Ricardo Sánchez (poet) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ricardo Sánchez
Born	(1941-03-29)March 29, 1941 El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Died	September 7, 1995(1995-09-07) (aged 54) El Paso, Texas
Occupation	Author poet activist

Ricardo Sánchez was a famous writer, poet, professor, and activist. He is sometimes called the "Grandfather of Chicano poetry." Chicano refers to people of Mexican descent living in the United States. Sánchez became well-known across the country for his 1971 poetry book, Canto y Grito Mi Liberacion.

When he was younger, Sánchez faced tough times. He spent some years in Soledad Prison in California. During this time, he read many books and even learned Hebrew. After he was released in 1969, his poems started appearing in collections. In 1971, his first book of poems was published. This made Sánchez one of the most important Chicano poets in the nation.

Ricardo Sánchez's Early Life

Ricardo Sánchez knew from a young age that he wanted to be a writer. He was born on March 29, 1941, in El Barrio del Diablo, El Paso, Texas. He was the youngest of 13 children. As a teenager, he was a very bright student and a talented young poet.

A Turning Point in High School

In 1958, something happened that changed his path. A high school teacher told him, "Chicano boys don't grow up to be poets. Janitors maybe, but not writers." This comment deeply affected him. The next year, Sánchez left high school to join the Army. While in the Army, he earned his G.E.D., which is like a high school diploma.

Challenges and New Beginnings

However, his time in the Army ended when he faced legal trouble in 1960. He was sent to prison at age 19. After three years, Sánchez was released in 1963. Soon after, he married María Teresa Silva. He worked hard to support his growing family. In 1965, he faced legal issues again. But after his release from Soledad Prison in 1969, Sánchez finally began to find success as a writer.

Ricardo Sánchez's Writing Career

After his poems were published in a collection, Sánchez received a special journalism award called the Frederick Douglass fellowship. In 1970, he was accepted into a doctoral program at Union Institute & University. He earned his PhD in American Studies in 1974. Soon after, he became a professor at Washington State University.

Acclaim for His Poetry

While teaching, Sánchez continued to publish his work. His book Hechizospells (1976) was highly praised. People said it showed a deep understanding of what it means to be human. The famous poet Maya Angelou described his work by saying, "Ricardo Sanchez is like any great poet. He’s at once a preacher, a teacher, a priest, a rabbi. He’s a guru, he’s a master. And because he is that he’s also a rebel. He’s a maverick. Every great teacher is a maverick."

Impact on Chicano Literature

Sánchez's powerful poems often spoke about the need for fairness and justice for his culture. His "raging cries for cultural justice" and "startling, angry verse" are seen as very important. They helped shape the fields of Chicano poetry and modern Chicano literature. Ricardo Sánchez passed away in 1995 at the age of 54.

His writings and papers are now kept at the University of Texas at Austin and Stanford University.

Main Works by Ricardo Sánchez

• Canto Y Grito Mi Liberación (Washington State University Press, 1971). ISBN: 978-0964066205
• Hechizospells (University of California Press, 1976). ISBN: 978-0895510242
• Brown Bear Honey Madnesses: Alaskan Cruising Poems (Slough Press, 1981). ISBN: 978-0941720076
• Amsterdam Cantos y Poemas Pistos (Place of Herons, 1983). ISBN: 978-0916908140
• Selected Poems (Arte Publico Press, 1985). ISBN: 978-0934770354
• Bertrand & the Mehkqoverse: A Xicano Filmic Nuance (Slough Press, 1989). ISBN: 978-0941720656
• Eagle-Visioned/Feathered Adobes: Manito Sojourns & Pachuco Ramblings October 4 to 24, 1981 (Cinco Puntos Press, 1990). ISBN: 978-0938317128
• Amerikan journeys = Jornadas americanas (Rob Lewis, 1995). ISBN: 978-0874221251
• The Loves of Ricardo (Tia Chucha Press, 1997). ISBN: 978-1882688142

See also

• List of Chicano poets
• Pinto (subculture)