RUDOLFO ANAYA: CATCHING CULTURES IN BLESS ME, ULTIMA
By Richard Wayne Etulain
Anaya greatly expands the cultural contributions of his novel by combining the usual (Bildungsroman—growing up theme) with the unusual (complex, diverse New Mexico Hispanic culture)…
UP BY OUR BOOTSTRAPS; TWO LIVES IN RETROSPECT
By Finnie Coleman
I found myself fascinated with Dr. McIver’s transition from the stultifying hopelessness of the Segregation Era to the wistful hopefulness of the Civil Rights Era…
MARTIN L. KING, JR.’S DAMNING LETTER FROM JAIL
By Christopher A. Ulloa Chaves, ED.D.
“In the letter, King used a multi-disciplinary rhetorical approach that applied philosophical, theological, psychological, sociological, political, ethical and economic principles against systemic racism in Alabama…”
SPACESHIPS, RAY GUNS, AND LIFE LESSONS
By Melinda Snodgrass
“science fiction allows you to discuss difficult and fraught topics in what is a safe space and at arm’s length.”
LITERATURE AS GUIDEPOSTS ON MY IMMIGRANT JOURNEY
By Kei Tsuzuki
“What I have learned from books is that there is no one story that explains the world to us or captures our identity entirely. There is power in the specificity of each of our stories…”
A DIFFERENCE-MAKING BOOK
By Richard Etulain
“Many authors hope their histories, novels or other writings will make a difference — that their works will catch readers’ attention and influence their thinking and actions.”
CELEBRATE CONSTITUTION AND CITIZENSHIP DAY EVERY DAY, NOT JUST SEPT. 17TH
By Maryam Ahranjani
“As a teacher and mother and child of immigrants who now teaches Constitutional Rights to law students, this day is always a special one for me.”
THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT THAT NEVER WAS
By Brandon Johnson
The 13th Amendment, guaranteeing the abolition of chattel slavery in the United States, is one of the crown jewels of the American Constitution.
LIBRARIES AS FOUNDATIONS OF DEMOCRACY: UPHOLDING THE FREEDOM TO LEARN
By Val Nye
Proponents of intellectual freedom and supporters of libraries should plan to join in the various celebrations happening in New Mexico to honor the work communities and library workers do to retain intellectual freedom rights for all Americans.
SPAIN AND THE U.S. WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
By Eloy García
As we approach the U.S. Semiquincentennial of July 4, 2026 I think it is important that we in New Mexico reflect on the influence the Spanish Empire had on ensuring the success of the British colonist “War of Independence.”