Trinidad Sanchez -- Que en paz, descanse!
Xispas magazine is sad to report the untimely death of another great Chicano poet and veterano de lucha, Trinidad "Trino" Sanchez, Jr. The author of the classic "Why Am I So Brown?" (MarchAbrazo Press, Chicago, IL), died on Sunday, July 30, 2006 after suffering a massive stroke the week before.
I've known Trino for many years, reading with him at the Nezahualcoyotl Poetry Festival at the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum in Chicago so many years ago, and other venues. I recall the great applause he would receive whenever he read his signature poem: ... God made you brown, mi'ja/Color Bronce -- color of your raza, your people/connecting you to your raices, your roots./your story-historia as you begin moving towards your future/... Then would come the kicker, after he brings in more reasons why a young Chicana is brown he ends the poem with: ... Finally, mi'ja/God made you brown because it is one of HER favorite colors!
Our friend Trino will be truly missed.
Below is funeral as well as benefit information for those in the San Antonio area. Please buy his books, support other Chicano authors, help engender new ones -- a people without its literature is lost.
FAREWELL ARRANGEMENTS:
Wednesday, August 2, 2006 5p.m.
Rosary and Mass
Our Lady of Guadalupe
1321 El Paso
San Antonio, TX 7820
CELEBRATION OF LIFE BLESSING AND WAKE FOLLOWING ROSARY AND MASS:
Bihl Haus Arts
2803 Fredericksburg Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78201
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Mrs. Trinidad Sánchez, Jr.
2803 Fredericksburg Rd. #1215
San Antonio, TX 78201
TO HELP WITH MEDICAL EXPENSES:
Contact E-mail: trinidadjr43@hotmail.com
BENEFITS:
Gemini Ink & Society 0f Latino & Hispanic Writers
513 S. Presa, San Antonio, Texas
Contact: 889-6274
Friday, August 4, Gemini Ink, in partnership with the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers, will host a First Friday Reading benefit for our Honorary Chairman, Trinidad Sanchez Jr. The First Friday event will be at Gemini Ink, 513 S. Presa, and will begin at 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the public, admission is free and free parking is available at Gemini Ink's designated parking lot. Light refreshments will be offered.
Donations will be accepted to help Trinidad and his family offset the medical bills.
I would like to ask your support in two ways:
1. Please consider volunteering to attend this event to read one of Trinidad's poems, or one of your own. Due to time constraints, we ask that the poem being read be limited to 3 minutes (maximum!) in length. If you would like to read a poem at this event, please email me by 5 p.m., Sunday, July 30. We only have room for around 8 readers since Gemini Ink will also be getting a group of readers together too. In your email, please let me know the name of the poem you will be reading so that we may avoid duplication.
2. If you do not want to read, PLEASE consider attending the event anyway as a show of support to Trinidad and his family. Even if you can't help out with a small monetary donation, just your presence, thoughts and prayers will go a long way in bringing comfort to his family.
He is a true giant in the San Antonio poetry scene--he has been an energetic proponent and performer of poetry in the schools for more than 20 years, and has appeared more than 1000 times in schools and poetry venues.
3. Books By Trinidad for Sale
********************************************************************
Come celebrate the life and words of Trinidad Sánchez Jr., poet, activist, teacher and author of the bestselling “Why Am I So Brown?”, at Ruta Maya Riverwalk Coffee House on Sunday August 6, 2006 from 2-8 pm.
107 East Martin, San Antonio, TX 78205
Contact: 210-223-6292
Suggested donation: $5
Please attend this celebration/fundraiser and help honor one of the great voices in Chicano literature. There will be an opportunity to sign up and share our words, read from his poems, tell stories and make music that celebrates Trino and the spirit he has imparted to us and so many others. Books By Trinidad will also be for sale
********************************************************************************
Also Trinidad Sánchez Jr. Celebration and Fundraiser on Sunday, August 20, 2006 2pm
at Bihl Haus Arts, 2803 Fredericksburg, San Antonio, TX 78201
Contact: 210-732.3502
Details to Follow.
I've known Trino for many years, reading with him at the Nezahualcoyotl Poetry Festival at the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum in Chicago so many years ago, and other venues. I recall the great applause he would receive whenever he read his signature poem: ... God made you brown, mi'ja/Color Bronce -- color of your raza, your people/connecting you to your raices, your roots./your story-historia as you begin moving towards your future/... Then would come the kicker, after he brings in more reasons why a young Chicana is brown he ends the poem with: ... Finally, mi'ja/God made you brown because it is one of HER favorite colors!
Our friend Trino will be truly missed.
Below is funeral as well as benefit information for those in the San Antonio area. Please buy his books, support other Chicano authors, help engender new ones -- a people without its literature is lost.
FAREWELL ARRANGEMENTS:
Wednesday, August 2, 2006 5p.m.
Rosary and Mass
Our Lady of Guadalupe
1321 El Paso
San Antonio, TX 7820
CELEBRATION OF LIFE BLESSING AND WAKE FOLLOWING ROSARY AND MASS:
Bihl Haus Arts
2803 Fredericksburg Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78201
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Mrs. Trinidad Sánchez, Jr.
2803 Fredericksburg Rd. #1215
San Antonio, TX 78201
TO HELP WITH MEDICAL EXPENSES:
Contact E-mail: trinidadjr43@hotmail.com
BENEFITS:
Gemini Ink & Society 0f Latino & Hispanic Writers
513 S. Presa, San Antonio, Texas
Contact: 889-6274
Friday, August 4, Gemini Ink, in partnership with the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers, will host a First Friday Reading benefit for our Honorary Chairman, Trinidad Sanchez Jr. The First Friday event will be at Gemini Ink, 513 S. Presa, and will begin at 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the public, admission is free and free parking is available at Gemini Ink's designated parking lot. Light refreshments will be offered.
Donations will be accepted to help Trinidad and his family offset the medical bills.
I would like to ask your support in two ways:
1. Please consider volunteering to attend this event to read one of Trinidad's poems, or one of your own. Due to time constraints, we ask that the poem being read be limited to 3 minutes (maximum!) in length. If you would like to read a poem at this event, please email me by 5 p.m., Sunday, July 30. We only have room for around 8 readers since Gemini Ink will also be getting a group of readers together too. In your email, please let me know the name of the poem you will be reading so that we may avoid duplication.
2. If you do not want to read, PLEASE consider attending the event anyway as a show of support to Trinidad and his family. Even if you can't help out with a small monetary donation, just your presence, thoughts and prayers will go a long way in bringing comfort to his family.
He is a true giant in the San Antonio poetry scene--he has been an energetic proponent and performer of poetry in the schools for more than 20 years, and has appeared more than 1000 times in schools and poetry venues.
3. Books By Trinidad for Sale
********************************************************************
Come celebrate the life and words of Trinidad Sánchez Jr., poet, activist, teacher and author of the bestselling “Why Am I So Brown?”, at Ruta Maya Riverwalk Coffee House on Sunday August 6, 2006 from 2-8 pm.
107 East Martin, San Antonio, TX 78205
Contact: 210-223-6292
Suggested donation: $5
Please attend this celebration/fundraiser and help honor one of the great voices in Chicano literature. There will be an opportunity to sign up and share our words, read from his poems, tell stories and make music that celebrates Trino and the spirit he has imparted to us and so many others. Books By Trinidad will also be for sale
********************************************************************************
Also Trinidad Sánchez Jr. Celebration and Fundraiser on Sunday, August 20, 2006 2pm
at Bihl Haus Arts, 2803 Fredericksburg, San Antonio, TX 78201
Contact: 210-732.3502
Details to Follow.
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