Luis J. Rodriguez
@ljrodriguez.bsky.social
Author of 17 multi-genre books, including the memoir "Always Running, La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A." Founding editor of Tia Chucha Press, co-founder of Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural & Bookstore in the San Fernando Valley. Former Los Angeles Poet Laureate.
My papers at the University of California, Santa Barbara Special Collections Library is now available to the public. This covers 60 years worth of material. A guide to help navigate what's in there is online: oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:...
Luis J. Rodriguez papers, 1897-2023, bulk 1964-2023 - OAC
[Identification of Item], Luis J. Rodriguez papers, CEMA 204. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
oac.cdlib.org
Here is one of my up-and-coming readings in September, this time to honor the release of William Archila's poetry book Canicula/Dog Days. Please join us: www.eventbrite.com/e/canicula-d...
Canícula/ Dog Days Bilingual Poetry Reading
Join us for a night of bilingual poetry celebrating the publication of William Archila’s bilingual poetry collection Canícula/ Dog Days.
eventbrite.com
It's now announced--I'm this year's recipient of the Pegasus Award for Service in Poetry from the Poetry Foundation. Other Pegasus award winners and myself will be honored in late October in Chicago: www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/182...
2026 Pegasus Awards Celebrate Poetry’s Range
Poems, readings, poetry news and the entire 110-year archive of POETRY magazine.
poetryfoundation.org
Tia Chucha's cofounders Luis and Trini Rodriguez share ideas about the three energies we carry (ancestral, familial, and personal) in their latest Hummingbird Cricket Hour podcast. And how to integrate them into a fully initiated and conscious life: hchpodcast.libsyn.com/energies-and...
Hummingbird Cricket Hour: Energies and Destiny
In this episode, Luis and Trini share thoughts and experiences about three energies we all carry -- familial, ancestral, and personal. The struggle to live out our particular energy can be blocked by ...
hchpodcast.libsyn.com
Here is my latest Substack blogpost, "Healing is a Revolutionary Act": barkingroosterinc.substack.com/p/healing-is...
Healing is a Revolutionary Act
From the Indians who welcomed the pilgrims
barkingroosterinc.substack.com
"Seeing Things in Motion," is the latest podcast post of the Hummingbird Cricket Hour with Luis and Trini Rodriguez: hchpodcast.libsyn.com/seeing-thing...
hchpodcast.libsyn.com
This poem of mine, "Beauty & Bounty," appeared in a new and important online magazine called Neighbors--about caring for our environment, our communities, our families. I'm honored it's here (it's also in Spanish): livinginfrastructure.org/neighbors/be...
Beauty & Bounty
Former L.A. Poet Laureate Luis J. Rodriguez shares a poem inspired by the local fight to defend Elephant Hill and its sacred water.
livinginfrastructure.org
Here's my recent review of Jake Skeets' poetry collection "Horses" in World Literature Today magazine: worldliteraturetoday.org/2026/july/ho...
Horses by Jake Skeets
Milkweed Editions. 2026. 156 pages.
worldliteraturetoday.org
My latest Substack blogpost: Here is my latest Substack blogpost: barkingroosterinc.substack.com/p/from-our-l...
From Our Land to Our Land
Border Or No Border, We Belong
barkingroosterinc.substack.com
This Saturday, I'll take part in this People's Independence Day event declaring independence from Trump and this fascist administration. I'll read poems with other poets and speakers. Please come!
My last Substack blogpost was reprinted in the People's Tribune. Spread the word: peoplestribune.org/2026/06/all-...
All This Artificial Intelligence, Why Aren’t Things Better? - People's Tribune
"Who needs to go to Mars when we can re-green and re-nourish this planet" asks the author. "We need liberty and happiness for all, not indexes of GDP or stock markets . . . It’s about aligning the tec...
peoplestribune.org
My memoir "It Calls You Back" is among books for Father's Day from Alta Magazine. This book is about how I had to father a troubled son in a gang and then almost fifteen years in prison, and how we've become partners for urban peace: www.altaonline.com/promotions/a... 17 characters remaining 17
Skip the Golf Shirt: Father’s Day Gifts for Dads Who Love to Read
Skip the standard gadgets and golf shirts. From gritty Los Angeles noir to timeless Western epics, here is the ultimate Alta reading list for the dad who values a great page-turner.
altaonline.com
I just posted my latest Substack blogpost: barkingroosterinc.substack.com/p/all-this-a...
All This Artificial Intelligence, Why Aren't Things Better?
With the current conditions and relations surrounding qualitatively new technological advances, including Artificial Intelligence, we are seeing our world evolve and erode at the same time.
barkingroosterinc.substack.com
Trini and I wrote a piece for the University of the Poor Journal on "Embracing Indigenous Knowledge as Revolutionaries." It's our contribution to expand AI (not artificial intelligence but ancestral intelligence) on the current social crisis. Here it is: universityofthepoor.org/embracing-in...
Embracing Indigenous Knowledges as Revolutionaries - University of the Poor
Leer este artículo en español by Luis Rodriguez and Trini Rodriguez This is a time for revolutionaries to understand what’s happening, where things are going, and to unclog the murk of subjective and ...
universityofthepoor.org
"The Life, Literature, and Legacy of Luis J. Rodriguez: In the Long Run," will be discussed May 21 at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I'll be there with editors Josephine Metcalf of the University of Hull in England and Ben Olguin of UCSB. www.ihc.ucsb.edu/event/humani...
