
Chicano Poet Luis J. Rodriguez
From: New Letters on the Air
Series: New Letters on the Air
Length: 29:00
- Playing
- Chicano Poet Luis J. Rodriguez
- From
- New Letters on the Air
Writer and Latino activist Luis J. Rodriguez was born in El Paso and grew up in East L.A. He worked odd jobs until he discovered writing, and his experiences fueled his earliest books of poetry and his 1993 memoir, ALWAYS RUNNING: LA VIDA LOCA, GANG DAYS IN L.A. Now, he's come out with a memoir sequel, IT CALLS YOU BACK: AN ODYSSEY THROUGH LOVE, ADDICTION, REVOLUTIONS, AND HEALING, now a 2012 paperback. He talks about his novel, MUSIC OF THE MILL, and MY NATURE IS HUNGER: New & Selected Poems 1989-2004, which won the 2006 Paterson Poetry Prize.
Also in the New Letters on the Air series
Poets Off the Page: Music & Poetry
(29:00)
From: New Letters on the Air
POETS OFF THE PAGE: POETRY & MUSIC features an interesting look at the works of three different poets who have recently merged their poetry with music: 2011 Poets Prize ...
Chanukah Tales
(29:00)
From: New Letters on the Air
Writer Marilyn Kallet reads from her book, ONE FOR EACH NIGHT: CHANUKAH TALES AND RECIPES, a collection of eight food inspired tales that explain traditional Chanukah ...
Pakistani-American writer Ayad Akhtar
(29:00)
From: New Letters on the Air
Pakistani-American writer Ayad Akhtar has made a living as a screenwriter, but 2012 brought him notice as both a playwright and a novelist. He debuted two plays, including ...
The late, great, Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes
(29:01)
From: New Letters on the Air
The first in our monthly installment of Save America's Treasures series, we present Carlos Fuentes as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month. The first Mexican bestseller ...
The Diverse & Dynamic Latino Writers Collective
(29:01)
From: New Letters on the Air
National Hispanic Heritage Month continues with members from the Kansas City Latino Writers Collective, who discuss the importance of community to their creative work. It's ...
Southern Fiction Writer Stephanie Powell Watts
(29:00)
From: New Letters on the Air
2012 Ernest J. Gaines Award Winner Stephanie Powell Watts knows what it's like to be an African American Jehovah's Witness in the South. She talks about how this experience ...
Woven Voices: Gloria Vando & Anika Paris
(29:00)
From: New Letters on the Air
Mother-daughter poets, Gloria Vando and Anika Paris, read from their book, WOVEN VOICES, which includes the poem that inspired the musical drama, TEMPLE OF THE SOULS, winner ...
Pulitzer Prize Winner Leonard Pitts Jr.
(29:00)
From: New Letters on the Air
Writer Leonard Pitts Jr. talks about race, family, and the process of writing his syndicated column which won him a Pulitzer Prize in 2004. Pitts also reads from his 2012 ...
Midwestern Poet Trish Reeves
(29:00)
From: New Letters on the Air
Poet Trish Reeves draws inspiration from family history, human resilience, and a series of glass negatives which are featured in NEW LETTERS magazine. Reeves reads her latest ...
Comedic Writer David Sedaris
(29:01)
From: New Letters on the Air
NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR is digitizing reel-to-reel recordings thanks to a Save America's Treasures grant, so each month, we're choosing one archive program to feature, and ...
Piece Description
Writer and Latino activist Luis J. Rodriguez was born in El Paso and grew up in East L.A. He worked odd jobs until he discovered writing, and his experiences fueled his earliest books of poetry and his 1993 memoir, ALWAYS RUNNING: LA VIDA LOCA, GANG DAYS IN L.A. Now, he's come out with a memoir sequel, IT CALLS YOU BACK: AN ODYSSEY THROUGH LOVE, ADDICTION, REVOLUTIONS, AND HEALING, now a 2012 paperback. He talks about his novel, MUSIC OF THE MILL, and MY NATURE IS HUNGER: New & Selected Poems 1989-2004, which won the 2006 Paterson Poetry Prize.
Broadcast History
This program originally uplinked to PRSS' Content Depot on September 17, 2010 for delivery to member stations. It was later updated and re-aired on August 10, 2012.
Timing and Cues
PROMO: This week, NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR features an archived conversation with writer and activist Luis J. Rodriguez, whose NEW memoir sequel, IT CALLS YOU BACK, is now out in paperback. An influential Latino poet and non-fiction writer, Rodriguez shares work that celebrates the indigenous North American people, the Chicano working class, and the disappearing industrial jobs in America. He reads from his first novel, MUSIC OF THE MILL, and his most recent book of poetry, MY NATURE IS HUNGER. Listen to Luis Rodriguez, next time on NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR...
UPLINK DATE: 08/10/2012
PROGRAM LENGTH: 29:00 minutes
INCUE: (music) "It was the power of words that freed Luis J Rodriguez..."
OUTCUE: "...I'm Angela Elam for NEW LETTERS ON THE AIR."
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Meeting the Animal at Washington Square Park" | Luis J. Rodriguez | My Name's Not Rodriguez. | Dos Manos | 00:00 | |
| My Name's Not Rodriguez | Luis J. Rodriguez | My Name's Not Rodriguez. | Dos Manos | 00:00 |
Additional Credits
New Letters on the Air is a production of the quarterly literary magazine, New Letters, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Partial financial support comes from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

