Jimmy Santiago Baca, “Immigrants in Our Own Land” UA 8-9.

Reader: Valerie Lawrence

Respondent: Susie Gibson

Recorder: Andrea Perkins

Jimmy Santiago Baca was born in the barrio of Albuquerque in 1957.  He was sent to live in an orphanage at the age of two.  At the age of twelve, he ran away from the orphange and lived with friends, family, and on the streets.  When he was 18, he was sentenced to prison for possession of drugs with the intent to sell.  He denies having any drugs on him at the time.  He was semi-literate when he was sent to prison.  While in prison, he wanted to get his G.E.D., but the prison refused to allow him to do this.  A man from the Good Samaritan in Phoenix sent him a book on English and Spanish grammer for Christmas.  He began writing poetry after this, and often traded poems for cigerettes and coffee while in prison.  His goal once leaving prison was to become an English teacher, but he became a successful poet instead.  He has a BA in English from the University of New Mexico, and has also won many prestigious awards and honors since his release from prison.  He has also written several movie scripts.  Three of which are independent films which will be released next year.  He also was the winner of the World Champion Poetry Bout in 1996 and 1997.  He was dethroned in 1998 by Sherman Alexie. 

The poem, "Immigrants in our owm land is pretty dark and angry.  It covers objectives 1b, 2b, 3c, 4b, 5a, and 6b.  The questions concerning the poem are:

1. Did anyone see images of Nazi Germany in poem?

2. Does anyone think the poem is a representative of the Mexican American experience, or that Baca is writing the poem as a reflection of his own legal problems?

Discussion:

Val: Do you agree with last year's presenter's observation that the last stanza could be about an immigrant coming back to his homeland, or an inmate coming home from prison?

Dr. White- I keep seeing the jail cell...

Valerie- It reminds me of the poem we read about separation...different layers...I can't remember the name.

Dan- The name of the poem is "We Never Stopped Crossing Borders"