Reconnecting through Poetry: Exploring Culture, Assimilation, and Activism with Marisa Tirado

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Capítulo 059:  In this episode, we have the honor of hosting the incredibly talented poet, Marisa Tirado. With roots spanning Puerto Rico, Mexico, and New Mexico, Marisa's work explores the complex intersection of America's growing fascination with Latinx culture and her personal assimilation experience.

Marisa's remarkable poetry collection, "Selena Didn't Know Spanish Either," has garnered recognition as the winner of the prestigious 2021 Robert Phillips Chapbook Prize. Through her poetry, she embarks on a powerful journey to reconnect with her cultural identity, using the iconic Tejano pop star, Selena Quintanilla, as a catalyst for exploration.

Throughout the conversation, Marisa fearlessly confronts the challenges of growing up in an environment with limited access to her own culture. She shares the profound connection she feels to poetry and how it serves as a source of solace and inspiration, particularly through her admiration for Selena Quintanilla. Marisa's work delves into important themes such as assimilation, marginalization, appropriation, tokenizing, and fetishizing, offering a multi-generational memoir that shines a light on the experiences of Latinx families in predominantly white cultures.

Marisa's poetry is marked by its infusion of humor, lightness, and playfulness, allowing her to tackle difficult subjects with grace and resilience. In addition to her poetic endeavors, she is an ardent activist who co-founded "Protest Through Poetry," a collective of BIPOC activist poets. She also teaches writing and minority rhetorics at the University of Colorado-Boulder, empowering others to find their voices and advocate for change.

Marisa Tirado, a Puerto Rican, Mexican, and New Mexican poet who writes obsessively about the Southwest, her primas, and the complexities of America's new obsession with Latinx culture. She is the author of Selena Didn’t Know Spanish Either (Texas Review Press, 2022), winner of the 2021 Robert Phillips Chapbook Prize, and studied poetry and literary translation at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Marisa now teaches writing and minority rhetorics at the University of Colorado-Boulder, and recently co-founded Protest Through Poetry, a BIPOC collective of activist poets.

Follow Marisa: 
https://www.instagram.com/marisatirado/
https://linktr.ee/marisatirado
https://www.marisatirado.com/
https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781680032659/selena-didnt-know-spanish-either/

Join Delsy Sandoval on Ocu-Pasión, the inspiring interview series that showcases the stories of artists and visionaries within the Latin American/Latinx community. Through authentic conversations, guests from all walks of life share their experiences, passions, and insights,

Ocu-Pasión Podcast, hosted by Delsy Sandoval, is a heartfelt interview series celebrating the diverse experiences of Latin American/Latinx artists and visionaries. Join us in exploring culture and creativity through meaningful conversations. If you'd like to support the podcast, please rate and review us here. For more information and to get in touch with Delsy, visit www.ocupasionpodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram @ocupasionpodcast, join our Facebook Group here, and find all episodes on our website www.ocupasionpodcast.com. Don't forget to subscribe to our Substack newsletter at ocupasionpodcast.substack.com for updates and exclusive