Norberto James Rawlings facts for kids

Norberto James Rawlings (1945 – 2021) was a famous poet from the Dominican Republic. He was of Afro-Caribbean descent and part of a group of writers called the "60s Generation." When he first started writing, his poems often talked about the everyday lives of people in his country, which has many different cultures.

Early Life and Challenges

Norberto James Rawlings was born in 1945 on a sugar plantation called Ingenio Consuelo. This was in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic. He grew up in a community where people spoke English. These families were descendants of African slaves and were sometimes called "cocolos" by Spanish-speaking Dominicans. This name was not always used kindly.

His early life was often difficult. He lived in a poor cocolo village where many people worked with sugar cane. Even so, he was also exposed to American culture.

School and Politics

In the 1960s, Norberto moved to Santo Domingo to finish high school at the Liceo Unión Panamericana. He was very good at sports, especially track and field, and even won a national race.

Because his parents were from another country, he wasn't allowed to join political groups. But he still became very active in groups that wanted change at his school and nearby. When he was 19, he was kicked out of school because of his political activities.

Soon after, a civil war started in the Dominican Republic. Norberto's mother, Dolores Rawlings, moved to New York. Norberto joined the rebel forces, which were groups fighting in the war. He was part of a command located at the Argentine school.

Leaving and Returning Home

Because of his strong political involvement, Norberto had to leave the country. He went to the University of Havana in Cuba to study Language and Literature. This was a way for him to be in "political exile," meaning he left his home country for safety because of his political views.

In 1979, Norberto returned to the Dominican Republic. The political situation had changed. He was given an important job on the National Energy Policy Commission. He decided to settle down and start a family. He married Luz Altagracia Rodríguez, and they soon had two daughters, Malva Mariana and Ruth Esther.

Even though he was successful, Norberto didn't like the corruption he saw around him. So, he decided to go abroad again to continue his studies.

Later Years and Achievements

In 1983, Norberto came to the United States. He studied at Boston University to get his advanced degree in Hispanic Language and Literatures. There, he met his second wife, Elizabeth Wellington. They worked together on literary projects, with him as a poet and her as a translator.

After they both earned their doctoral degrees, they became teachers in the Boston area. Norberto kept writing and publishing new books of poetry.

Family and Teaching Career

In 1992, Norberto and Elizabeth had a son named Tito Wellington James. That same year, Norberto became an American citizen in a special ceremony in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Norberto James became a beloved Spanish teacher at the Boston Latin School. His students often called him "Dr. J." He was very generous and helped many students, especially those with limited resources, get into top universities like Harvard.

He also continued to give poetry readings and received many awards and honors in both the United States and the Dominican Republic. His very last poem was written only six months before he passed away. This poem was part of his complete collection of works, called Poesía Completa, Norberto James Rawlings (2020), which he was able to see published.

Norberto Pedro James Rawlings passed away peacefully in his sleep in 2021. He had been battling Parkinson's disease for 15 years.

Children

• Malva Mariana James Rodriguez (born December 1980)
• Ruth Esther James Rodriguez (born November 1981)

These are from his first marriage.

• Tito Wellington James (born December 1992)

This is from his second marriage.

Books of Poetry

Norberto James Rawlings published many books of poetry. His first book, from 1969, was called Sobre la marcha (which means "On the March"). This book included one of the most famous Dominican poems of the 20th century, called “The Immigrants.”

Later books, like La Urdimbre de Silencio (meaning "At the Threshold of Silence"), explored themes beyond his home island. They often showed the deep longing of someone living away from their homeland.

See also

In Spanish: Norberto James Rawlings para niños