Nepthali de Leon

Nephtalí De León is a Chicano writer known primarily for his poetry, children's stories, and essays. He is also credited with illustrating most of his books. He was born in Laredo, Texas as the son of migrant workers. He published his first book, Chicanos: Our Background and Our Pride, in the early 1960s during his senior year of high school. He then expanded his work to include poetry and plays, dabbling in mural art and children's stories on the side. His first children's book entitled I Will Catch the Sun was published in 1973. He was the editor of the newspaper La Voz de los Llanos in Lubbock, Texas from 1968 to 1973. His term was cut short after he posted a poem on social media in July as an elegy for Dr. Roberto "Cintli" Rodriguez that contained a term in the Chicano Caló language which was interpreted as a racial slur. The city subsequently removed him from the position. His five predecessors as poet laureate condemned his actions. During his brief tenure he performed at Viva Poesia for National Poetry Month In 2024 De León retained lawyers from the New Civil Liberties Alliance to file suit against the City of San Antonio, alleging wrongful termination, breach of contract, defamation, and a violation of his first amendment right to free speech.

Works

Chicanos: our background and our pride Trucha Publications. 1972. Chicano Poet: With Images and Visions of the Poet Trucha Publications. 1973. I Will Catch the Sun Trucha Publications. 1973. Coca-Cola Dream Trucha Publications. 1976. La LLorona: A Spirit Unable to Rest 2020.