Announcements, Events

Rigoberto González Delivers 7th Annual Lecture on the Literature of the Southwest

On Thursday, September 29, Rigoberto González delivered the 7th annual Rudolfo and Patricia Anaya Lecture on the Literature of the Southwest to a packed auditorium at the George Pearl Hall in the School of Architecture and Planning. González spoke on the topic of masculinity in Chicano and US Latino literature, and also fielded questions afterward and signed books at a reception for the students, faculty, staff, and community members who attended.

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Image from González’ Presentation on 9/29. Photo Credit: Bernadine Hernández

González teaches in the English Department at Rutgers University-Newark, and has published 17 books, including poetry, non-fiction, juvenile fiction, novels, and an edited collection of Latino literature. He serves as a monthly columnist for The El Paso Times and contributes regularly to The Los Angeles Times and Poets and Writers Magazine. In addition to his creative works, González has been a tireless advocate of Latino literature and is a forerunner of Latinx literature, pushing against traditional sex/gender norms. His lecture expounded on the theme of masculinity in Chicano/Latino novels and poetry from the late 1950s into the contemporary period, including Anaya’s classic Bless Me, Ultima. González’s 45-minute lecture weaved together Mexican imagery with Chicano poetry and Latino literature in an entertaining and enlightening presentation. This year’s lecture coincided with Rudolfo Anaya’s 2015 National Humanities Medal, which President Obama awarded him at a White House ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 22, just a week before the lecture. Dr. Anita Obermeier congratulated Mr. Anaya on his prestigious award during her opening remarks preceding the lecture. Lisa Chavez, co-chair of the 2016 organizing committee, introduced Mr.González.

Pictured, from left to right: Bernadine Hernández, Cat Hubka, Melina Vizcaíno-Alemán, Rigoberto González, Lisa Chavez, Jack Trujillo, Marisa Clark

For more information about the lecture series, visit the Anaya lecture website at https://english.unm.edu/dept-life/events/anaya-lecture/index.html. To donate to the Rudolfo Anaya Fellowship Fund, which is close to endowment status, please visit  https://www.unmfund.org/fund/rudolfo-anaya-fellowship-fund/.  To support the annual lecture series, please visit https://www.unmfund.org/fund/rudolfo-and-patricia-anaya-lecture-on-southwest-literature/.

Special thanks to this year’s co-sponsors: Creative Writing Program, American Studies, Chicana/Chicano Studies, History, Women’s Studies, the Honors College, the Center for the Southwest, Center for Southwest Research, Southwest Hispanic Research Institute, and University Libraries.