Safina Elhillo, a Sudanese American poet who now calls L.Á. home, has recently released her second poetry collection “Girls That Never Die.” Continue reading ‘Minding My People’s Business’: An Acclaimed Sudanese American Poet Makes a Home in L.A.
“Los Angeles is a home that keeps Muñoz inspired. ‘There is so much movement. You just walk out the door and there’s a poem,’ she says.” Continue reading ‘Written Without Shame’: Mexican-American Poet Briana Muñoz on Poetry, Performance and Her Indigenous Roots
By CSUDH Campus News Center
FROM: Campus News Center
In her new book, Instruments of Empire: Filipino Musicians, Black Soldiers, and Military Band Music during U.S. Colonization of the Philippines, CSUDH Assistant Professor of Asian-Pacific Studies Mary Talusan Lacanlale doesn’t just reveal the hidden history of the Philippine Constabulary Band—she uncovers some of her own family history, as well.
Continue reading “CSUDH Professor’s New Book Explores a Filipino Military Band’s Connection to U.S. Colonialism and Her Own Family History”
By Gabriel San Román
FROM: Los Angeles Times OC
Above the din of cumbias and a nearby vegan food fest, Dr. Natalie J. Graham’s poetic cadence soothed the crowd that gathered last month in downtown Santa Ana to hear her read. Seated in front of LibroMobile’s garage entrance, she began with works of other poets before turning to poems of her own.
Continue reading “Orange County’s First-Ever Pair of Poet Laureates Make Their Debut”
by Henry E. (Hank) Scott
FROM: WHEOville.com
The West Hollywood City Council last night officially designated Brian Sonia-Wallace as the city’s poet laureate. Sonia-Wallace is the fourth person to assume the position, which was created in 2014.
Continue reading “Brian Sonia-Wallace Is Named West Hollywood’s New Poet Laureate”
“Earlier this month, Octavia Butler’s novel ‘Parable of the Sower’ made it onto the New York Times’ bestseller lists 27 years after its original publication.” Why does her books continue to resonate with readers today? Continue reading Why So Many Readers Are Turning to Octavia Butler’s Apocalypse Fiction Right Now
Asha Grant was always a bookworm. As a little girl growing up in Inglewood, she spent hours poring over stories like Debbie Allen’s “Dancing in the Wings,” Sandra Cisneros’ “The House on Mango Street” and Veronica Chambers’ “Marisol and Magdalena.” Her parents were delighted, but also frustrated by how challenging it was to find stories about young Black children.
Continue reading “She Dreamed of a Black-Owned Bookstore in Inglewood. Now, She’s Going to Run One”
By Astrid
FROM: LA Taco
Alma Rosa Rivera is a bespeckled, Mexican American poet, mom, and wife who says she doesn’t like to “water down” her brownness. From the hot deserts in Santa Clarita to heavy smog and neon signs in Koreatown, Alma is representing brownness in all its glory.
By Ashleigh Ruhl
FROM: The Grunion
A new bookstore is turning the page on Fourth Street’s Retro Row.
Page Against the Machine (or PATM) opened earlier this month in a narrow but bright retail space at 2714 E. Fourth St., the sleekly remodeled home of what was formerly Seventh Wave surf shop. Continue reading “Business Beat: Fourth Street Turns Page With New Bookstore”
In 1967, the Watts Prophets arose from the ashes of the Riots to offer a voice for the voiceless. Over a half-century later, Amde Hamilton is still creating change.
By Sam Ribakoff
FROM: TheLAnd
There used to be a lot more trees on this stretch of 103rd Street, but most of them were cut down so police helicopters could watch Watts’ residents from the sky. Amde Hamilton, 78 years old, still moves down these streets that he grew up on with a glide you can imagine him having in the late ‘60s, when he formed the Watts Prophets with Otis O’Solomon and Richard Dedeaux.
Los Angeles Literature 