In 1996, Emanuel Xavier took the New York City spoken word scene by storm, quickly becoming one of the most significant voices to emerge from the neo-Nuyorican poetry movement. Following in the tradition of writers/performers like Miguel Piñero, Xavier captivated audiences with a fresh and poignant brand of art that celebrated sexuality, Latino heritage, and the often brutal streets of New York.
A painful past of sexual abuse at the hands of an older cousin, rejection by a devoutly religious (and homophobic) mother, homelessness, and a life of prostitution and drug-dealing, are among some of the experiences that have served as inspiration for the vibrant and emotionally raw poems for which Xavier has become famous. Pier Queen, released in 1997, was Emanuel's debut collection, which included many of the poems that earned him the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe Grand Slam Championship.
In 1999, Xavier released the semi-autobiographical novel Christ-Like, which garnered a Lambda Literary Award nomination. A year later, these achievements prompted PAPER magazine to choose Emanuel Xavier as one of its "50 Most Beautiful People."
Six years after he first graced the stages of smoky cafes and independent theaters that made up New York's underground poetry scene, Emanuel Xavier released his second collection of work, Americano. With Americano, the self-proclaimed Pier Queen has grown up. With thirty-five new poems, Emanuel Xavier considers what it means to be American- but Latino; Latino- but gay; Nuyorican- but Ecuadorian; revolutionary- but not an activist. In essence, it is the next chapter in the life of a native son surviving the contradictions of his homeland.
About Pier Queen:
"...targeted to a diverse Latino community, Xavier's dream of a world without indifference has universal resonance. His urban eloquence and honesty are refreshing and his work is an innovative contribution to the world of poetry."
-LGNY
"...sometimes harsh and cutting... each poem is brilliantly full of vivid color and realities of love, sex, drugs, racism, homophobia and all-around street attitude."
-QV Magazine
Read an excerpt from Pier Queen.
About Christ-Like:
"Xavier demonstrates the literary splendor and heroic telling of Piri Thomas (Down These Mean Streets), and Junot Diaz (Drown)... Like the people that it represents, Christ-Like is full of wit, charm, attitude and resilience."
-Lambda Book Report
"Realistic and refreshing, Xavier's characters are flawed and feigning, and capable of making the reader both fear them and feel for them simultaneously."
-Book Marks
Read an excerpt from Christ-Like.
Emanuel Xavier's work has also appeared in Drumvoices Revue, Urban Latino Magazine, James White Review, Long Shot, Men on Men 7, Blood & Tears, Besame Mucho, Virgins, Guerrillas & Locas and Of The Flesh.
Emanuel Xavier has performed as a spoken word artist throughout the country at venues such as: Washington Square Park, The American Crafts Museum, Barnes & Noble, Queensborough Public Library, Dixon Place, Columbia University, DePaul University, Brown University, University of Massachusetts, St. Mark's Poetry Project, Irving Plaza, The Henry Miller Theater, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Le Petit Theatre, Bowery Poetry Club and Nuyorican Poets Cafe, where he became a two-time Grand Slam winner. He has also been featured on PBS's In The Life and Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry on HBO.
He has produced several spoken word events in New York City such as: the Realness & Rhythms monthly series at A Different Light Bookstore, the House of Xavier's annual Glam Slam competition and the Words To Comfort benefit which brought together poet laureates, spoken word artists and celebrities such as Lou Reed and Claire Danes to raise money for the World Trade Center Relief Fund.
Emanuel Xavier is recipient of the Marsha A. Gomez Cultural Heritage Award for his contributions to gay and Latino culture and received a City Council Citation for his contributions to the gay and lesbian community of New York City.
Management:
email Leo Toro
email Emanuel Xavier
visit the Emanuel Xavier website
visit the House of Xavier website
