This month’s guest teacher-writer is Anna J. Small Roseboro who helps us celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 — October 15, a time of year to pause and reflect on the rich history, heritage, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino (LatinX) Americans to the United States. However, we share resources during this 5-day writing challenge to support plans to develop an inclusive curriculum all year long.
Honor a Leader
Consider a 20-21st Century local, state or national leader of Hispanic American descent and write an acrostic poem showcasing the attributes and/or contributions of this leader to your school, community, state or our nation. In the introduction to poem, include a sentence identifying the person to those of us unfamiliar with him or her.
For this acrostic poem insert the honoree’s name in capital letters in a vertical column on the left side of the page. Then, add concrete nouns or adjectives (words or phrases) that describe that person and begin with the letter on each line. (For ease, insert a two-column table in a Word document, with one row for each letter in the honoree’s name. Then insert letters of the name in the left column and descriptors in the right column.)
Resources
If you would like a few introductions to influential Latinx leaders, consider these sources, which include short biographies to help you create your acrostic poems:
- 11 Activists: Gloria Anzaldúa, Joan Baez, Cesar Chavez, Berta Cáceres, Juan Felipe Herrera, Sylvia Mendez, Lizzie Velásquez, and Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales
- Latinos Shine in All Spheres of American Life: Julia Álvarez, author; Judith Baca, muralist; Mario J. Molina, scientist; Rita Moreno, actress; Carlos Santana, musician, Gustavo Santaolalla, composer, Plácido Domingo, tenor; Douglas Rodriguez, chef; Carolina Herrera, fashion designer, Jorge Ramos, journalist; Ellen Ochoa, astronaut; Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice; Gustavo Dudamel, orchestra conductor; Oscar De La Hoya, boxing champ; Cecilia Muñoz, White House Policy Director; Mónica Lozano, Chief Executive Officer of ImpreMedia; Loretta and Linda Sánchez, legislators; Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU
Anna’s Poem
National Hispanic Heritage Month Video Bonus
All are welcome to participate in the 5-day Open Write — from one day to all days, depending on your schedule. There are no set rules for the length of a poem, and you are free to modify or reject the prompts as you wish, allowing you to write whatever is on your mind or in your heart. We firmly believe that the best writing instructors are actual writers, and this platform offers a supportive environment for you to nurture your writing journey. Just scroll down to share your poem in the comment section. For more information about the Open Writes click here.
Knock.
Knock
Knock brings a hole in my gut, a shard in my heart
Anxious, afraid, unsure yet with a resolve.
Tape, knock, bang on the door, are youn bent on ruinging my future.
Removing my padre from me casa?
ISIS, I am here to stay.
Not to be thrown away, like yesterday’s garbage
Ask me my value,
Me. The Future. The Dreamer. The Warrior. Knock away. I AM HERE TO STAY
Purviben, your poem speaks to a horrifying reality in the U.S.A. What we’ve become and the horror we’ve inflicted on so many humans makes me ill. I love the way you’ve flipped the simple “knock? Knock” to show the fest it instills. And I love the determination in “I’m here to stay.” The word “shard” is so poignant, too. Thank your papa for being here, too. Sending love to you both.
Purviben — You bring forth the miserable horror that this administration has come to, tearing families apart. And a simple “knock knock” has become the grim reaper of an inhumane, racist administration. I ache for you to have this nightmare experience. Do know that I firmly believe in you as a promise to this country, as a force who will help us back on a track of integrity, decency, and inspiration. You are part of that inspiration here as you share a strong voice of “resolve.” We need you here!I echo Glenda’s thanks to your padre for working to help his family. Sending love, Susie
So powerful, Purviben! The “hole,” the “shard,” are not enough to surrender. Indeed, the lines are strong, resolved to stay, deserving to stay, knowing that a person is not illegal.
Sylvia Mendez was only a child when her family won a landmark case against the Westminster School District of Orange County. This case laid the groundwork for desegregating schools in California and in America prior to Brown vs. Board of Education. Sylvia Mendez still fights for social justice. She said, “If you start fighting for justice, then people of all ethnicities will become involved.”
“Go Back Where You Came From!”
Send us back? While
You continue to employ us for your cheap
Labor
Victimizing and
Injuring young children
And families at the border
where your cages await
My family fought against segregation
because is separate ever
Equal?
Never.
Denying Mexican children their right to an
Equal education failed at the hands of my
Zealous and determined parents
who never gave up.
Stacey, I’m so glad you chose to write about Sylvia Mendez. I like how you have tied her story into what is happening today in our country. You’ve convinced me to read Separate Is Never Equal to my 6th, 7th, and 8th graders tomorrow.
