A Journey in Red & Black Ink

by Ara Cruz

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1.	Reflection 01:13	buy track
2.	Que Pasa? 01:04	buy track
3.	Xicano 00:53	buy track
4.	Resistencia 02:09	buy track
5.	Removing the Chains 02:27	buy track
6.	Down for the Brown 01:28	buy track
7.	FreeDumb 03:19	buy track
8.	An Offering 00:48	buy track
9.	I Don't Want to be an Indian 03:55	buy track
10.	Breaking the Silence 04:16	buy track
11.	Down for the Brown (Remix) 01:17	buy track
12.	I Don't Want to be an Indian (Original) 05:15	buy track

about

A Journey in Red & Black Ink began over ten years ago when I first learned how poetry could be used as a powerful tool in expressing feelings of pride, outrage, & hope. In this digital amoxtli, I offer a glimpse into my personal journey from the very first time I put pen to paper in order to express myself. You can obviously see my growth as an individual. In seeing through our ancestors’ eyes, however, we know that the ideas of “individual” and “rights” did not form part of our understanding. Instead, our history shows a focus on the collective and a strong sense of responsibility to the people. In that spirit, I humbly present these words as a way to also document our collective journey.

I use “Red & Black Ink” to remind us of our ancestral knowledge as Indigenous people of this land. “Red & Black Ink” speaks not only to the main colors Mexica scribes used to document our stories. This phrase also refers to the sacredness of that effort. In fact, it was an obligation for the tlamatinime to carry this cargo for the collective good. I humbly present this digital amoxtli with that in mind.

credits

released June 1, 2011

Born and raised in Denver, Ara Cruz is an award-winning poet, educator, and founder of Words To Power. He graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in Ethnic Studies (emphasis in Chicana/o and American Indian Studies). After teaching Social Studies, Humanities, and English for 4 years, Ara went on to present hundreds of spoken word poetry workshops for thousands of youth while performing at schools, conferences, universities, and community events as founder and Executive Director of Cafe Cultura. He has received a Mile High Teacher Award, Cesar Chavez Leadership Award, Mayor’s Diversity and Inclusion Award while being named a My Brother’s Keeper Honoree and Bonfils Stanton Foundation Livingston Fellow. Ara completed the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture Leadership Institute and Denver Foundation’s Executive Directors of Color Institute. He earned a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Regis University.

Knowing his talents are a gift from Ometeotl, the Creator, he has shared his flor y canto (flower and song) with people of all ages. Through his poetry, he attempts to place a smoking mirror in front of his people and society in general, in an effort to make all of us think, speak, and act in positive ways. In that spirit, he has taught poetry and spoken word workshops at youth conferences and local schools. Ademas, he has performed at middle and high schools throughout the Denver area as well as at conferences, universities, protests, and fundraisers throughout Coloraztlanahuac and the “Southwest.” Ara has also performed in San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Del Rio (TX), El Paso, Albuquerque, and Española (NM). He has had the honor of sharing the stage with Trinidad Sanchez Jr., Savage Family, El Vuh, Cihuatl-Ce, Guerrilla Queenz, Chicano Messengers of Spoken Word, Slam Nuba, Debajo del Agua, Read Nex, Almas Intocables, and Olmeca.

Having published his book of poetry entitled A Journey in Red and Black Ink, Cruz released a spoken word album by the same title.

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Ara Cruz Denver, Colorado

Born and raised in Denver, Ara Cruz is an award-winning poet, educator, and founder of Words To Power. Ara has presented hundreds of spoken word poetry workshops for thousands of youth while performing at schools, conferences, universities, and community events through Denver and the Southwest. ... more

wordstopower.org

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