Victor Hernández Cruz
Encyclopedia
Victor Hernández Cruz (born: February 6, 1949 in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico
) is a Puerto Rican poet
.
in 1954. He began writing at fifteen, and published his first collections of poetry in the late 1960s.
Hernández Cruz is distinguished member of the famed Nuyorican
school of poets (also referred to as the Nuyorican Movement
). Hernández Cruz tweaks syntactic conventions of English and Spanish to communicate his own voice.
He was Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets
.
:
Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico
Aguas Buenas, commonly known as "La Ciudad de las Aguas Claras" or "the city of clear waters, is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range, north of Cidra, south of Bayamón, Guaynabo and San Juan; east of Comerio; and north-west of Caguas...
) is a Puerto Rican poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Life
He moved to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1954. He began writing at fifteen, and published his first collections of poetry in the late 1960s.
Hernández Cruz is distinguished member of the famed Nuyorican
Nuyorican
Nuyorican is a portmanteau of the terms "New York" and "Puerto Rican" and refers to the members or culture of the Puerto Rican diaspora located in or around New York State especially the New York City metropolitan area, or of their descendants...
school of poets (also referred to as the Nuyorican Movement
Nuyorican Movement
The Nuyorican Movement is a cultural and intellectual movement involving poets, writers, musicians and artists who are Puerto Rican or of Puerto Rican descent, who live in or near New York City, and either call themselves or are known as Nuyoricans...
). Hernández Cruz tweaks syntactic conventions of English and Spanish to communicate his own voice.
He was Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets
Academy of American Poets
The Academy of American Poets is a non-profit organization dedicated to the art of poetry. The Academy was incorporated as a "membership corporation" in New York State in 1934...
.
Awards
- International Griffin Poetry Prize
- Guggenheim FoundationJohn Simon Guggenheim Memorial FoundationThe John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation was founded in 1925 by Mr. and Mrs. Simon Guggenheim in memory of their son, who died April 26, 1922...
- National Endowment for the ArtsNational Endowment for the ArtsThe National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
fellowships
Works
- Papo Got His Gun. 1966 (chapbook).
- Snaps, Random House. 1969. (shortlisted for the 2002 International Griffin Poetry PrizeGriffin Poetry PrizeThe Griffin Poetry Prize is Canada's most generous poetry award. It was founded in 2000 by businessman and philanthropist Scott Griffin. The awards go to one Canadian and one international poet who writes in the English language....
)
Reviews
Allen GinsbergAllen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
:
Poesy news from space anxiety police age inner city, spontaneous urban American language as Williams wished, high school street consciousness transparent, original soul looking out intelligent Bronx windows.
See also
- List of Puerto Rican writers
- List of Famous Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican literature