture and language. And they can bring this strength to their immigrant parents, who might struggle with cultural and language differences.

About the arts and children:

Why is it important to teach the arts to children? Because in addition to the arts allowing an individual to explore their own creativity, the focus on the creativity in the arts provides a means for children to create their own way in the world. This can free them from the constraints society may put on them to be or do something that makes them unhappy or unsuccessful.

About the future:

Rodriguez feels very strongly that adults must step forward to be elders and mentors to our children and others, that we must empower them to be conscious decision-makers and critical thinkers, and that we must trust them and treat them with respect as capable, responsible individuals who want to make good choices. In this way we will provide them the support they need to grow confident and strong.

Ann Ernst can be reached at hippo@hippopress.com