Thank you! Yes, read it! And there is a great interview with the author on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/n7-kzJVcOUw
Stacey — You have a strong voice in this poem! I so appreciate that. You’ve delivered much needed sass in “send us back? While/you continue employ us for your cheap/labor…” You bet, girlfriend! Calling out that hypocrisy is important. Thanks for teaching me about Sylvia Mendez! Susie
Thank you Susie! Check out the interview in the link I sent to Mo in the comment above. He’s the author of Separate is Never Equal. Great picture book and story about her experience.
Thank you, Stacey. I will get this book! Susie
Go Back to where YOU come from. How many times have I heard this?
Being mixed race children, one of my kid is brown like me while other favors his daddy. Guess which one is asked where they are from? or hurled Go back where you come from?
Thank you for bringing plight of the kids separated at border and their migrant parents whose labors is waned but residency abhored.
Let us all keep on taking, keep on acting and keep on marching in tendem (or on our own beat) for eqaulity.
Thank you Purviben! I hope your children are ready to fight and know that we are in the ring with them and you!
Yes, they are. We talk, we teach and we hope.
This evening’s challenge sent me down a rabbit hole as I searched poetryfoundation.org and discovered a collection of more than 150 Latinx poets:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/144542/us-latinx-voices-in-poetry
I started clicking and reading and settled on Gina Franco’s visceral poem “Velvet.” For my acrostic, I used phrases found in her poem. It was actually a pretty fun way to re-re-read a poem and discover (and appreciate) word combinations. I might have students try this as a way to re-visit a poem. The selecting of phrases–and TRYING to get them to somehow flow–engaged me more deeply in the poem.
Give and yield
Inside the smell of salted skin
Now brought into light
As velvet only listens
Father walks with the silence of the shotgun
Rabbits couldn’t know
A single sobbing breath of wind
Nerves among the cedar chips
Cries of a crow,
Open the pink albino eye.
Gina Franco’s poem “Velvet”
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57785/velvet
Allison, I love this poem. The alliteration in the line “Inside the smell of salted skin” brings so much to my senses. Taste, smell, and touch. Beautiful and chilling.
Allison — You’ve pulled sensory images that I want to borrow. These are the pieces that jumped out at me: “the smell of salted skin” and “walks with the silence of the shotgun/ rabbits couldn’t know/ a single sobbing breath of wind” (oh man) and “cedar chips” and that “albino eye” (this really, really hit me). Even the whole sense of velvet…. I’ve thought of rabbits with those velvet ears a bunch in some other work I’ve written about…so this really put me in a place. I am looking forward to learning more about Gina Franco! This prompt has truly given me food for deeper reading. Thank you for the web links and this piece that has lured me in! Susie
Allison, I see what you did here with the rabbit hole reference! Gina Franco’s poem- wow! visceral is the perfect word to describe it. Her imagery is intense. I would argue yours is, too. I lost my sense of smell a few years ago, but you brought it right back to me tonight. The personification of the wind was perfect here.
For a moment I tried to take the perspective of a force of nature.
Gems
like water
offer themselves
regardless of whether they’re in your language or mine or ours
i am my language, don’t even try to take me from me
accept and honor my mestiza, my Border-crossings
Acknowledging the shimmer of these words
now recognize that
zest for language comes from culture
and
las fronteras
do nothing for me or you
última
and then some
Chea, the tone of this poem demands respect. “i am my language. don’t even try to take me from me” is the line that reminds me of the late 1990’s when African American educators were insisting that dialects of English be honored in the classroom…even as we strove to teach “Standard” English, as it sometimes is called. One’s home/heart language must be honored. Your poem demands that we do. Thanks for sharing.
Chea, I love “the shimmer of these words,” and “las fronteras do nothing for me or you.” Your poem commands and demandsr espect. Well done!
Chea,
First, I so appreciate that you included (and know how to type) accent marks in última. One year, I co-taught with a teacher from Mexico, and he taught our students how to spell and type their names with the required accent marks so that they could teach their white teachers how to spell their names.
Now, I just love the imagery in your poem “gems” have dimensions and strength and beauty. The “shimmer” brings this metaphor into the second stanza to recognize the dynamic nature of language and culture, and the final lines show persistence and endurance: “and then some” without punctuation, too. That is powerful.
Sarah
Sarah – One of the things I’ve been thinking about is how powerful it is to see readers noticing and appreciating the things I intended to do in my writing. (What an amazing feeling when something really lands!) And how important that is for the young people in our secondary and higher ed classrooms. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to participate in this community and be reminded of how important such spaces are for young folks, for my pre-service teachers, and for me.
