Abelardo B. Delgado
Abelardo B. Delgado, born on November 27, 1930, in Chihuahua, Mexico, was a prominent figure in the Chicano literary and cultural movement. He immigrated to the United States at the age of twelve and settled in El Paso, Texas, where he faced initial challenges in school but soon excelled academically and participated in various extracurricular activities. After earning a degree in secondary education from the University of Texas at El Paso, Delgado dedicated nearly a decade to working with underserved youth in his community, which profoundly influenced his contributions to the Chicano movement.
Delgado was a prolific writer, producing most of his works through his own publishing house, Barrios Publications, established to support Chicano authors. His writings, often bilingual, delve into themes of Chicano identity and cultural recognition, with notable pieces like "Stupid America" highlighting social issues. He received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Tonatiuh Prize for Literature and the Mayor's Award for Literature in Denver. Delgado also held various teaching roles and contributed to adult education programs. He passed away in 2004, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy for Chicano culture and literature.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Abelardo B. Delgado
Author
- Born: November 27, 1931
- Birthplace: La Boquilla de Conchos, Chihuahua, Mexico
- Died: July 23, 2004
- Place of death: Denver, Colorado
Biography
Abelardo Lalo Barrientos Delgado was born in La Boquilla de Conchos, in Chihuahua, Mexico, on November 27, 1930, the son of Vicente Delgado, a rancher and cattleman, and Guadalupe Barrientos Diaz Delgado. Abelardo grew up knowing only his rural village and two small cities in northern Chihuahua. At the age of twelve, he immigrated to the United States with his mother. They settled in El Paso in a poor neighborhood known as El Segundo Barrio (the second neighborhood). He initially struggled in school until he mastered English, and then he quickly advanced.
At Bowie Junior-Senior High School, Delgado excelled in academics and extracurricular activities, serving as newspaper editor and participating in ROTC. Shortly after graduating in the top ten percent of his class, he married Dolores Estrada on October 11, 1953. He became a naturalized citizen in 1954.
During the early 1950’s, Delgado held jobs in the construction industry and in restaurants. After taking a job as a special activities director at Our Lady’s Youth Center in El Paso in 1955, Delgado spent the next ten years working with young people who were living in poverty in the barrios. He claimed that those years were influential in shaping his place in the Chicano movement. Delgado attended the University of Texas at El Paso, receiving his B.S. in secondary education in 1962. He completed graduate study there in 1972 and studied at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City from 1974 until 1977.
Nearly all of Delgado’s books were self-published by Barrios Publications, a publishing house he created in 1970 in response to the difficulty faced by Chicano writers seeking support for their work. Delgado wrote in both Spanish and English, in a style that he believed represented the natural bilingualism of Chicanos. His work explores issues of Chicano identity and the lack of recognition given by American culture for Chicano accomplishments, particularly in his popular poem “Stupid America.” His first collection of poetry, Chicano: Twenty-Five Pieces of a Chicano Mind, promotes social change and cultural awareness among Chicanos. His Letters to Louise is an autobiographical epistolary novel for which he was awarded the first annual Tonatiuh Prize for Literature in 1978.
Delgado taught elementary and high school and was an instructor and lecturer at various universities. In 1988, he received the Mayor’s Award for Literature from Denver, Colorado, and he was given the Colorado State Governor Award for Excellency in Poetry in 1977. In addition, Delgado was awarded the Martin Luther KingHuman Rights Award in that same year. He received a Citation for Achievement in Literature from the Texas State Legislature in 1998.
Delgado died of liver cancer in 2004. He was the director of the Adult Basic Education Program for the House of Neighborly Services from 1986 to 1988. He taught part-time for Aims Community College in Fort Lupton.