Zapata's Disciple

by Martín Espada

In his first collection of essays, award-winning poet Martín Espada turns his fierce critical eye toward a broad range of urgent political and cultural issues. With the same insight and integrity displayed in his poetry, he chronicles many struggles of the Latino community: the myths and realities of machismo, the backlash against Latino immigrants and the Spanish language, the borders of racism, and U.S. colonialism in Puerto Rico.Espada's poetry has survived everything from censorship by National Public Radio to a bomb threat at a reading. In his essay "All Things Censored," he describes how NPR commissioned him to write a poem, then refused to air the work because of its political content: a defense of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the African-American journalist on death row. In "The Poetics of Commerce," Espada takes on the Nike corporation, which solicited a poem for use in a television commercial as part of the company's ongoing propaganda campaign to divert attention from its dismal human rights record in Asian sweatshops.

Espada stirs together ingredients of memoir and reclaimed history in "Postcard from the Empire of Queen Ixolib," which recalls his pilgrimage to the town in Mississippi where his father was jailed half a century ago for not moving to the back of the bus. He also pays homage to "Poets of the Political Imagination"--a force throughout the Americas rooted in the traditions of Neruda and Whitman--and reflects on the political imagination as a catalyst in the creation of his own poetry.

A dozen of Espada's poems, old and new, weave themselves through the essays in Zapata's Disciple. In a voice charged with anger, humor, and compassion, Espada unleashes his words--following Walt Whitman's dictum on what poets should do--"to cheer up slaves and horrify despots."

Genres: Essays, History, Nonfiction, Poetry

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Sandra Cisneros says: “Martín Espada is the Pablo Neruda of North American authors.” Espada was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1957. He has published thirteen books in all as a poet, essayist, editor and translator. His eighth collection of poems, The Republic of Poetry, was published by Norton in October, 2006. Of this new collection, Samuel Hazo writes: "Espada unites in these poems the fierce allegiances of Latin American poetry to freedom and glory with the democratic tradition of Whitman, and the result is a poetry of fire and passionate intelligence." His last book, Alabanza: New and Selected Poems, 1982-2002 (Norton, 2003), received the Paterson Award for Sustained Literary Achievement and was named an American Library Association Notable Book of the Year. An earlier collection, Imagine the Angels of Bread (Norton, 1996), won an American Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Other books of poetry include A Mayan Astronomer in Hell’s Kitchen (Norton, 2000), City of Coughing and Dead Radiators (Norton, 1993), and Rebellion is the Circle of a Lover’s Hands (Curbstone, 1990). He has received numerous awards and fellowships, including the Robert Creeley Award, the Antonia Pantoja Award, an Independent Publisher Book Award, a Gustavus Myers Outstanding Book Award, the Charity Randall Citation, the Paterson Poetry Prize, the PEN/Revson Fellowship and two NEA Fellowships. He recently received a 2006 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship. His poems have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Book Review, Harper’s, The Nation, and The Best American Poetry. He has also published a collection of essays, Zapata’s Disciple (South End, 1998); edited two anthologies, Poetry Like Bread: Poets of the Political Imagination from Curbstone Press (Curbstone, 1994) and El Coro: A Chorus of Latino and Latina Poetry (University of Massachusetts, 1997); and released an audiobook of poetry on CD, called Now the Dead will Dance the Mambo (Leapfrog, 2004). Much of his poetry arises from his Puerto Rican heritage and his work experiences, ranging from bouncer to tenant lawyer. Espada is a professor in the Department of English at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he teaches creative writing and the work of Pablo Neruda.

Reviews

[César Hernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

i've been meaning to read this book for several years and finally got around to it. the only downside is that i waited so long. it's absolutely amazing. the first essay alone is worth the effort. espada is an interesting person--a lawyer-turned-poet with a foray into essay writing. as a result his writing shows influences from all his adventures. his thoughts are as perceptive as his writing fluid. and his range--from jim crow to the politics of poetry--was enough to keep me impatient to turn the page.

[Susan Reyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, important work! Each essay brings home an important point. Overall reminds us to take time to live our lives deliberately, conscientiously, with a purpose in mind.

