"¡Ban This! The BSP Anthology of Xican@ Literature"

WARNING: This book is a weapon. This book is extremely dangerous. This book is explosive. This book is illegal. This book could land you in jail! Broken Sword Publications proudly presents, ¡Ban This! The BSP Anthology of Xican@ Literature, an unparalleled survey of some the best Xican@ voices of the modern era. Santino J. Rivera, author and indie publisher, introduces readers to the most significant and compelling voices of the Xican@ movement since Message to Aztlán.

Selecting the best literature available from barrios coast to coast, Rivera has created an anthology that in itself is an act of defiance to those who would ban books, censor culture and re-write history. This collection reflects both a dynamic and cohesive portrait of modern Xican@ literature - which is American literature. These are the stories for a new generation of revolutionaries. This groundbreaking anthology includes works by Francisco X. Alarcón, Gustavo Arellano, Lalo Alcaraz, Luis Alberto Urrea, Rodolfo Acuña as well as works from many new voices culled from the woodsheds of Neo Aztlán.

¡Ban This! The BSP Anthology of Xican@ Literature is a weapon of mass education. These are our stories and they deserve to be heard. This book is a tightly-packed tome of literary rebellion just waiting to be unleashed.

Santino J. Rivera has done it again and this time with the enlistment of 38 other Xican@ voices who stand together as one and say to anyone trying to silence and erase us, "You want to ban books? Pues, orale,¡Ban This! These are our stories. They are American stories and they WILL be heard."

This book is destined to change the lives of many. Many youngsters, including my teenage kids, will read the words on these pages and feel levels of pride, enthusiasm and creativity they've never felt before. They will translate their emotions to words and they will share them with the world.

The Cypress Park branch of the Los Angeles Public Library recently hosted "An Evening of Mass Education". Twenty four of the book's thrity nine contributors including, Dr. Rudy Acuña and Lalo Alcaraz, read their contributions. To say I am honored to share pages with the talented men and women I heard from the other night is an understatement.

I was beyond excited to read one of my poems that made it into this incredible antholgy. The poem's titled and about "My First Love", Echo Park.

Click on this link to watch it on youtube.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCtiX78P6cs

Please support this book and all it stands for.

Thank you.