The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Guerrero’s poetry rooted in South Side

No matter what, artists should stay true to themselves, an award-winning poet and writer-in-residence at Texas A&M University-San Antonio said last month at her first of three lectures this semester on campus.

Laurie Ann Guerrero’s lecture series takes place over Black History Month, Women’s History Month and National Poetry Month. The series has two dates left: “Descent: Writing as Women’s Work” 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 29, in the Vista Room, fourth floor of the Central Academic Building, and “Where Exists My Poetry?” 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19, in the auditorium.

A Southside native, Guerrero spoke to an audience of 30 at “On Being Deliberate, Afraid of Nothing” on Feb. 22.

The McCollum High School graduate earned a B.A. in English language and literature from Smith College and an MFA in poetry from Drew University.

Guerrero, the 2016 Poet Laureate of Texas, won an International Latino Book Award for “A Tongue in the Mouth of the Dying,” published in 2013. She is now the writer-in-residence at A&M San Antonio, where she is working on a collection of poems and essays.

Guerrero recalled hosting a dinner party prior to the series. When a colleague at A&M-San Antonio, Dr. Adrianna Santos, noticed quotes by writer Audre Lorde scattered around her home, she asked Guerrero, “How much Audre Lorde do you need?”

“As much as it takes,” Guerrero answered.

“This is the very thing that prompted this topic,” Guerrero said of her lecture, which explained how her success came from unwavering dedication despite having to justify her existence as a poet and Chicana to her family.

Guerrero described the comfort and inspiration she finds in the work of Lorde, the late African-American writer, feminist and civil rights activist. Lorde’s poetry explored the oppression she faced as a minority. Guerrero identified with that oppression as a Chicana facing similar gender and minority expectations from society.

Guerrero described how hard it was to grow up in a family where education was not considered a necessity. She sometimes lacked the support needed to succeed and had to rely on her passion for poetry.

“I had to deal with family who weren’t totally supportive in my decision, who expected me to fail,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero shared how the Southside’s cultural influence and her life experiences affected her work, recalling a time she had to work hard on letting go of shame she felt from her background and learn to be proud and embrace it.

One of Guerrero’s students asked, “How do you survive in the climate which we exist in at the moment, as women of color, especially in this town, to know our roots are here and we claim them with no shame and yet it feels as though we are being shamed?”

“I survive the same way you do,” Guerrero said. “I’m no different, which is to say I imagine I think we’re all barely hanging on. My best advice is to stay close to women who inspire you and men who honor you as a woman.”

She explained how women — particularly women of color — sometimes subconsciously hide their background to be part of the dominant culture to succeed.

After her speech, the audience participated in a Q&A with Guerrero. Guerrero brought attendees in the audience to tears as they related with similar struggles, such as being a single parent and living on the Southside. They thanked her for her courage to speak out and be the voice of the Southside.

Longtime admirer Martha Saenz, an administrative coordinator for the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas A&M-San Antonio, recalled first meeting Guerrero at Palo Alto College when the poet was working on archiving poetry for local artists.

“She’s like water; she made it around those obstacles, she didn’t let it change her. She remained who she is,” Saenz said.

Guerrero not only remained true to her roots, but she stayed fierce about her craft.

“One thing I want my audience to take away is fire.”

About the Author

Mariah Gonzalez
Managing Editor
Mariah Gonzalez is a junior communication major at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Mariah works in the department of Recreational Sports on campus as a Marketing and Design Assistant. Mariah plans to work in Public Relations and plans to further her education at an art institute. When she’s not at school she enjoys illustrating and volunteering as a photographer.

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