Tomás Rivera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tomás Rivera
3rd Chancellor of the University of California, Riverside
In office 1979–1984
Preceded by	Ivan Hinderaker
Succeeded by	Theodore L. Hullar
Personal details
Born	(1935-12-22)December 22, 1935 Crystal City, Texas
Died	May 16, 1984(1984-05-16) (aged 48) Fontana, California
Nationality	United States
Spouse	Concepción Rivera
Alma mater	Southwest Texas State University University of Oklahoma
Occupation	writer, poet, educator
Writing career
Notable works	...y no se lo tragó la tierra

Tomás Rivera (December 22, 1935 – May 16, 1984) was an important Chicano writer, poet, and educator. He was born in Texas to migrant farm workers. This means his family moved around to find work in farm fields. Tomás worked in the fields when he was a young boy.

Even though he started working in the fields, he changed his life through education. He earned a degree from Southwest Texas State University. Later, he earned a PhD from the University of Oklahoma. He strongly believed that education was very important for Mexican-Americans.

As a writer, Rivera is best known for his 1971 book, ...y no se lo tragó la tierra. This book is a novella, which is a story shorter than a novel. It has been translated into English with titles like This Migrant Earth. This book won the first Premio Quinto Sol award.

Rivera taught in high schools across the Southwest United States. He also taught at universities like Sam Houston State University. From 1979 until he passed away in 1984, he was the leader, or chancellor, of the University of California, Riverside. He was the first Mexican-American to hold such a high position in the University of California system.

Who Was Tomás Rivera?

Tomás Rivera's Early Life

Tomás Rivera was born on December 22, 1935. His hometown was Crystal City, Texas. His parents, Florencio and Josefa Rivera, were Spanish-speaking migrant farmworkers. This meant they traveled to different places to find work picking crops.

When Tomás was eleven, he was in a car accident in Michigan. After this, he decided to write his first story. He called it "The Accident." He later explained that he felt a strong urge to write. He wanted to capture feelings and events he would never forget.

Tomás kept writing through high school. He wrote creative stories and essays. He dreamed of becoming a sportswriter when he grew up. He loved reading sports articles and adventure stories. He said that when he told people he wanted to be a writer, they were often surprised. His grandfather was his biggest supporter. He gave Tomás supplies and encouraged him to write.

Working in the Fields

Rivera worked in the fields with his family during summer breaks. He often missed school because of the long work seasons. At the start of each school year, he had to catch up on what he missed. His family worked in many parts of the Midwest. They lived and worked in states like Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan.

Tomás worked as a field laborer until 1956. By then, he was attending Southwest Texas Junior College. The school would not let him miss classes for farm work. This marked the end of his days as a migrant worker. It was the start of a new path for him.

Education Changes Everything

Growing up as a migrant worker gave Rivera many ideas for his writing. His famous novel, ...y no se lo tragó la tierra, is partly based on his own life. It tells the story of a young boy's journey as a migrant.

As Rivera grew up, he saw the challenges faced by Chicanos. These were Mexican descendants who were often in lower-class jobs. When he tried to get his writings published, he sometimes faced racism. This was often because his stories were in Spanish.

Rivera understood that education was the best way to succeed. He graduated with a degree in English in 1958. He then taught English and Spanish in high schools. He strongly believed that going to college was key for Chicanos. It was a way to move beyond migrant work.

He continued his own education at the University of Oklahoma. He earned a PhD in Romance Languages and Literature in 1969. His extensive education helped him achieve great things. Rivera became a role model for young Chicanos. He showed them what was possible through hard work and learning.

Family Life

Tomás Rivera married Concepción Garza on November 27, 1958. They had two daughters, Ileana and Irasema, and one son, Javier. Friends remembered Tomás and Concepción as wonderful hosts. They worked very hard but also knew how to have fun. Their home was always open to friends. A friend, Rolando Hinojosa, said they "loved each other as much as they loved life."

Tomás Rivera's Career Path

Becoming a Professor and Leader

It was common for Chicanos in the Midwest to work in fields their whole lives. Rivera included this in his book, ...y no se lo tragó la tierra. But Rivera not only finished high school, he quickly moved through college.

