“I believe writing, narratives, and stories can change the world.”
— Alejandro Jimenez
Welcome to Fast Five, in which I ask my favorite writers five questions as a way to open the door to know more.
Alejandro Jimenez is a formerly-undocumented immigrant, poet, writer, and educator from Colima, Mexico. As a writer, his work centers on the intersection of cultural identity, race/ethnicity, immigrant narratives, masculinity, and memory. He is the 2021 Mexican National Poetry Slam Champion, and a two-time National Poetry Slam Semi-Finalist in the U.S.
His work, and personal story, are the subject of the short documentary, American Masters: In The Making, a PBS series highlighting emerging cultural icons.
Alejandro is author of Moreno Prieto Brown, a chapbook that explores growing up as an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. His first full-length poetry book, There will be days, brown boy, was published in September 2023.
Alejandro grew up working with his family in the orchards of Oregon’s Hood River Valley, then moved to Denver, Colorado where he worked with youth. He now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
1.
Why write?
I write because it helps me to process and name feelings, experiences, and injustices that I see or have experienced. I write to not forget and not be forgotten. I write to connect with myself and others. I write because I feel alone and maybe through this I can connect with someone or someone will connect with me. I believe writing, narratives, and stories can change the world. I write because I want to really, really, really believe the last sentence.
2.
What books, movies, songs, or people have influenced your writing life — and how?
Eduardo Galeano and how he tackles memory and historical amnesia is a huge influence of mine!
The movie, Ya No Estoy Aqui, cracked me open and made me feel so validated in how I experience and feel about Mexico and the US.
Layli Long Soldier is amazing! Her readings should be a bucket list item for all of us!
3.
What’s the best writing advice you’ve received?
I cannot remember who said this but, I try to be okay with not writing. The amount of writing one produces does not determine our worth as writers. For example, answering these questions is the most I have written in a while! Do not feel guilty for taking extensive breaks from writing!
4.
I'm a word collector — what are your favorite words?
Here are some of my favorites, all in Spanish: acurrucar, apapachar, moler, murmullar, suspirar, parparear, flujo, and encender.
5.
What question do you wish I would ask?
Why didn't you ask me about my favorite corrido, Drew?! My favorite corrido, currently, is Catarino y Los Rurales. It is fun to sing and dance to it and the actual story behind the song is equally as amazing about a campesino who fought against greed, capitalism, state sanctioned violence against poor people, and really set the stage for the Mexican Revolution of the early 1900s.
There will be days, brown boy by Alejandro Jimenez is available now. Buy the book here.
In his debut full-length poetry collection, Alejandro takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and introspection as he grapples with the profound concept of home.
Hanif Abdurraqib [ another of my favorite writers ] calls the book “a collection of enveloping tenderness.”