A Tribute to Aristeo Brito, Camarada y Autor by AntonioSolisGomez

Dr. Aristeo Brito was professor of Spanish at Pima Community College and in his later years, the head of the department. He was an active member of the Southside Presbyterian Churc that actively pursues the rights of immigrants by placing drinking water at strategic points in and around the desert that surrounds Tucson and by providing sanctuary and counseling to immigrants. He was also active in helping free prisoners that have been wrongly incarcerated in the penal system. He wrote the novel "the Devil in Texas, a classic in Chicano Literature.

Aristeo died on Monday April 30th 2018. He was 75

The Devil in Texas

Aristeo Brito, translated by David William Foster

a bilingual edition

Clásicos Chicanos/ Chicano Classics #5
Winner of the 1990 Western States Book Award for Fiction
Using legends, folklore, and oral history, Aristeo Brito weaves the struggles of the oppressed and exploited agrarian community of Presidio, Texas, through three historical periods. Greed personified, the devil swings back and forth between Presidio and Ojinaga (across the border in Mexico) and savors the betrayals and violent deaths that choke Presidio's history. Through four generations the Uranga family confronts the devil with quiet heroism. Readers of Spanish will marvel at the unique mixture of Chicano Spanish, standard Spanish, and English - all used to reflect different realitites and levels of awareness.

"Brito . . . is a writer of impressive range and possibility." -Western States Book Awards Jury

"A book of consuming character and muted passion." - Los Angeles Times 

 

Noche negra y oscura

Ni luz de luna o estrella

Quieta la noche

cuando llegó la muerte

por Aristeo

Fallecío entre recuerdos

de chavalos encuerados

en el río que léntamente

cruza la frontera

fue el, que se clavó

y con sonrisa brotó

pegando un grito

muy mexicano

alegre el chavo

listo también

nunca quedó agachado o

de rodillas el los algondonales

pero si

de rodillas ante su jefa

y asina le suplicaba a DIOS

pidiéndole paz y humildad

huyó de ahí

a tierras desérticas

encontrando su propia voz

gritándole al Diablo en Tejas

“de corajes me libro

ya no me chinges

con rabia

y envidias”

asina fue su vida

limpia

apasionada

contento de si mismo

By AntonioSolisGomez

Soutside Presbyterian Church, Memorial Service for Aristeo