Today I chose to write about one of my favorite authors, Ana Castillo.
Always writing about life in the borderlands
Never writing the expected
A real-life American treasure
Chicana and proud
Award winning commentator on life
She asks the impossible,
To be understood and appreciated for who she is
Intrepid writer of Xicanisma
Lo más importante es la raza
Loverboys
Other voice, or a voice?
Mo, this is a lovely tribute. You have some of my favorite words at play here: “intrepid,” “borderlands,” for example. Clever use of code switching, too. Well done.
P.S. I’m happy to see you here today. I missed you yesterday.
Thanks, Glenda! Busy weekend, so I just posted yesterday’s poem, too!
Mo – I learned much about Castillo from your poem, and am inspired to learn more. That’s what all the best poems do, right? I really appreciated the lines “She asks the impossible,/To be understood and appreciated for who she is” because I feel like it beautifully captures so much of what life, writing, and Hispanic Heritage Month are about. Thanks so much for sharing!
Mo, your poem shows cleverly one can reveal the personality of a person in just a few carefully chosen and organized words. You, too, have spiced your poem with the language of your featured author. Thanks for sharing.
Hi, Mo — I’m with our other friends…I missed you and am glad you are here today. This particular prompt is really helpful to me. I’m learning a bunch from everyone’s posts. Many of these writers and icons have whizzed past me in the last few years, and I am determined to follow your “real-life American treasure[s].” Thanks and glad you’re back! Susie
Thank you, Susie. Do check out her work!
(Frida Kahlo, self-portrait artist, feminist, cultural preserver)
Female form expressed with
Rich relationships depicted
In tumult and celebration,
Dislocation, devastation in life
And body.
Kahlo’s self-portraits portray
Artistry dissected
Hair fallen, nailed body.
Love Embrace
Of The Universe, The Earth, herself.
Jennifer,
This is so powerful. I saw a feature story about her on Sunday Morning and had not known the extent of her physical impairment. The feature showed her body braces : https://www.cbsnews.com/news/frida-kahlo-appearances-can-be-deceiving/.
The language here “dissected” and “nailed” really creates a gothic mood alongside “love embrace”!
Sarah
Jennifer, I almost chose Frida Kahlo. She’s one of my favorite artists. I love her juxtapositions, especially her use of memento mori w/ flowers and things growing. The phrase “artistry dissected” is spot on, and excellent alliteration in “dislocation, devastation.”
Jennifer, I’m so glad you chose to write about Frida. She was such a talented artist. You’ve captured her physical pain very clearly in your poem.
Jennifer – You really capture the tension of her story – between beauty and pain. I was always so interested by her art and her assertion that she only ever painted reality when art critics wanted to give her the surrealist label. The Dream (The Bed) is one of my favorites and your poem reminded me to revisit it. Thanks so much for sharing!
Jennifer, you’ve done it! Captured the essence of Frida Kahlo with as much skill as her paintings reveal her tumultuous life in color and paint stroke. Thanks for sharing.
Ahhh the pain and the beauty of Frida Kahlo. I love her work and enjoy teaching my students about her. This poem is filled with so much of what her life was (tumult and celebration/dislocation, devastation) you “nailed” it.
Jennifer — I loved your sharing of Frida Kahlo! So many of our iconic artists are “depicted/in tumult and celebration,/ dislocation, devastation…” Thank you! Susie
My sixth grade teacher
Room #10, Oceanside, CA
Soy de Brazil
. Tu?
K. First, Ummm…I don’t speak spanish.
Really. Lo siento. Well, I do.
Arkansas. I’m from Arkansas.
Mmmm…I see. Bienvenidos!
Ehhh… What?
Relax. I said, “Welcome.”
, (God, I can’t understand this woman.)
Just escucha me.
U realize you said that in spanish, right?
And? This is the bilingual class. The others are full.
Nice…
I know you’ll catch on. I’ll try to repeat everything in both languages.
Thanks. (She didn’t.)
And siempre estoy agradecido.
Juanita Kramer did a great job of stretching you
and taking you outside your comfort zone – which is what we all need to grow! Thank you for sharing your reaction to her and to her class!
NJ, I just love this poem and the way you use dialogue to take us into the moment and that back out for perspective. You use space and time in clever ways, and I think this is a “lesson” that I try to show students when we write. The writing “conventions” are so much more than a skill. You show the art of movement. Instead of “what does a poem mean,” “how does a poem move.”
