First, I hope everyone's transition into 2010 has been going well. Blessings to you, your families, friends and outlook on another 12 months, which as I remember
thinking last year, would go by quicker than 08'. Minutes before midnight, December 31st, surrounded by family, I took a moment to reflect on
09' and the things I'm thankful for. Despite grave challenges, throughout the year were moments of great accomplishments and new experiences that
would carry over into the goals, resolutions and plans for the upcoming year. And I don't only speak personally, but for everybody out there
that can relate.
2009, also marked the beginning of this newsletter which is represented in the collage included in the banner above. Each image, except the 2010 image (left), is
linkable to the newsletter that its from. Up to this point, I've been very content with the feedback on this website and the way the newsletter has allowed for the
site's content to stay up to date and act as a means of bringing attention to what's new and preserving a part of this program's past. With an
imagination that runs quicker than what I have time for, I'm patiently looking forward to incorporating new ideas and features into the Voices Behind Walls website in effort
to benefit the dissemination of information and knowledge passed through the monthly newsletter.
In the future I plan to resurrect several interviews that were published at one point on
leehiphopshow.com and make them available here at voicesbehindwalls.org . Those include
interviews with Chicano writer, Luis Rodriguez; the founder of Def Poetry Jam, Bruce George; Chicano writer/professor, Richard Yañez; Hip Hop MC/writer, Percy Carey; incarcerated writer, Kwame Teague;
Chicana writer/professor, Helena Maria Viramontes; activist/poet, Monte Smith, and many others. This goal started with the re-posting of interviews with staff from The Beat Within
which you can read here: The Beat Within Interviews.
In addition, I plan to build on an idea from last year which was noted on our homepage, VBW Publishing. Years ago, one of our poets, Michael Gomez, entrusted me with several Mead composition notebooks filled
with poems that he had accumulated while incarcerated at the J. Paul Taylor Detention Center. With those poems, I plan on creating a chapbook of Michael Gomez' writing and make
the text available at our website. Here is a poem by Michael titled: "A to Z Struggle".
Also, shout out to KD, who has been schooling me on some Adobe programs including In Design which I plan to use for the production of VBW's calendar (20??). For 2010, I encourage
you to check out the calendar's which have been linked to the right including Luis “Nacho” Quiñones 2010 Raza Calendar and the 2010 Chicano Art Calendar.
Throughout this month's newsletter you'll find links to articles published throughout December as well as texts, research sites, documentary films, etc. discovered during the
last month of 2009. The December newsletter was completed the evening before MLK Day. January's newsletter is pending and will be completed in a couple of weeks. Until our recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in January's newsletter, here is a quote
by Dr. King and a link to the full letter he wrote from a Birmingham Jail, dated April 16, 1963. I also extend my prayers to the people in Haiti that have been effected by the devastating earthquake that took place on January 12, 2010.
"...Never before have I written so long a letter. I'm afraid it is much too long to take your precious time. I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been
writing from a comfortable desk, but what else can one do when alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts and pray long prayers?"
Letter from a Birmingham Jail [Dr. King, Jr.]
April 16, 1963
We'll conclude this newsletter with a poetry recording by Voices Behind Walls contributor, Isidro Castillo. In the Spring of 2008, Isidro
was an active participant in VBW workshops, joining us for chess/card games, film nights and poetry/rap recording sessions. Shortly after
his release, he was found shot and killed in his hometown of Albuquerque, NM. Other than the news surrounding the investigation of Isidro's death, I didn't find much
else published. In our class he carried a real positive energy, greeting everybody with a hand shake and smile before instruction began. When Isidro passed, we returned
to his recordings/voice to pay our respects. It's been nearly two years since. Nevertheless, on this site, I want to make sure we acknowledge what he left us with.
Condolences to his family and friends, who knew Isidro better than us all.
| Esther C. Cano | 1933-2009 |
| Info: click here |
| Ringside Seat to a Revolution |
| David Romo: click here |
| Cinco Punto Press |
| Website: click here |
