raúlrsalinas [Raúl R. Salinas]. Jose and Malaquias Montoya, illus.

Un Trip Through the Mind Jail y Otras Excursions [signed]

San Francisco: Editorial Pocho-Che, 1980. In wraps. 5 ¼ x 8 ¼ in. 172 pp. Text in Spanish and English. Ilustrated throughout. Item #10560

Scarce book of poetry by the influential incarcerated Chicano poet and activist, illustrated by the founder of Royal Chicano Air Force and published by the Chicano poets collective Pocho-Che– this example signed and inscribed by the author to “un camarada en la lucha” [a comrade in the struggle].

An early pioneer of Chicano pinto (prisoner) poetry, notable for his use of vernacular, bilingual, and free verse aesthetics. raúlrsalinas sought to make prisoners' rights a more central focus of the Chicano Movement. Identifying as Xicanindio (indigenous identified Chicano), raúlrsalinas was also involved in the American Indian Movement (AIM) and the work to free indigenous political prisoner Leonard Peltier.

Incarcerated for over a decade (1959–1972) on marijuana-related charges, raúlrsalinas wrote extensively while in prison, including essays, letters, prose, and journalism – much of which is collected in this volume. Illustrated throughout by Royal Chicano Air Force founder, Jose Montoya, with cover illustration by Malaquias Montoya, brother of Jose, member of RCAF, and founder of the Mexican American Liberation Art Front, a pre-cursor of the RCAF.

A superb record of Chicano and indigenous organizing and poetry in prison. Not located in OCLC as of April 2026.

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