Citizen Illegal Poems
Citizen Illegal Poems by José Olivarez, published by Haymarket Books in 2018, is a collection that delves into the complexities of life between Mexico and America. This debut poetry collection, comprising 69 pages, presents a nuanced exploration of the stories, contradictions, and emotions that define the experiences of individuals navigating these cultural landscapes. Through vivid imagery and relatable language, Olivarez addresses themes of race, ethnicity, and immigration, offering insights into the lives of families and communities.
Readers will find a blend of humor and emotional depth as Olivarez captures the essence of life in gentrifying neighborhoods and the aftermath of industrial decline. The poems reflect on the joys and struggles of identity, drawing inspiration from the rich traditions of Latinx literature. With a focus on the everyday experiences of those often marginalized, Citizen Illegal invites readers to engage with the realities of emigration and the social dynamics at play. This edition serves as a poignant reminder of the humanity behind the narratives of migration and belonging.
Official synopsis Publisher
“Citizen Illegal is right on time, bringing both empathy and searing critique to the fore as a nation debates the very humanity of the people who built it.” –Eve Ewing, author of Electric Arches
In this stunning debut, poet José Olivarez explores the stories, contradictions, joys, and sorrows that embody life in the spaces between Mexico and America. He paints vivid portraits of good kids, bad kids, families clinging to hope, life after the steel mills, gentrifying barrios, and everything in between. Drawing on the rich traditions of Latinx and Chicago writers like Sandra Cisneros and Gwendolyn Brooks, Olivarez creates a home out of life in the in-between. Combining wry humor with potent emotional force, Olivarez takes on complex issues of race, ethnicity, gender, class, and immigration using an everyday language that invites the reader in. Olivarez has a unique voice that makes him a poet to watch.
José Olivarez is the son of Mexican immigrants. He is a co-host of the podcast, The Poetry Gods. A winner of fellowships from Poets House, The Bronx Council On The Arts, The Poetry Foundation, and The Conversation Literary Festival, his work has been published in The BreakBeat Poets and elsewhere. He is the Marketing Manager at Young Chicago Authors.
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