New
Mexico State Senate honors Chicano writers
By Carolyn Gonzales
New Mexico State Senators Manny M. Aragon and Ben Altamirano
recently sponsored a senate memorial in honor of Sabine Ulibarri,
UNM emeritus professor in the Spanish and Portuguese department.
Ulibarri died Jan. 4.
 |
| New
Mexico Senators Ben Altamirano, left, and Manny Aragon display
the memorial document honoring UNM Chicano writers. Photo
by Carolyn Gonzales. |
Wishing to express the senates condolence upon Ulibarris
death, the memorial states, in part, that Ulibarri was a celebrated
New Mexico writer, a pioneer in the field of bilingual books
and continued the tradition of Spanish as a literary language
of New Mexico.
He taught Spanish and creative writing, served as chair of
Modern and Classical Languages and was one of a few true
Chicano writers, according to colleague Alfred Rodriguez.
The memorial states, Now, therefore, be it resolved by
the Senate of the State of New Mexico that condolences be expressed.
. .and that his great contribution to the literature of New
Mexico and Hispanic culture be recognized.
Aragon also sponsored a senate memorial to honor another UNM
Chicano writer, Rudolfo Anaya, professor emeritus, English.
Anaya received senatorial congratulations for receipt of the
National Medal of Arts, which President George W. Bush and First
Lady Laura Bush awarded to Anaya last April.
The memorial states, in part, that Anaya is considered the
dean of Chicano literature, best known for his coming-of-age
novel, Bless me Ultima, and has written novels,
childrens books, poems, short stories, essays and plays.
It states, ...Be it resolved...that congratulations be
extended to Rudolfo Anaya for his contributions to New Mexico
and for winning the ...National Medal of Arts.