Carlos Cumpián
Encyclopedia
Carlos Cumpián, a Chicano
writer who examines American realities absent from mainstream poetry
. Originally from San Antonio, Texas
, Cumpián has planted firm roots in the Midwest.
Cumpián was named among the Chicago Public Library
's "Top Ten" most requested poets and his poetry has been published in small press magazines as well as numerous anthologies. He has taught at Columbia College
in Chicago and has offered workshops on poetry and small press management. His books "14 Abriles: Poems" (March Abrazo Press), Latino Rainbow (Children's Press/Scholastic Books), Armadillo Charm (Tia Chucha Press) and Coyote Sun (March Abrazo Press) have received positive reviews for their contributions to Chicano literature.
Cumpián is also the editor of March Abrazo Press and has been instrumental in the longevity of the small press
and establishing its presence as an independent publisher of Latino and Native American poetry. Carlos currently teaches high school English in Chicago
and works to provide quality education to inner-city high school youth.
He is also published in more than 20 poetry and literary anthologies, such as Hecho in Tejas: An Anthology of Texas Mexican Literature (University of New Mexico Press, 2006) and Telling Stories: An Anthology for Writers, ed. Joyce Carol Oates (W.W. Norton, New York, 1998).
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
writer who examines American realities absent from mainstream poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
. Originally from San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, Cumpián has planted firm roots in the Midwest.
Cumpián was named among the Chicago Public Library
Chicago Public Library
The Chicago Public Library is the public library system that serves the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 79 branches, including a central library, two regional libraries, and branches distributed throughout the city....
's "Top Ten" most requested poets and his poetry has been published in small press magazines as well as numerous anthologies. He has taught at Columbia College
Columbia College
Columbia College may refer to one of several institutions of higher education in North America:In Canada* Columbia College , in Calgary* Columbia College , a two-year liberal arts institution in Vancouver...
in Chicago and has offered workshops on poetry and small press management. His books "14 Abriles: Poems" (March Abrazo Press), Latino Rainbow (Children's Press/Scholastic Books), Armadillo Charm (Tia Chucha Press) and Coyote Sun (March Abrazo Press) have received positive reviews for their contributions to Chicano literature.
Cumpián is also the editor of March Abrazo Press and has been instrumental in the longevity of the small press
Small press
Small press is a term often used to describe publishers with annual sales below a certain level. Commonly, in the United States, this is set at $50 million, after returns and discounts...
and establishing its presence as an independent publisher of Latino and Native American poetry. Carlos currently teaches high school English in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and works to provide quality education to inner-city high school youth.
Writings
- 14 Abriles: Poems, March Abrazo Press, Chicago, 2010
- Armadillo Charm, Tia Chucha Press, L.A. 1996 (2nd printing, 1998)
- Latino Rainbow: Poems about Latino Americans, Children's Press, Scholastic Books, Danbury, Conn., 1994 (available in hardcover, paperback and teacher's guide editions)
- Coyote Sun, March Abrazo Press, Chicago, 1990 (4th printing, 2005)
He is also published in more than 20 poetry and literary anthologies, such as Hecho in Tejas: An Anthology of Texas Mexican Literature (University of New Mexico Press, 2006) and Telling Stories: An Anthology for Writers, ed. Joyce Carol Oates (W.W. Norton, New York, 1998).