We all can make at least a small difference
(or many small differences)
that may add up to making the world what it should be.
Hold on to hope.
Fight for what is right
and do so humanely.
My words are not adequate.
Read it.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I had fallen in love with one of Espada’s poems - so when I found this book of essays I thought I’d give it a try. I loved these essays - the writing, the content, the stories. In few words he captures a snapshot of his life and his commitments. He writes passionately and succinctly about poetry, language, racism, injustice and more. The book is mostly essays - but he has a couple of poems buried within - which both contain some pretty interesting stories themselves. I’m very glad I read this.

[Gianna Mosser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this book in two hours - why I never encountered it I can't tell you. A populist advocate, Espada decodes poetry as protest much like Roxane Gay has recently done for film and publishing. This should be a mandatory freshman read everywhere. Especially Arizona, who banned it for its critique of colonial history and contemporaries of the United States, and its love for Spanish-language speakers.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an advocate when I write poems speaking on behalf of those without an opportunity to be heard, for one of the curses of segregation and subordination by class is the imposition of silence. The poems seek to release a voice caught in the collective throat. ... Eduardo Galeano has written, "I write for those who cannot read me." These are the human beings who, in the words of Wolfgang Binder, "run the risk of leaving this earth unrecorded" (8).

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best ever from one of my favorite poets and essayists. Radical, poignant, and accesible, reads like a dream, poems interspersed with prose, striking social & political commentary. I've read it several times and will return. Absolutly recommended.

[Karen]

This book was banned by Arizona schools.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across Zapata's Disciple after hearing it was banned in Tucson, Arizona, and I thought, what incendiary messages are conveyed to necessitate a banning? Turns out, standing up against corruption for basic human rights. Asking that cities that incarcerate men of color for not segregating on a bus after segregation was deemed illegal at least put it in their public records, reminding readers how Nike exploits its workers (some of them children) and multimillionaire CEOs justify the treatment instead of doing something about it, how NPR turned a blind eye to a grave injustice to a man of color wrongly put on death row as a result of a rigged trial and kept changing the narrative on why they wouldn't publish Espada's poem about it, correcting the definition and interpretation of "multiculturalism" so as not to exoticize other cultures but normalize them recounting the legacy of "macho-ism" (the very word that specifically implicates Spanish-speakers, though toxic masculinity is prevalent in all races) and how to raise a son to resist the stereotypes levied against him, the politics in Chile and Puerto Rico--Espada sees this and responds accordingly. It's a poet's responsibility to speak for those who cannot, as he cites in one of his essays. I was deeply troubled after each essay (most of which are short enough to be read in one sitting) to find that THIS was censored. Espada's writing is very level-headed, straightforward, the content palpably incisive. As a poet, he breaks down many of his poems in the writing and editing process by the political movements that inspired and informed them, so readers who study the craft of writing would find this engaging, but I would highly recommend this to everyone.

[Mabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this reference from a history book. Thank you! My goodness, so blunt, experienced, and easy with words. This author has such a power of description.
Some books make me smile, or laugh inside, this one brought chuckles from me. He says some of the funniest phrases I’ve ever heard. I had to highlight a lot and I’m making my kids read it. The first pages sound like a comic book. So articulate and funny!
However, there is a lot of revolutionary thought that I don't totally agree with, even though I admire his passion against xenophobia in the '60s-'80s. We are doing better but there’s still work to do.
I hope Zapata is very proud to see dual immersion schools these days and anglos aiming to learn Spanish.

[Cynthia De · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mexican American this book gave me a little piece of history where we as chicanos were mentioned in history ,something you don't get in american history books. Beautiful work. Beautiful words. Made me proud of my roots. Gracias

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good. Passionate and clever and makes me want to read more by Espada.

[R.K. Cowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

[niki.uu · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was published around 1999 and is still relevant. Espada is an eloquent, straightforward writer/poet/activist--even when employing metaphor.

[Amanda Maregente · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Ta-Nehisi Coates “Between the World and Me.” Especially the parts discussing Martin’s family, his son, and his expectations for how the world may treat him.