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Books By Puerto Rican Poet/Writer, Alberto
O. Cappas
The Pledge /
Doña
Julia and Other Selected Poems /
Never Too Late to Make a U-Turn
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Lessons for Myself
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Doña
Julia and Other Selected Poems
By Alberto O. Cappas
Reviews
Clear. Natural. Poignant. These words
accurately describe Alberto O. Cappas’ work.
Cappas understands the suffering and
struggles of Puerto Ricans living in Mainland America as well as
in Puerto Rico. His poetry traces their hopes, problems, and
misconceptions from the island to the mainland where they
discover that dreams do die hard.
In the poem "Suicide of a Puerto Rican
Jibaro," one need not be Puerto Rican to identify with the
alienation faced when entering a cold, foreign, and jungle-like
world. Cappas successfully explores what such a drastic change
can mean for a Puerto Rican away from his island, where he is
the majority. In "...Jibaro," for the Puerto Rican man
who emigrates to the United States, "A million times his
body was raped by the unfriendly cold... to pursue the American
Dream..."
Cappas is a relentless observer and
commentator of what happens when a people leave their homeland,
or forget where they come from, to pursue the uncertainties of
the American Dream. His poetry, ironic at times, questions
whether this dream does exist. In "A Spoken Secret,"
"Light skin Puerto Ricans forget to speak Spanish... and
dark skin Puerto Ricans adopt hot combs to straighten their
hair." In "Doña Julia," a woman is trapped like
a mouse in America and so commits suicide as a last attempt to
return to her homeland. And in "Maria," a young girl
sits patiently thinking about her experiences in New York since
leaving Puerto Rico and now waits "for the overdose (of a
drug) to take effect."
Of course this is not to say that all Puerto
Ricans who emigrate to the United States end up killing
themselves but it does show that Cappas is keenly aware of a
sort of cultural and spiritual death that happens to Puerto
Ricans and other Latinos when they leave the tropical scenes and
adopt certain American values. In the ironic humorous poem,
"Her Boricua," a woman buys the Moon, tax-free, and
invites her relatives and friends on weekend nights to
"admire the beauty of her new possession." She tells
them that in America, "you have the freedom to buy anything
you want."
"Haiti in Puerto Rico" explores the
death theme even further. "I recited useless words of a
poem to an audience of Puerto Ricans, turned into zombies,
refusing to break the spell of all the misfortunes."
Doña Julia and Other Poems by Alberto
O. Cappas is a book filled with poetic stories, forceful and
powerful imagery and messages that will stimulate all minds that
come into contact with it. Cappas’ language is original and
refreshing, which makes his writing very natural and uncluttered
with abstractions. Cappas is correct, knows what he needs to say
and clearly makes his point.
--Jaira
Placide, New
York University
About Alberto Cappas’
Poetry
(From the Voice of the People)
An extremely heart felt and thought provoking insight.
Absolutely brilliant! Bravo!—Stella Nkwanga (from the starlitecafe.com
website)
Congratulations! Maria's Journey is so
believable. Anyone can write, but to make the reader feel and
believe is a gift. Great job!—Barbara Savage (from the starlitecafe.com
website)
Cappas’ poetry comes from the heart and the soul.
Cappas truly captures the everyday people's hopes, dreams, and
fears. I’m fortunate to know him - as a friend and as a
poet"—Pedro Cordero, Bronx, NY
This is an excellent poet, full of depth and meaning.
Beautiful! For me, rhyme is just another tool. Not
necessary...sometimes nice. It is the inner vision that flows
through a piece, how it speaks to you, which really matters!
Stunning work here. Love the flow and the vision you've created.
Enjoying all of your poetry. You are so gifted!—T.L. Stokes, Novato, California
Que Dios te bendigo mi hermano! Your poems are
slamming! I am also Puerto Rican and I've yet to tap into that
side of my poetry. You're making me think, hermano! Keep up the
fabulous work!—Melissa Mendez, Nutley, New Jersey
Alberto Cappas is a wordsmith that paints images this side of
the spiritual. Those images invoke the hope and betrayal
in our legacy to our youth.—Hugo Guzman, Washington Heights, NY
Wonderfully deep! Your poems make me have to stop and think
about what your really saying. Thanks for keeping the wheels
turning in my head. A playwright would find gold in your
material—Frank W. Berger, Riverdale, NY
Words are the most constructive or
destructive instruments to nurture or discourage the potential
in every child. I really appreciate the gift that God has given
to you to express this truth. I could almost feel the force of
the waterfall in your words. I can relate to the feeling —so
overwhelming.—Anthony Camacho, Bronx, NY
I'm a teenager in today's society. It's not
easy to always keep your goals in front of you. I've lost touch
with some of my goals, Thank you for reminding me of them. You
put the right feelings into your words. Keep it up!—Beverly (from the starlitecafe.com website)
Your poems are a true ode for all parents and
children - If only people would take the time to believe all
that is written within your work. Keep up the inspirational
writing - it is worth more then gold!—Ramona Montalvo, San Diego, California
You are a very deep and thought provoking
writer - a reality check as well. Your talent shines through
your poems. I intend to read many more. Thank you!—Elaina Silva, California
I have read many of your poems. Your
expressions speak volumes. The poem "Hide and Seek" especially
touches my heart. You are an excellent writer.—Patricia Oehme, Kansas
You left your reader wanting to read more—but
that is the gift of a good writer.—Sylvia Lukeman, founding member, Poets Who
Care, Liverpool, England, Great Britain
Alberto's poetry was written in a time of
innocence, rebellion and change. His poems are like short
stories full of characters and situations that we can relate to.