This poem speaks to me. The resistance you have at first. The encouragement and ultimate push from the teacher. You drop us right into that moment. I love that you fell into Spanish in the end.
NJ, this poem makes me smile in appreciation of an experience that could have been a “turn off” that became a “turn on” for this student. I’ve been re-reading Richard Rodriguez’ HUNGER OF MEMORY in which he describes his early years of school. I’m glad you have been able to showcase a teacher with more sensitivity than those he experienced. Thanks for sharing.
NJ, this is do clever and natural. A conversational poem that teaches Spanish is so much fun. I really enjoyed reading the poem and the insightful way you honor the immersive learning your teacher provided.
NJ – What a beautiful and powerful tribute! The kind teacher dreams are made of. 🙂 The form was brilliant. I really felt the tension and confusion in the moment in such an honest way. You really beautifully capture the uncertainty you felt, and the code-mesh at the end perfectly illustrates your point. Thank you for sharing!
This was a delight to read! I like how you used “U” and “K” not only to solve the acrostic problem, but to add to the voices. Any chance you can share this with Mrs. Juanita?
Quite possibly! I found her on Facebook some years back. She is teaching Kindergarten now.
Dr. Jesus Jara is the superintendent of Clark County School District(the 5th largest in the USA):
By Robin Pelletier
Doesn’t know what he’s in for when he arrives
Resplendent in well wishes and hopes and dreams
. He faces a divid between teachers and admin
Just a few weeks in, he creates Java with Jara
En un ofrenda de paz y comunicación (an offering of peace and communication)
Speaking their minds, teachers voices were heard
Unusual for a district of this size
Surprised, delighted: there was a year of hope
Just a few weeks ago, another conflict arose
About teacher raises and honoring their contracts
Reaching an agreement, Dr. Jara
Announced teachers would get everything promised
#1forKids remains a united focus
Robin, I love the code switching. Such a difference having an admin who listens to teachers makes in our lives. So happy Las Vegas teachers prevailed.
Me too! I was super panicked about a strike for a bit there.
Robin,
So appreciate you honoring Dr. Jara and representing the way a vision must be willing to grapple. “Get everything promised” is just a powerful phrase here, in part, because promises have been so fragile and elusive these days. #1forKids
Gracias, hermana,
Sarah
Robin, Thanks for using the concise format of poetry to declare and affirm the efforts of your school superintendent. Please allow us to share this with Dr. Jara. One of those days when things have not been going so well, it will be an dose of joy to know that those with whom and for whom it work appreciate his efforts.
If you’re reluctant to do this yourself, I’d count it an honor to be the bearer of good news. 🙂
Anna,
Thank you so much for your kind words I would be honored if you shared it with Dr. Jara. I would be much too shy to do it myself. Thank you so much!
A bridge builder – he built a bridge and led
Everyone across. What a great way to honor him!
I feel as if I’ve met Dr. Jara in your poem and admire him greatly. There’s a message of hope here, something teachers desperately need, within the voice you give to him just as he gives voice to his teachers. Thanks for sharing this.
The joy of being heard and valued! This is such a special tribute to Dr. Jara and really speaks to his leadership. I loved your poem because I felt the power in teacher honor come through clearly.
Gloria Estefan
Gifted contralto
Latin songstress
On your feet Congo dancer. Her
Rhythm is gonna get you.
Inspirational recipient of the Presidential Medal
of Freedom, an
Anything for you kind of girl.
Entrepreneurial lyricist
Singing into the light when a
Tragic tour bus accident turned the beat
around, severely injuring her spine.
Ellis Island Congressional Honoree
Famously living the bilingual dream.
Author of two children’s books,
Naturalized citizen of our global world.
*Gloria Estefan popularized Latin beats in the 1980s as part of the group Miami Sound Machine. She’s a Cuban immigrant from a family of high achievers. Through her music she introduced millions to Latino culture and, I think, has been an egalitarian influence in the lives of many.
Glenda,
Gloria was the first and for a long time the only Latina in my life. I hadn’t thought about her influence until you so beautifully reminded me of how her “rhythm got me” and celebrated a “bilingual [multilingual] dream” for our country. I love seeing how we can use poetry to teach and honor.
Sarah
I adore her – what an overcomer! The use of turning the beat around in your poem
Is clever! I enjoy Gloria E’s music and spirit!
I appreciate how you’ve integrated the lyrics into this piece while telling her story. I felt the rhythm within your word choices and syllable beats. And I learned more about someone I admire as well.
