I’ve been reading a lot of Latin American writers lately and I just love the way they combine the values and stories of Hispanic culture and Spanish (whether from Mexico, Puerto Rico, or Dominican Republic) with English and our American lifestyle. I think being American with that distinctive cultural background allows you to reflect back on previous generations’ lives and the beliefs they held and contrast them to modern day. Espada writes about going over to his girlfriend’s house for Thanksgiving and being surprised that they weren’t eating rice and beans for dinner. He immortalizes the lowly immigrant janitor who does his job with diligence and creates his own garden through his work. His poetry humanizes these “others” that most Americans only discriminate against. Castillo champions the rights of any minority woman who has been treated unfairly, denied rights and representation and is viewed with negative stereotypes in mainstream society. She uses a lot of animal diction like “burra” and “cabrona” to trace the history of the way indigenous people have been treated like savages in North America and asks for humane treatment of these people. It’s absolutely tragic and horrifying the way some groups of people have been treated throughout history - denied basic needs like clean water, food and cut off from any type of progress like literacy. Junot Diaz, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, has an incredible voice where he mixes Spanish with English in a way I feel only the Latin American can fully understand and it’s the most wonderful combined experience of culture. He also gives you mini history lessons about the Dominican Republic in his footnotes so it’s a very interactive read. I would love to continue this tradition of passionate and exposing Latin American writing by representing Colombia - the cumbias, la ciudad vieja of Cartagena alongside the Caribbean, the alegria of the culture, las arepitas, the hard working people, las hormigas, los bocadillos and all the delicacies of this tender and joyous culture.