Mayra Santos-Febres: Affirming Blackness in the Caribbean and Latin America
by Jotacé López
In our twenty-third issue, we highlight the work of Black Puerto Rican writer Mayra Santos-Febres, and we pay homage to Argentine writer Sergio Chejfec, a beloved exponent of Latin American letters whom we sadly lost this year. We also feature interviews with Ariana Harwicz, Rafael Gumucio, and PJ Pereira, a special selection of Cuban women poets, poetry and prose from the Peruvian Amazon in our Indigenous Literature section, and exclusive previews of new works in translation by Brenda Lozano, Jorge Enrique Lage, and Juan Pablo Villalobos.
Cover photo by José Arturo Ballester Panelli.
Mayra Santos-Febres is a poet, short story writer, novelist, essayist, professor, cultural director, creator of literary festivals, and, without a doubt, an essential figure in Puerto Rican and Caribbean culture. Among her prizes are the Guggenheim Fellowship, the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award long list, the Juan Rulfo International Radio Prize, and the Letras de Oro Prize, and she has been a finalist for the Rómulo Gallegos Prize. Her books include Anamú y Manigua (1990), Pez de vidrio (1994), Sirena Selena vestida de pena (2000), Cualquier miércoles soy tuya (2002), Nuestra Señora de la Noche (2008), Fe en disfraz (2009), La amante de Gardel (2015), Sobre piel y papel (2015), and Antes que llegue la luz (2021). In this interview we talk about her writing and her latest novel, as well as her struggle against racism and her initiatives in defense of Blackness.
University of Oklahoma
780 Van Vleet Oval
Kaufman Hall, Room 105
Norman, OK 73019-4037
