M. Miriam Herrera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
M Miriam Herrera
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M Miriam Herrera at Russell Sage College, Troy NY, April 2012
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| Born | June 14, 1963 Sutherland, Nebraska |
| Language | English; Spanish |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois, Chicago |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Literary movement | Converso, Chicano |
| Notable works | Kaddish for Columbus |
M. Miriam Herrera (born June 14, 1963) is an American author and poet. She teaches at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She helps students learn about Mexican American studies, writing, and creative writing. She is part of the Department of Writing Language Studies. She also works with the Mexican American Studies Program (MASC).
Growing Up
Miriam Herrera was born in Sutherland, Nebraska. Her parents were from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. They were working in sugar-beet fields when she was born. Later, her family moved to Aurora, Illinois. They wanted to leave the hard life of farm work.
Miriam started writing poetry when she was in elementary school. She met Gwendolyn Brooks, a famous poet. Gwendolyn Brooks was the Poet Laureate of Illinois. Hearing her read poetry inspired Miriam to write her own.
Her Education Journey
Miriam Herrera went to the University of Illinois at Chicago. She studied Creative Writing and earned her Master of Arts degree in 1981. She learned from important writers and editors. These included John Frederic Nims, who edited Poetry Magazine. She also studied with Ralph J. Mills and Paul Carroll. Paul Carroll started the Poetry Center of Chicago.
While in college, Miriam was part of a group of Chicano writers. This group included well-known authors like Sandra Cisneros and Ana Castillo.
Sharing Her Knowledge
Miriam Herrera has taught at many colleges. She taught creative writing and poetry writing. She also taught about Chicano/Latino literature. Some of the places she taught include the University of Illinois at Chicago and Russell Sage College.
She is a member of the Community of Writers at Squaw Valley. She also started the Writing Studio. This studio helps poets and writers. Miriam is currently the poetry editor for HaLapid journal. This journal is for the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies.
Miriam Herrera's family history is very interesting. She comes from people called Crypto-Jews, also known as Conversos. These were people who secretly kept their Jewish faith. They had to pretend to be Catholic to escape the Spanish Inquisition. Many of them moved to the New World (the Americas). There, they married people from Native American tribes and other Christians.
Miriam's poetry collection, Kaddish for Columbus, explores this history. It talks about how different cultures and ideas can come together. Her poems show how identities can change when different backgrounds meet. She explores how she connects to both her European and Native American ancestors.
Her Writings
Miriam Herrera has written several books and many poems. Her book, Kaddish for Columbus, was published in 2009.
Books
- Kaddish for Columbus: Finishing Line Press (2009)
Poetry
Her poems have appeared in many literary journals:
- Southwestern American Literature (2009): "Ahuacatl," "Blessing the Animals," "La Malinche"
- Albatross: "Elegy for an Angelito" (2009)
- Earth's Daughters (2008): "Once I Heard My Father Cry"
- Rainmakers Prayers Anthology (2008): "Kiva at Chaco Canyon"
- New Millennium Writings (2006–2007): "In the Calyx"
- Squaw Valley Poetry Anthology (2005): "At the Edge of Town"
- Artlife: The Original Limited Edition Monthly (Vol. 25, No. 8, Issue No. 273) "Witch Wife"
- New Zoo Poetry Review (Vol. 4): "Father's Love Letter"
- Nimrod International Journal of Prose and Poetry (Vol. 41, No. 2): "Kaddish for Columbus"
- Blue Mesa Review (No. 3): "Kiva at Chaco Canyon"
- Ecos: A Latino Journal of People's Culture and Literature (Vol. 2, No. 2): "To Jenny," "First Snow," "Waterfall"; (Vol. 2, No. 1): "Visit Home," "Love Poem for Charles"
- Black Maria (Vol. 4, No. 2): "Driving in Fog," "Dream of Three Girls at Play"