He graduated from Crystal City High School in 1954. He then studied English at Southwest Texas Jr. College. By 1958, he had earned a Bachelor's degree in English. He also studied Spanish, History, and Education. In 1964, he earned a Master's degree in Educational Administration. He earned all these degrees while working as a high school teacher.

He taught Spanish and English in different Texas cities. He also taught Spanish and French at Southwest Texas Junior College. By 1969, he had earned a Ph.D. in Romance languages and Literature. He also had a Master's degree in Spanish literature. Both were from the University of Oklahoma.

After getting his Ph.D., Rivera became a professor. He taught at Sam Houston State University and later at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He then moved into leadership roles. He became an associate dean and then a vice-president. In 1978, he became the executive vice president of the University of Texas at El Paso.

In 1979, Rivera became the chancellor of the University of California, Riverside. This was a very important job. He held this position until he passed away in 1984. Even in his high-level jobs, Rivera insisted on continuing to teach. This showed how much he cared about education. He always remembered his beginnings as a migrant worker. Above all, he saw himself as a professor.

Tomás Rivera's Writing

His Famous Novel

Rivera made great contributions to the world of literature. He wrote short stories, poems, and scholarly works. But he is most famous for his novel, ...y no se lo tragó la tierra (1971). For this book, he received the first Premio Quinto Sol literary award in 1971. Quinto Sol was a publishing company started by students and teachers. They wanted to share Chicano literature and culture. They created the Premio Quinto Sol prize to celebrate Chicano authors.

The novel has been translated into English many times. Some titles include "...And the Earth Did Not Part" and "...And the Earth Did Not Devour Him." In 2012, the first Latin American version of the book was published. It included details about how the novel was created.

What is ...y no se lo tragó la tierra About?

...y no se lo tragó la tierra is a novel with fourteen short sections. The book starts with a section called "El año perdido" (The Lost Year). It is told by an anonymous Chicano child. This child is the son of two migrant workers.

The unnamed child tells some parts of the story using his thoughts and memories. Other people connected to his life tell the rest of the sections. The stories are told in different ways. They include conversations, prayers, and descriptions. All these different viewpoints create a full story. They piece together events from the child's past year. The reason for the anonymous main character and unusual style is left for the reader to figure out.

Making a Difference in the Community

Rivera was very involved in every community he lived in. The University of California said he had "a strong voice." He helped people understand that young people are a valuable resource. He served on many important committees. These included groups focused on higher education and Hispanic schooling.

He received an award from the Chicano News Media Association. This was for his great achievements and contributions to the Chicano community. He also received an award from the Riverside Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. This was for his leadership as Chancellor at the Riverside Campus.

Rivera was also a member of many public service groups. He was part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was also on the board of the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund. He worked with many groups to help his community.

Tomás Rivera's Lasting Impact

Tomás Rivera passed away on May 16, 1984, at his home in Fontana, California. He is remembered as a talented teacher, a skilled leader, and a celebrated poet. After he died, many places and awards were named in his honor.

These include a University of Texas at Austin professorship. The main library at University of California, Riverside is named after him. There is also a plaza, several elementary schools, and a middle school named for him. He received an honorary doctorate from Santa Clara University. He was also named a distinguished alumnus by Texas State University.

His writings are studied in courses on American and Chicano literature. The Tomás Rivera Policy Institute continues to publish studies. These studies focus on education, immigration, and other important issues for Hispanic-Americans.

At the University of Texas at San Antonio, a tutoring center is named after him. At Texas State University, Student Center Drive was renamed Tomas Rivera Drive. In 1995, Texas State University created the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award. This award honors authors and illustrators who create literature about the Mexican American experience. Famous winners include Rudolfo Anaya and Pat Mora.

In 1985, the General Library at UC Riverside was renamed the Tomás Rivera Library. His wife, Concepción Rivera, donated all of her late husband's papers to this library. The archive now holds more than 85,000 items from Rivera's work. This collection shows how hardworking and dedicated he was.

Rivera left a strong mark on future generations of Chicanos. He had a clear vision for the world. He wanted future generations of migrant workers to have fair access to college. He wanted them to have every chance to succeed.

See also

In Spanish: Tomás Rivera para niños