4 Up-And-Coming RGV Poets to Watch Our For

We interviewed seven poets in the Rio Grande Valley to commemorate this month – the following four up-and-coming poets are making their voices heard, writing and speaking from their hearts, and connecting with the local community.

COMMENTARY: DELIVER MELISSA LUCIO FROM DEATH

Most of us know the bible story: an innocent person sentenced to death by the state and crucified for crimes that didn’t occur. Melissa Lucio, an innocent Harlingen mother, will be executed by the state in 10 days– even with lots of questions about her open case.

3 RGV Poets to Read on National Poetry Month

We interviewed 3 poets in the Rio Grande Valley to commemorate this month – the following are local published authors whose work has inspired that of countless others. Take note, support their work, and follow their journeys.

SEVEN MONTHS IN, THIS IS HOW SB8 IS AFFECTING THE RGV

SB8 has been in effect since Sept. 1, which is a six-week abortion ban in Texas. Before the bill, it was difficult to get an abortion in the state but not impossible. After the ban, more and more uncertainty followed those who sought one.

COMMENTARY: IGNORING THE ELEPHANT, IMPERIALISM AND IMMIGRATION

One of the ugliest images of 2021 was the Border Patrol horsemen attack against dark skin Haitian immigrants in the river near Del Rio. Evoking painful parallels to centuries of state violence against Black and brown bodies in this part of the country and elsewhere.

COMMENTARY: ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

Juan Trey Mendez III is setting precedence. The Brownsville mayor currently faces criticism from the community for his recent distorted bully pulpit methods against local activist Rebekah (Bekah) Hinojosa, but the question remains, was this personal?

SLAYING WITH LUSHIOUS MASSACR

Lushious Massacr is an unstoppable force of self-love, queerness, and positivity everywhere they go. This Brownsville native shares their journey of self-empowerment and all the opportunities that opened up after they fully accepted themselves.

BORDERS REOPENING, TRAVELERS RETURN TWO YEARS LATER

In November of 2021 the U.S.-Mexico border reopened its doors to non essential travelers, an important element of border culture, which had been missing for almost two years. Read more from Elsa Cavazos about what that means for local families.