Chicano Poetry Reading con Dos Pesados: Viernes, Mayo 19, 2006

Chicano Poetry:
The Next Generation
Luis Rodríguez

Jose Montoya, former Sacramento Poet Laureate and co-founder of the Royal Chicano Air Force, inspired Luis Rodriguez in the 1970s. Writing led Rodriguez out of addiction and crime to become a leading Chicano writer, author of 10 books, including Always Running, now in its 20th printing. Through language and imagination Montoya and Rodriguez motivate young people. This is the first time these two legendary figures have appeared together. Please join us for this historic event.

Friday, May 19, 2006
7:00 - 8:30 PM, Sutter Cancer Center
2800 L Street, 2nd floor, Room 220
www.sutterwriters.com
Photo: Sam Parsons

And Jose montoya

Yesterday evening was a beautiful evening. I went to the Chicano Poetry Reading at Sutter Hospital in the business building for Sutter. I was blessed to see two of the heaviest Chicano Poets in Aztlan: Maestro Jose Montoya and Companero Luis Rodriguez.

First, from about 6:30 to 7 PM we heard Companero Esteban Villa and an amigo of his play some songs. It was warm and entertaining, especially the Southside Park song. As an added treat there was some chips y salsa y spring water. It was a good warm-up for the rest of the evening.

I had not seen Esteban V. or Jose M. for a long time. Just seeing them brought back a flood of Movimiento memories. Earlier times, lifetimes ago.

Plus, I was glad to meet Professor Danny Romero there. He was a good teacher for the Autobiography Class I took at Sac City that we just got through with last Thursday. In fact, he was the one who got me hip to this truly historic event. It was good to see him out of the classroom setting.

After the music, we gathered in a large room with over 100 people. We had to go get some more chairs for people.

It was a real reunion for the two Chicano poet-giants {Pesados or Heavys} Jose and Luis. They were introduced and Jose kind of took the lead and starting reading poems, narrating stuff, then, Luis read some poetry and some stuff from his books, including Always Running. They sat by each other with a lamp and stuff in between them. The lighting was not bright and had a cozy feel to it. There was a kind of mellow magical quality about the magic, mystery and chemistry seeing the both of them sitting down by each other sharing their stuff. You could feel the love and respect they have for each other.

To record it all, I only wish there had been a video and I would have had a better camera. I guess some events are meant to just be recorded in our memories. Words alone cannot truly relate this special evening and we could sense something really beautiful and precious was taking place before our eyes.

Jose mentioned about the Azteca codices that had been destroyed by the conquering Spaniards and how we were now in these times creating new codices for future generations.

Luis has been doing a lot of good work with people, giving them courage, helping to raise consciousness and going to institutions where the up-and-coming generations are locked up. There was an information pamphlet available for free that gave me a lot better picture about his great on-going contributions. Plus, there was a table with some of his books and stuff

And ‘El Jefe’ Jose is Jose. He was a great friend and brother to Cesar Chavez, the farmworkers, has been a great inspiration for the Chicano Movimiento and here in the Sacramento area he has been the long-time Spiritual Leader for many of us who got involved in the Chicano Movimiento in our early teenage years. He is looking well. Now I have a better appreciation of his Spiritual Powers, especially when he explained to us about the Four Directions.

Afterwards, there were a few questions with informative answers. So all-in-all it was a great evening and I wish you would have been there.

Prayers and Blessings ~ Peta de Aztlan
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