Beto Cacao, a musician and activist dedicated to preserving the history of the migrant and Hispanic communities in Athens and across the US, will hold a release event on May 5 for “Poemigrant(e)s,” his first book of poetry.
Cacao has been writing songs since he was a teenager but has only recently taken to poetry. Instead of calling himself a poet or musician, Cacao refers to himself as an “artivist,” referencing the central role that organizing for social change plays in his art.
“Poemigrant(e)s” documents the stories and struggles of the migrant community through poetry, exactly what Cacao has been doing for years with his music.
“My experiences, told through music and poetry, uplift and preserve the stories of my culture and people,” Cacao writes on his website. “My mission extends beyond mere preservation; I strive to empower others to sing their own stories and preserve their histories through the art of music and poetry, fostering a legacy that transcends generations.”
In “Poemigrante,” the first poem of the book, Cacao tells the fictional story of a migrant who suddenly realizes the extent of his own oppression and that of his whole community. This realization causes him to undergo a profound transformation, similar to the mythical phoenix.
“He sees the colonization practices affecting his life and how his indigenous roots have been destroyed,” Cacao told APN. “He sees his undocumented brothers oppressed by the same laws and restrictions, that they have been forced to work and are not even able to obtain a driver’s license. That realization kills him. In this process, he dies and becomes the poemigrante.”
Other poems in the book describe real people and historical events, such as when families suffer through the pain of deportation, or an unfortunate incident in Athens years ago when a worker was crushed by a collapsing wall at the hotel where he worked. Since he lacked documentation and his co-workers didn’t know him, he was never identified, according to Cacao.
Another poem describes the demands and principles of the immigrant rights group Dignidad Inmigrante en Athens, which Cacao helped organize.
Cacao’s book release event will be held at the Pinewoods Library from 3 pm to 4:45 pm. Attendees will be able to purchase a special edition of Cacao’s book, complete with additional art.
If you can’t wait until May 5, you can purchase the standard edition of “Poemigrant(e)s” online.
The cover art of “Poemigrant(e)s” was created by famed Athens artist Eleanor Davis.
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