Trinidad Sánchez Jr.
1943—2006
Trinidad Sanchez Jr. was born in Pontiac, Michigan, the son of poet Trinidad V. Sánchez and Sofia Sánchez. A Jesuit brother for 27 years, Sanchez worked mostly with young offenders and prison inmates. Though he eventually left the Jesuits, Sanchez continued to be a community activist for the rest of his life. In his poetry, he engaged themes of fatherhood, culture, and community. He was an artist-in-residence in numerous school districts and won the Albuquerque Poetry Slam competition in addition to appearing at many poetry festivals and universities. Sanchez’s work in prisons and his involvement with social causes was honored with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Keep the Dream Alive” Award.
Sanchez’s collections of poetry include Why Am I So Brown? (1991), now in its sixth printing; Compartiendo de la nada (1994); Poems by Father and Son (1996), a collection including his father’s as well as his own poems; Authentic Chicano Food is HOT! (1996); and Jalapeño Blues (2006). In 2007, Sanchez posthumously received the President’s Peace Commission Award from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.
Sanchez’s collections of poetry include Why Am I So Brown? (1991), now in its sixth printing; Compartiendo de la nada (1994); Poems by Father and Son (1996), a collection including his father’s as well as his own poems; Authentic Chicano Food is HOT! (1996); and Jalapeño Blues (2006). In 2007, Sanchez posthumously received the President’s Peace Commission Award from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.