José Angel Figueroa

• Name — José Angel Figueroa • Born — 28 November 1946 • Birthplace — Mayagüez, Puerto Rico • Occupation — professor, poet, author, actor • Language — English; Spanish • Education — B.A. in English Literature and Education M.A. in Writing P.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision • Alma Mater — New York University SUNY Buffalo Fordham University

Born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico on November 28, 1946, Figueroa moved back and forth with his family between the mainland and the island when he was nine years old. His family were migrant workers until they achieved financial stability and settled down in the Southeast Bronx, New York], where he graduated from Morris High School. He went on to attend New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development where he received a full scholarship and earned a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Education. He also earned a master's writing fellowship at SUNY Buffalounder the tutelage of Robert Bly, John Logan, and Robert Creeley; and a professional degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Fordham University's Graduate School of Education.

José Angel Figueroa has dedicated his life to bringing awareness to the Latino American, Neorican, and Nuyorican experience. His work is concerned with various Latino American diaspora and finds its focus within the Puerto Rican community in New York. He is best known for his poetry but has written books of poetry and prose and has also written dramas and jazz operas. He has dedicated most of his adult life to educating both adults and children in public schools, colleges and universities, and communities venues and prisons. He has also become an important Children's literature specialist who contributed to the production, Spoken Word performance, and publication of over 68 anthologies of children and youth original writings and oral stories, sponsored by NYS Boards of Education, Poets in the Schools, Teachers & Writers Collaborative, Inc., and statewide Arts Commissions. Figueroa is a professor of Puerto Rican, Latin American & Caribbean Literature, English Composition, and Creative Writing at Boricua College in the Bronx.JAF • Name of Work — Type — Year • A Mirror In My Own Backstage — Prose/Poetry — 2013 • Un Espejo En Mi Propio Bastidor (Spanish) — Prose — 2013 • Hypocrisy Held Hostage — Prose — 2007 • King of the Crabs — Opera — 1986 • Noo Jork — Prose — 1981 • Transnightification — Drama — 1979 • East 110th Street — Poetry — 1973 José Angel Figueroa has also made important contributions to anthologies, literary journals and magazines such as The Norton Anthology of Latino Literature, Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America, Hispanic Condition: Reflections on Culture & Identity, Harvard Educational Review, Revista Chicano-Riqueña, Black Creation, Latin NY, From the Belly of the Shark, Latin American Voices, For Chile, For Neruda, Nuyorican Poetry: An Anthology of Puerto Rican Words and Feelings, Puerto Rican Writers at Home in the USA, Papiros De Babel: Antología de la poesía puertorriqueña en Nueva York, Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Bum Rush the Page: A Def Poetry Jam, Red, White, and Blues: Poets On The Promise of America, Caribbean Erotic, and Amanecida: Antología Homenaje a Julia De Burgos.