José Montalvo
Encyclopedia
José Luis Montalvo was a Chicano
writer, poet, and community activist.
, Coahuila
, México
, and moved to San Antonio, Texas
in 1957. A year after graduating from Fox Tech High School in 1966, José Montalvo joined the Air Force where he was stationed in The Netherlands. In 1969, Montalvo was transferred to Laredo where he was reborn a Chicano
and began to get involved in political and community issues. After much anticipation, Montalvo was honorably discharged from his military duties in 1971. Montalvo returned to San Antonio, where he attended San Antonio
College and St. Mary’s University
. Montalvo ran for State Representative in 1974, under the Raza Unida Party
.
José Luis Montalvo authored several books of poetry including Pensamientos Capturados
(1977), ¡A MI QUE! (1983), Black Hat Poems (1987), and Welcome to My New World (1992).
José Montalvo has been described as the People’s Poet, performing anywhere from his favorite local bars to universities around the country. Best known for his satirical take on the Texas Sesquicentennial, “What the Sasquash-centennial Means To Me!” (1986), this poem led to a loss of city funding for the Chicano arts journal "VíAZTLAN", which published the controversial piece. During the 1980s Montalvo became known to the Chicano world as The Black Hat Poet, the bearded Resistol cowboy hat-wearing, beer-drinking poet who wore starched blue jeans and a lizard earring, not the mental picture of what comes to mind when one thinks of a Chicano.
José Montalvo was diagnosed with colorectal cancer
in July 1990. Doctors gave him only a few months to live. Montalvo battled his disease for over four years. In addition to receiving traditional medical treatment, Montalvo pursued his own alternative treatment regimen consisting of vitamins, herbs, and a vegetarian diet. He died August 15, 1994 at the age of 47.
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
writer, poet, and community activist.
Biography
José Luis Montalvo was born September 9, 1946 in Piedras NegrasPiedras Negras, Coahuila
-Natural Resources:This region generates a large amount of the national production of coal, one of the most economically important non-metallic minerals in the state.-Tourism:Piedras Negras' main tourist attractions are:...
, Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
, México
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and moved to San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in 1957. A year after graduating from Fox Tech High School in 1966, José Montalvo joined the Air Force where he was stationed in The Netherlands. In 1969, Montalvo was transferred to Laredo where he was reborn a Chicano
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
and began to get involved in political and community issues. After much anticipation, Montalvo was honorably discharged from his military duties in 1971. Montalvo returned to San Antonio, where he attended San Antonio
College and St. Mary’s University
St. Mary's University, Texas
St. Mary's University is a Catholic and Marianist liberal arts institution located on northwest of downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. St. Mary’s is a nationally recognized master’s level school ranked among the top colleges in the west for best value and academic reputation by U.S. News...
. Montalvo ran for State Representative in 1974, under the Raza Unida Party
Raza Unida Party
Partido Nacional de La Raza Unida is an American political party centered on Chicano interests. The party was termed La Raza in reference to the Mestizo people. During the 1970s the Party campaigned for better housing, work, and educational opportunities for Mexican-Americans...
.
José Luis Montalvo authored several books of poetry including Pensamientos Capturados
(1977), ¡A MI QUE! (1983), Black Hat Poems (1987), and Welcome to My New World (1992).
José Montalvo has been described as the People’s Poet, performing anywhere from his favorite local bars to universities around the country. Best known for his satirical take on the Texas Sesquicentennial, “What the Sasquash-centennial Means To Me!” (1986), this poem led to a loss of city funding for the Chicano arts journal "VíAZTLAN", which published the controversial piece. During the 1980s Montalvo became known to the Chicano world as The Black Hat Poet, the bearded Resistol cowboy hat-wearing, beer-drinking poet who wore starched blue jeans and a lizard earring, not the mental picture of what comes to mind when one thinks of a Chicano.
José Montalvo was diagnosed with colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
in July 1990. Doctors gave him only a few months to live. Montalvo battled his disease for over four years. In addition to receiving traditional medical treatment, Montalvo pursued his own alternative treatment regimen consisting of vitamins, herbs, and a vegetarian diet. He died August 15, 1994 at the age of 47.
Works
- Pensamientos Capturados (1971)
- ¡A MI QUE! (1983)
- Black Hat Poems(1987)
- Welcome to My New World (1992)