Pa’lante, Tato Laviera

Tato Laviera

With heavy hearts we wish to extend our deep condolences to the family and friends of a good man, an incredibly talented individual who’s intelligence and consciousness has touched a nation and who is recognized as one of the pillars of the Nuyorican Movement and the cultural and political spirit of the Puerto Rican diaspora throughout the world, Tato Laviera. From the Nuyorican Poet’s Café to Agüeybaná Bookstore to the hearts and minds of the Spanish Harlem community, we have been moved by Tato’s rhythm and rhymes of free spirits and colonized souls. And the movement continues.

Pa’lante, brother.

From “AmeRícan”

“…All
the colors are tied
to our one,
but we must fight
the bad intentions,
we must respect
each other’s values,
but guess what,
we’re not the only ones,
and we offer what your
love has taught us,
and what you’re worth
in our self-respect,
we are a people
who love to love
who are loving
lovers who love
to love respect.”
— “boricua”

“even in silence we are still
in the commonwealth stage of our lives.
so let’s touch hands, friends and foes,
and stay together to hear each other’s
sounds just for one moment, let’s stay
tucked together, and maybe then, less
options, maybe then, hope.”
— “commonwealth”