Pedro Pietri (March 21, 1944–March 3, 2004) was a Nuyorican poet and playwright.

Quotes

• Like I said, it was 1957 when I started in oral tradition by memorizing all the poems I wrote…And I’d sit in parties, and bars—they were just poems to make people feel good…
  • On starting off in poetry (as quoted in the book “Race and the Modern Artist”)

• I was introduced to Langston Hughes, who became one of my favorite poets…I mean, he was a poet; he wasn’t about words, he was a poet, he had rhythm.
  • On starting off in poetry (as quoted in the book “Race and the Modern Artist”)

• …It goes back to 1945; when my parents, right, they left paradise looking for paradise…During the adventure of Operation Bootstrap, a lot of people were brainwashed to believe that if they leave there you can have a better life over here.
  • On emigrating to the United States (as quoted in the book “Race and the Modern Artist”)

External links