Glenda, my favorite line in this poem is “Singing into the light” because it reminds me that sometimes the spotlight can blind one, but in this case Gloria Estefan, did not let the tragedy of that 1990’s accident stop her from sharing her stories in alternate ways. Thanks for sharing.
Ahhh, I can hear the beat, the rhythms, and feel the music in your poem. What a spectacular tribute. Love the line “Tragic tour bus accident turned the beat around…” pulling lyrics into the tragedy. Wow.
Glenda — I LOVE Gloria Estefan! Just thinking about her makes me want to jump up and dance. When she suffered that horrible accident, I was just blown away. To learn that she carries on with her artistry through children’s books seems so right. Thank you for honoring this terrific woman. Susie
gusty feminist theorist and author
___of Borderlands
___crossing La Frontera
lucha contra la segregación
___through education
___ as a teacher
organized farmworkers and Mexican youth
___ Chicana-Tejana
___ lesbiana
radical for being patriarchy critical
___within the struggle
___across the movements
intersectional, Chicana inclusive
___ for a voice
___with resilience
Anzaldúa
___gracias, hermana
Sarah, the layout is brilliant. I love the way each part set off w: dashes defines and explains the part it’s subordinate to.
Sarah, I do love this use of punctuation for the points and passes for thoughts. I also enjoy the use of Spanish words and phrases throughout. Great choice!
I meant to say pauses not passes
While the primary goal of this prompt was to give participants an opportunity to share and learn through poetry, you’ve shown us the power of bi-lingual writing. Those who know Spanish may not be as challenged, but those with little knowledge of Spanish experience what our ELLs face everyday.
Again, we see how poetry can be so powerful in just a few carefully chosen words.
I love that you integrate the English and Spanish within this piece. Thank you for highlighting a powerful person. I admire all of these women, born in the early to mid 20th century who were ahead of their time.
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ
A merican activist; anti-corporate-election-influence,
L egislator; lost her father to lung cancer
E conomics (university major); Education (her degree, B.A. Ed); ethical
X (capitalized) for the big mark she is making in progressive politics
A bolishing Bush-era ICE in favor of humane policies
N ew Yorker; net-zero greenhouse gas goals;
D emocratic Socialist; determined to ditch fossil fuels
R enewable energy-focused;
I ntense
A rdent
O utgoing; on fire with courage
C um laude; Catholic; climate change-conscious; confident
A damant
S assy; smart; schooled; stands with Standing Rock, savvy, single-payer Medicare for all;
I ndomitable; international relations (university major); impassioned
O utstanding; older than her 29 years would define
C hange agent
O utspoken,
R esearched in microbiology; reformer
T enacious; tireless; tough
E galitarian; ebullient
Z estful
by Susie Morice
Susie, I love AOC and your poem is a spectacular way to honor this bold, young visionary. Do you follow her on Twitter? She’s fierce!
Susie, your use of more than one word for each letter shows your passion about her position on issues! I think I mostly love Schooled and Adamant because it shows she’s educated on the issues and will stand firm without backing down. I like your multi-faceted acrostic!
Susie, highlighting contemporary heroes is a great way for participants to see that you don’t have to be dead to be appreciated! I do hope those who visit this site share this poem with those who may not wish to take the time to learn about this amazing lady.
AOC is fierce! And your piece highlights that fierceness. Tenacious and ebullient capture her spirit, as do so many of your word choices. There’s not a word you’ve placed here that she doesn’t own. I can’t wait to see what more she does.
Cesar Chavez – I WANT JUSTICE
It Was Never About The Grape.
It
Was
About
Never
Trusting
Judgmental
Underpaying
Scammers
To
Impart
Competitive
Earnings.
-Kim Johnson
Badda-Boom! Packs a great punch! I love it! From the title to the acrostic, this carries the sense of Chavez. Makes me tingle! Wonderful! Thanks, Susie
Kim, you hit the mark w/ this poem. Love the use of “I want justice” as it’s such an organic version of the typical acrostic poem. What an influencer he was. “It was never about the grape” scores. Love your poem.
Kim, Susie has said it more concisely, “Badda-Boom”, it is so clear you got right to the point and clarified for those who wondered why so many town and cities have a Cesar Chavez street or highway. He saw the bigger picture, and with Dolores Huerta and other leaders across the nation stayed the course until the victories started to be won.
Thank you for offering a spin on the acrostic. Your title is powerful. Each word/line below offers a punch, making each word powerful, important, and thoughtful. (This would be perfect as a way for students to incorporate a quote.)
Kim, this is fabulous. I love how you switched up the traditional acrostic format. So few words communicate his message clearly!
What a smart, pointed poem! #Justice