Winner of the 1999 Independent Publisher Book Award for Creative Non-fiction/Memoir in the US'In this book, full of Martin Espada's intelligence and heart, poetry emerges as passionate artistic practice, and essays as acts of tough-minded engagement.' Adrienne RichIn his first collection of essays, award-winning poet Martin Espada turns his fierce critical eye toward a broad range of urgent political and cultural issues. With the same insight and integrity displayed in his poetry, Espada chronicles many struggles of the Latino community: the backlash against Latino immigrants and the Spanish language, the borders of racism, and U.S. colonialism in Puerto Rico.