Humanities Decanted: Josephine Metcalf and Ben Olguín - Interdisciplinary Humanities Center UCSB
WITH SPECIAL GUEST LUIS J. RODRÍGUEZ Join us for a dialogue with Josephine Metcalf (University of Hull) and Ben Olguín (English), who will be speaking with Ralph Armbruster-Sandoval (Chicana and Chica...
ihc.ucsb.edu
This Saturday, the Glendale Central Library will have an opening reception for the exhibit of "Alta: A Human Atlas of a City of Angels." This includes photographs of 100 leading Los Angeles activists, thinkers, leaders, etc. I'm honored to be among these Angelenos. Please come. I'll be there!
My "Always Running" photography exhibit at the Vincent Price Art Gallery at East Los Angeles College is featured in Boyle Heights Beat: thelalocal.org/art-and-cult...
East LA exhibit revisits 'Always Running' with rare photos
Photographs from Luis J. Rodriguez's youth are on view at the Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles College through June.
thelalocal.org
In January I was interviewed in this California Poet site, an interview they added to four poems I already had since November of 2023. You can read poems and interview by going to davidgaryan.wixsite.com/ladige/post/...
Luis J. Rodriguez: California Poets Part 5, Four Poems
Luis J. RodriguezDecember 22nd, 2022California Poets: Part VLuis J. RodriguezFour PoemsMake a Poem Cry“I can’t see ‘em coming from my eye, so I had to make this poem cry.”—Jimmy McMillan, an incarcera...
davidgaryan.wixsite.com
Read Luis J. Rodriguez's latest Substack blogpost in response to the revelations of Cesar Chavez's rape and abuse of girls and women, including the United Farmworkers Union co-founder, Dolores Huerta. Here's link: barkingroosterinc.substack.com/p/the-transf...
The Transformative Fires We Face
Time to Uplift Our Women and Children Everywhere
barkingroosterinc.substack.com
My newest Substack blogpost "Muzzle Velocity: A Constant State of War." Here's link: barkingroosterinc.substack.com/p/muzzle-vel...
Muzzle Velocity
A Constant State of War
barkingroosterinc.substack.com
An exhibit of photos, words, and more of 100 leading community and arts ambassadors of the Los Angeles area (yours truly, included) from "Alta: A Human Atlas of a City of Angels" will now be at the Glendale Central Library. Opening reception is on May 9, 6:30 pm. Please join us!
The People's Tribune just re-printed my Substack blog post "Why Cuba Matters: Love Your Country, But Love the World More." Here's link: peoplestribune.org/2026/02/why-...
Why Cuba Matters - People's Tribune
Cuba is dark now. Electricity is gone, goods inaccessible. The U.S. is killing Cuba. We have no moral or lawful standing to push Cuba, or any country, to the brink. We must make sure peace and well-be...
peoplestribune.org
My new Substack blog post is now available: "Why Cuba Matters. Love Your Country, But Love the World More." substack.com/home/post/p-...
Why Cuba Matters
Love Your Country, But Love the World More
substack.com
I'll be teaching this July at the Macondo Writers Workshop in San Antonio, Texas with some other wonderful writers. You still have time to register if you're interested. Here's website link: macondowriters.com
Macondo Writers | A Homeland for Writers
macondowriters.com
The People's Tribune just published my latest Substack blogpost "We Don't Just Live through History, We Make It": peoplestribune.org/2026/02/we-d...
We Don’t Just Live Through History, We Make it - People's Tribune
Good and Pretti must not have died in vain. We too must escalate, peacefully, strategically, and creatively. We must mobilize at all levels, including organized study of social and historical developm...
peoplestribune.org
Today I posted a Substack blog called "We Don't Just Live Through History, We Make It." Please read all the way through. Words for our times. Go to: barkingroosterinc.substack.com/p/we-dont-ju...
We Don't Just Live Through History, We Make it
I have a 37-year-old son among my four children.
barkingroosterinc.substack.com
The latest Hummingbird Cricket Hour Podcast with Luis Mixcoatl Itztlacuiloh Rodriguez & Trini Tlazohteotl Rodriguez: "Clash of Imaginations" on the importance of embodying imaginations great enough to overwhelm a system that can't imagine beyond itself: hchpodcast.libsyn.com/clash-of-ima...
Hummingbird Cricket Hour: Clash of Imaginations
In this episode, Luis and Trini discuss the importance of embodying imaginations great enough to overwhelm a system that can't imagine beyond itself. Have feedback or questions? Email us at Musi...
hchpodcast.libsyn.com
Author Luis J. Rodriguez is featured in a Substack post by Garth Cartwright. Garth also contributed to a book called "The Life, Literature, and Legacy of Luis J. Rodriguez: The Long Run" published by the University of Edinburgh. Read Garth's piece here: garthcartwright.substack.com/p/luis-rodri...
LUIS RODRIGUEZ: LA'S CHICANO CONSCIENCE
THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN POLYMATH DESERVES YOUR ATTENTION
garthcartwright.substack.com
Luis J. Rodriguez has a new Substack blogpost called "When 'Good Guys' are the Bad Guys." Read it here: barkingroosterinc.substack.com/p/when-good-...
When "Good Guys" are the Bad Guys
In the MAGA world, the “good” guys are winning.
barkingroosterinc.substack.com
