Video

A son’s poetic tribute to his father’s fight for civil rights

March 1, 2016
Frank Espada was a man of many vocations: artist, photographer, community organizer, civil rights activist and father. As a Puerto Rican immigrant in 1960s America, he saw and documented first hand the social turbulence of the era. Though he died in 2014, his legacy lives on through his son, poet Martin Espada, whose latest collection celebrates his father’s life and works. Jeffrey Brown reports.
More Episodes from NewsHour Poetry Series
Showing 1 to 20 of 101 Videos
  1. Image of the poet Phil Kaye on PBS NewsHour.

    Poet Phil Kaye remembers his grandfather and reimagines traditional masculinity

  2. Image of the poet Kevin Young.

    Kevin Young intertwines personal and public history in “Brown”

    Poets
  3. Image of the poet Donald Hall reading.

    Donald Hall, 89, saw poetry as ‘school for feeling’

    Poets
  4. Image of Imani Davis

    A poet who holds ‘the men behind the music’ accountable

  5. Image of Whitney Greenway

    How a poet purges all of the men who didn’t keep promises

  6. Image of David Gewanter

    In every vital moment, poetry is alive and well

    Poets
  7. Image of man walking a dog

    This poet's guide dog helped him discover a new world

  8. Image of the poet Alberto Rios.

    To Arizona’s first poet laureate, ‘the border is what joins us’

    Poets
  9. Image of the poet Elizabeth Acevedo.

    This poet wants brown girls to know they’re worthy of being the hero and the author

    Poets
  10. Image of the poet Rupi Kaur.

    How poet Rupi Kaur became a hero to millions of young women

  11. Still from PBS Newshour

    The practical reasons to welcome poetry into our lives

  12. Image of Marcus Wicker with text, "Brief but Spectacular"

    Turning silence on police shootings into poetry

    Poets
  13. Image of Jason Reynolds

    How poetry can help kids turn a fear of literature into love

  14. Image of Major Jackson with text, "Poetry, and any kind of artmaking, requires us to be reflective."

    Poet reflects on America where ‘an angry man can shoot a teenager’

    Poets
  15. Image of William Brewer.

    Why this poet couldn’t avoid writing about the opioid crisis

  16. Image of Seattle skyline

    Navigating Seattle’s ever-evolving streets through poetry

  17. Image of Tracy K. Smith

    For newly named U.S. poet laureate, the power of poetry is opening ourselves to others

  18. Image of Juan Felipe Herrera

    How one poet is helping Chicago students find their voice through verse

  19. Image of Paul Muldoon reading

    This poet’s picnic offers a feast of words and music

    Poets
  20. Book cover of "Poems" by Emily Dickinson

    Finding Emily Dickinson in the power of her poetry

    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. 3
    4. 4
    5. 5
    6. 6
  2. Next Page