his literature. One theme that Colón often wrote about included the topic of race and, in particular, his own racial experience of being African-American. In one poem, titled "Black is Beautiful," written in Spanish, Colón writes about his race as being beautiful. In one Vignette from A Puerto Rican in New York, and other sketches titled "The Mother, the Young Daughter, Myself, and All of Us," Colón writes about being called a racial slur by a young white girl, despite Colón having never spoken a word to her. Another theme that appears in Colón's literature is related to the struggle of the lower classes. In a poem from The Jesús Colón Papers titled "Acrostico," Colón writes about those who are forced to work everyday and compares them to slaves. Colón also wrote about class struggles in a vignette titled "Two Men With But One Pair of Pants," as Colón detailed how he used to share a pair of work pants with his brother, Joaquin. After Colón arrived in New York, the two brothers, despite both having a job, could not afford to pay for another pair of pants. As a result, they would share the pants together. It was not until a man gave Colón 10 dollars that the two were able to have their own pair of pants. Written works Posthumous compilations Lo que el pueblo me dice--: crónicas de la colonia puertorriqueña en Nueva York, edited and with an introduction by Edwin Karli Padilla Aponte, 2001. Houston, Texas: Arte Público Press. . The way it was, and other writings: historical vignettes about the New York Puerto Rican community. edited with an introductory essay by Edna Acosta-Belén and Virginia Sánchez Korrol, 1993. Houston: Arte Público Press. . Contemporary publications A Puerto Rican in New York, and other sketches, 1961. New York: Mainstream Publishers. Anthologies "Kipling and I" (poem), in Wáchale!: poetry and prose about growing up Latino in America, edited by Ilan Stavans, 2001. Chicago: Cricket Books. . "The teacher was surprised", in Riding low on the street of gold, edited and with an introduction by Judith Ortiz Cofer, 2003. Houston, Texas: Piñata Books; Arte Público Press. "For the Color of My Mother", in Hispanic American literature: an anthology, compiled by Rodolfo Cortina, 1998. Lincolnwood, Illinois : NTC Pub. Group. . "from A Perfect Silence", in Growing up Puerto Rican: an anthology, edited and with an introduction by Joy