Finally, they have no time barrier and will be read by many
generations of Latinos.—J. Enrique Rodriguez, Bronx, NY
Alberto encapsulates the essence of the soul. Read it, enjoy
it - share it!—Angelica Aquino, journalist & attorney,
New York City, NY
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Alberto O. Cappas, a published
poet and writer, was born in Puerto Rico, raised in New
York City where he attended public schools, graduating
from Brandeis High School and Harlem Prep School. he
graduated from the State University of New York at
Buffalo, and lived in the city of Buffalo for over 20
years before moving back to the Big Apple in 1987, where
he now resides with his wife, Mayra Vega Cappas, in the
East Village.
He is the author of
Doña
Julia and Other Selected Poems (2008);
Never Too Late to Make a U-Turn
(2009),
Lessons for Myself (2008); and "The Pledge: A Guide for
Everyday Living" (2001) |
The educational pledge is designed for
students enrolled inner-city public school system. both the
English and Spanish versions, have been widely published in the
United States and widely used by the ducational community
including community-based organizations and educational
institutions.
Albert's poetry has been included in numerous
anthologies and publications throughout the United States,
Canada, Republic of China, and India.
Alberto is the Director of Community Affairs
for the New York City Human Resources Administration; publisher
founder of The New Tomorrow (TNT), a monthly publication for
African American and Latino students; founder of Don Pedro
Cookies; and, founder of Nubian Speakers
nubianvoiceshf@yahoo.com/
[212-862-4822], a speaker's bureau marketing African American &
Latino professionals, including poets and writers. Cappas
Bio
Available for speaking engagements—Cappas@aol.com
or Tel. 212-862-4822 and/or 718-916-8251
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Blacks in Hispanic Literature: Critical Essays
Edited by
Miriam DeCosta-Willis
Blacks in Hispanic Literature is a
collection of fourteen essays by scholars and
creative writers from Africa and the Americas.
Called one of two significant critical works on
Afro-Hispanic literature to appear in the late
1970s, it includes the pioneering studies of
Carter G. Woodson and
Valaurez B. Spratlin, published in the 1930s, as
well as the essays of scholars whose interpretations
were shaped by the Black aesthetic. The early
essays, primarily of the Black-as-subject in Spanish
medieval and Golden Age literature, provide an
historical context for understanding 20th-century
creative works by African-descended, Hispanophone
writers, such as Cuban
Nicolás Guillén and Ecuadorean poet, novelist,
and scholar
Adalberto Ortiz, whose essay analyzes the
significance of Negritude in Latin America. This
collaborative text set the tone for later
conferences in which writers and scholars worked
together to promote, disseminate, and critique the
literature of Spanish-speaking people of African
descent. . . .
Cited by a
literary critic in 2004 as "the seminal study in the
field of Afro-Hispanic Literature . . . on which
most scholars in the field 'cut their teeth'."
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Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in
America
By Melissa V.
Harris-Perry
According to the
author, this society has historically exerted
considerable pressure on black females to fit into one
of a handful of stereotypes, primarily, the Mammy, the
Matriarch or the Jezebel. The selfless
Mammy’s behavior is marked by a slavish devotion to
white folks’ domestic concerns, often at the expense of
those of her own family’s needs. By contrast, the
relatively-hedonistic Jezebel is a sexually-insatiable
temptress. And the Matriarch is generally thought of as
an emasculating figure who denigrates black men, ala the
characters Sapphire and Aunt Esther on the television
shows Amos and Andy and Sanford and Son, respectively.
Professor Perry
points out how the propagation of these harmful myths
have served the mainstream culture well. For instance,
the Mammy suggests that it is almost second nature for
black females to feel a maternal instinct towards
Caucasian babies.
As for the source
of the Jezebel, black women had no control over their
own bodies during slavery given that they were being
auctioned off and bred to maximize profits. Nonetheless,
it was in the interest of plantation owners to propagate
the lie that sisters were sluts inclined to mate
indiscriminately.
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The White Masters of the
World
From
The World and Africa, 1965
By W. E. B. Du Bois
W. E. B. Du Bois’
Arraignment and Indictment of White Civilization
(Fletcher)
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Ancient African Nations
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If you like this page consider making a donation
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Negro Digest /
Black World
Browse all issues
1950
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
____ 2005
Enjoy!
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The Death of Emmett Till by Bob Dylan
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The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
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Only a Pawn in Their Game
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson Thanks America for
Slavery /
George Jackson /
Hurricane Carter
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The Journal of Negro History issues at Project Gutenberg
The
Haitian Declaration of Independence 1804
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January 1, 1804 -- The Founding of
Haiti
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update 17 November 2010
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