Americano

by Emanuel Xavier

A collection of sinful and brilliant poems from Emanuel Xavier, who takes wild comfort in the world knowing god is watching.

Genres: Poetry, LGBT

80 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2002

About the author

Emanuel Xavier helped open the doors for queer poets of color to take center stage and speak their truths. Through passion and perseverance, he emerged as an LGBTQ+ icon, as proclaimed by The Equality Forum. Long before diversity, equity, and inclusion became buzzwords, Xavier gave voice to his lived experiences, confronting politics, sexuality, and religion in poetry collections such as Pier Queen, Americano, If Jesus Were Gay, Nefarious, and Radiance.

Following Selected Poems of Emanuel Xavier—named one of Kirkus’ Best Indie Poetry Collections of 2021—he returned to an intimate exploration of Latinx and LGBTQ+ culture, community, and identity with Love(ly) Child (Rebel Satori Press, 2023), a finalist for the 2024 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry. His forthcoming collection, Still, We Are Sacred (Rebel Satori Press, 2026), continues this work with poems of survival, resistance, and unapologetic queer joy.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when the SCOTUS announced same-sex marriage is now a constitutional right in the US, I finished this wonderful poetry book by Emanuel Xavier. Xavier is an award-winning NYC based spoken word poet, author and editor, and most importantly, an equality forum LGBT Month icon. This collection of poems resonates with reality, bitterness, sometimes joy, and most of all, hope.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book of poems really helped me out when looking for stuff to add to my poetry program in forensics. :) It was a complete gold mine and I really enjoyed reading it!

[Edie Kestenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book full of insurrections, invocations, and ejaculations. Your words will be dancing in my head with my dreams.

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, this book was really well fucking written. And it is emotional as HELL! Omg it was a roller coaster. Not gonna lie, I am running our of steam to write these reviews but this was a really good book. I would never have read it by myself, but it was one of the better books I had to read for school. Let me be real, I cried when I read this book. CRIED. And the characters are actually compelling. The only reason I am giving it the star rating that I am is because I had to read it for school. No book I read for school is ever going to be more then four stars I am sorry. But besides that I actually felt attached to the character. And it was intresting because this book left so much up for interpretation. It is poetry FYI. Plus, it takes the elegance away from poetry. It makes it so much more accessible. Which I ADORE! Omg because poetry is so intimidating. I read this in like November but I swear to god it is the perfect Pride month read. Go read it if you want to cry and your in the mood for some poetry (just be warned it is heavy). But that is it. Other then that it is really good.

[Casey Applen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encantado!

Candid street poetry of the richest kind. It captures what it means to be born into Hispanic family, oppressed by many for being gay by family and others, and street life in the Bronx.

He writes without filters which is refreshingly brave. I’m so glad he is well published and deserves to be.