Originally Published on The Jumping-off Place by Brent Beltran March 11, 2024
The short documentary film Un Trip: raúlrsalinas and the Poetry of Liberation will make its California debut at the 31st Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival on Sunday, March 17.
The film, presented as part of the festival’s Chicano Arte short film program, delves into the life and work of beloved Xicanindio poet, activist, and cultural warrior, raúlrsalinas. The film focuses on his influential epic poem “Un Trip through the Mind Jail,” written during his incarceration at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in 1969. The publication of the poem eventually leads to his release from prison.
After his release, he dedicated his life to Chicano and Native American causes. He was a member of the Centro de la Raza in Seattle, the American Indian Movement, a cofounder of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee and various other progressive organizations dedicated to defending the rights and interests of working class and colonized people.
A true internationalist, he was committed to supporting Puerto Rican independence, the Cuban Revolution, the Nicaraguan Sandinistas, the Zapatistas in Chiapas, and numerous other struggles. After serving many years of forced exile in Washington state, he eventually returned home to Austin, Texas where he opened Resistencia Bookstore and Red Salmon Arts, which became a cultural and political hub for East Austin’s Chicano community.
He passed away on February 13, 2008.
“I believe it is important to get Raúls story out to as many people as possible,” says filmmaker Laura Varela. “Especially now when books and ethnic studies programs are being blocked in libraries and public schools.”
“Raúl’s life and work is so important to our community’s history. His writing and social practice/life’s mission intersected with the prison rights movement, the Chicano and American Indian movements, Central American solidarity and issues of gentrification and white supremacy. In all, he wrote essays, letters, and some of the most amazing poetry. He is a true American poet.”
During the early 2000’s, Raul made many trips to San Diego to visit the owners of the small literary publishing house, Calaca Press. From recording his first spoken word CD, Los Many Mundos of raúlrsalinas: Un Poetic Jazz Viaje con Friends at a small studio in El Cajon to sharing his story at local schools and universities to collaborating with San Diego’s Taco Shop Poets on another spoken word project to performing at the original Voz Alta and other area venues, Raúl was here ready to engage and share knowledge.
Raul was an important presence in San Diego’s art, culture, and activist scene during that time, providing a veteran voice yet bridging the gap between generations with his cool vato de aquellas style. It’s exciting that Texas filmmakers Laura Varela and Anne Lewis chose to bring their short documentary to San Diego on what would have been his 90th birthday.
Since its release in July of 2023, Un Trip has received audience acclaim at various film festivals, earning awards such as Best Social Commentary at the Arthouse Film Festival, Best Documentary at the San Angelo Revolution Film Festival, and Best Documentary Short at The Lost River Film Festival as well as the Hecho en Tejas Audience Award at the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival.
After the screening, filmmakers Laura Varela and Anne Lewis will participate in a question and answer session with all the filmmakers from the Chicano Arte short film program.
Immediately after the Q&A, festival goers and the public are invited to attend “WE REMEMBER YOU, ESE! A Poetic Gathering Honoring raúlrsalinas” at the old Ruby’s Diner, located directly across from the AMC box office where the festival is taking place.
The free poetic gathering will feature readings and tributes by San Diego poets and friends of Raúl, including Adrian Arancibia, Antonio Bertin, Francisco Bustos, Monica Delgadillo, Darren J. De Leon, Steve Galindo, Sonia Gutiérrez, Richard P. Trujillo, Yulijtica Tzopilutl, Manuel J. Vélez, Angelica M. Yañez, and Montezuma Zepeda.
Enjoy the film, listen in on the filmmaker Q&A, and then join the poetic gathering as San Diego celebrates with word, the life and legacy of our comrade, Raúl Salinas.
Un Trip: raúlrsalinas and the Poetry of Liberation screening takes place on Sunday, March 17 at 4:45 PM as part of the Chicano Arte Shorts Film Program at the San Diego Latino Film Festival on Screen 10 at AMC Mission Valley Theatres. The Q&A with filmmakers Laura Varela and Anne Lewis immediately follows the screening and WE REMEMBER YOU, ESE! A Poetic Gathering Honoring raúlrsalinas follows the Q&A at the location formerly known as Ruby’s Diner across from the AMC Theatres box office. The poetry gathering is free, but a ticket is required for the film screening. Tickets can be purchased online here.
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Brent E. Beltrán is a union CommsVato living in Logan Heights with his Yaqui family. He likes combat sports, Star Wars, comic books, and collecting sports cards. He sometimes writes.
