Rueben Martinez

Rueben Martinez (born 1940 in Miami, Arizona) is a Mexican-American activist and businessman. Seeing no future for himself in the small mining town where he grew up, at the age of seventeen Martinez left Arizona for Southern California. [1] He found a job at the massive Bethlehem Steel plant in Maywood, East Los Angeles, attended night school at Santa Ana College, married and began raising a family. By the standards of his community he was a success, but as the years went by Martinez began to feel that he hadn't yet found an occupation which was 'the right fit.' He quit Bethlehem Steel to explore a series of other jobs in Southern California until finally in the late 1970s he used his savings to open a barbershop in downtown Santa Ana and proceeded to cut hair full-time for over twenty years.[2] [3]

Rueben Martinez
Martinez in 1993
Born(1940-04-16)April 16, 1940
Miami, Arizona
OccupationBarber, bookseller
NationalityAmerican
Website
www.chapman.edu/ces/libreria-martinez.aspx

Professional life

His barber shop in downtown Santa Ana, California was a gathering place for the movers and shakers in Orange County. His interest in the community and in the needs of small businessmen led him to be active in California Democratic politics, especially among Latinos. He has been a delegate to several nominating conventions.[4]

In 1993, Martinez got an idea that grew from a customer novelty to a full flown national business. Martinez realized that the Latino community in California did not have bookshops that focused on their culture. His small collection of books featuring imported books and Latino and Chicano artists soon outgrew his barbershop. He moved his business around the corner to an empty storefront and turned his attention to the books.[5]

Librería Martinez Books & Art Gallery and Libros Para Niños, a children’s bookstore, are recognized nationwide for showcasing Latino authors and artists. He has also had a passion for making Latino books available to children, and has promoted reading among children of all ages.[6]

MacArthur Fellows Program

In 2004, Martinez was the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship. The selection committee cited Martinez for "fusing the roles of marketplace and community center to inspire appreciation of literature and preserve Latino literary heritage." [7]

See also
  • Mexican American writers
  • French, Agatha (2017-04-23). "Rueben Martinez, winner of the Innovator's Award at the L.A. Times Book Prizes". LA Times. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  • "Faculty Profile: Rueben Martinez". Chapman University. Retrieved 2017-11-17.


References
  1. "Rueben Martinez's Librería Martinez". The Connection. WBUR. 2004-10-08. Rueben Martinez put a few books out so his customers had something to keep them occupied. He never dreamed it would turn into a new
  2. Arellano, Gustavo (2008-05-01). "Rueben Martinez's Librería Martinez Close to Closing Para Siempre". OC Weekly.
  3. Seglin, Jeffrey (2005-04-01). "Rueben Martinez, Libreria Martinez Books and Art Galleries". Inc.
  4. "Rueben Martinez - Entrepreneur". Whittier College. Archived from the original on 2005-04-27. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  5. "Xicano Bookseller Receives MacArthur Foundation Grant". xispas.com. XISPAS Colectivo. Archived from the original on 2004-10-21. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  6. della Cava, Marco R. (2004-10-10). "Barber grooms love of books". USA TODAY.
  7. Seglin, Jeffrey L. (2005-04-01). "26 Most Fascinating Entrepreneurs: Rueben Martinez, Libreria Martinez Books and Art Galleries". Inc. Retrieved 2006-10-24.
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