National Afro-Cuban Author Inspires Student Writers

Growing up as a child of Afro-Cuban immigrants in Florida and struggling with racial divisions during college and military life led Evelio Grillo to become a leading community activist on issues of racial inequality. Grillo’s memoir, “Black Cuban, Black American,” published in April 2000, documents his life’s work and brings issues of race and identity to the forefront of American social consciousness.

The department of English at A&M-Corpus Christi brought Grillo, a noted motivational speaker, to the University for its annual Author’s Day. He discussed and read excerpts from his book which chronicle his childhood experiences during the early twentieth century, his adulthood during the depression, and his feelings on being a dark-skinned Cuban trying to assimilate into black American society.

While visiting the campus, Grillo also worked with local high school students who took part in the Author’s Day activities on campus.