of the Native American rock band Redbone. Jaci Velasquez (born 1979) – contemporary Christian Latin pop singer Julieta Venegas (born 1970) – singer-songwriter, instrumentalist Cassie Ventura (born 1986) – singer-songwriter and dancer Angela Via (born 1981) – singer-songwriter Jasmine Villegas (born 1993) – R&B, pop singer Kyle Vincent – singer-songwriter; producer Lil Xan (born 1996) – rapper Yeat (born 2000) – rapper Taco Shop Poets – spoken word and world music band The Zeros – punk-rock band Authors and poets Oscar Zeta Acosta (1935–1974) – minor novelist, activist, attorney and politician Francisco X. Alarcon (1954–2016) – author, poet, activist, and college professor Alurista (born 1947) – poet, activist, and college professor María Amparo Ruiz De Burton (1832–1895) – author James Anaya – poet Rudolfo Anaya (1937–2020) – author Gloria E. Anzaldúa (1942–2004) – author, poet, scholar and activist Chloe Aridjis – novelist Alfred Arteaga – poet and writer Carmen Beltrán (1905–2002) – poet and playwright Silvester Brito (1937–2018) – poet and academic Norma Elia Cantú (born 1947) – writer and professor Ana Castillo (born 1953) – author, novelist, poet and essayist Lorna Dee Cervantes (born 1954) – poet Ingrid Chavez (born 1965) – singer- songwriter and poet Sandra Cisneros (born 1954) – author, novelist and poet María Antonieta Collins (born 1952) – TV host, journalist and author Lucha Corpi (born 1945) – poet and writer Carlos Cumpián (born 1953) – author and poet María Amparo Escandón (born 1957) – novelist, screenwriter, advertising creative director, and film producer. Diana Gabaldon (born 1952) – novelist Dana Gioia (born 1950) – writer, chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts Guillermo Gómez-Peña (born 1955) – artist, author, poet and activist Rigoberto González (born 1970) – author and critic Rodolfo Gonzales (1928–2005) – political activist, poet and featherweight boxing champion Reyna Grande (born 1975) – author, memoirist Juan Felipe Herrera (born 1948) – poet, author, translator and activist Miriam Herrera – author and poet Rolando Hinojosa (born 1929) – author, novelist, poet and essayist Luis Leal (writer) (1907–2010) – writer and literary critic Elizabeth Martínez – activist and author Paul Martínez Pompa – author and poet José Montalvo (1946–1994) – author, poet and activist José Montoya (1932–2013) – artist and poet Pat Mora (born 1942) – author and poet Cherríe Moraga (born 1952) – author, poet, essayist and activist Angela Morales (born 1966) – award-winning essayist Julian Nava (1927–2022) – author, educator and diplomat