Jimmy Santiago Baca to Appear Today on LATC’s Poetry Reading Series

Poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the mestizo (half Chicano/half “detribalized Apache”) who taught himself to read and write while imprisoned and who recently won the American Book Award for poetry for his “Martin & Meditations on the South Valley,” will appear today at the Los Angeles Theatre Center.

He replaces Russian poet Bella Akmadulina, who had to postpone her appearance because of visa problems, said Alan Mandell, poetry/literary series producer.

Baca, whose other works include “Immigrants in Our Own Land” and the forthcoming “The Black Mesa Poems,” was originally scheduled to read his poetry along with poet Victor Hernandez Cruz on April 17. He will not appear on that date but Cruz will appear as scheduled. Those holding tickets for Bella Akmadulina’s appearance will be admitted to Jimmy Santiago Baca’s reading today. The Los Angeles Theatre Center is currently negotiating to reschedule Akmadulina for a date next year.

For more information, contact the box office at (213) 627-5599.