Saumell Wins Award For ‘Unique’ Story
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Raphael E. Saumell |
Rafael E. Saumell, coordinator of the foreign languages program,
recently received the “Premio Unico,” or “Unique
Award,” for a short story he wrote.
“Tirale por las cara,” or “Shoot him in the
face,” was selected as the best short-story in the Liceo
Internacional de Cultura’s (Lyceum of International Culture’s)
literary contest entitled Dear Borges XV, as translated in English.
The story narrates an execution that takes place in Cuba, Saumell
said.
Saumell has written extensively on literature written in Cuban
prisons and about the experience of political prisoners, with
his works appearing in prominent journals and newspapers in Cuba,
the United States, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Franc, and Spain, and
his commentaries have appeared on the BBC, Radio Martí,
Voice of America, Tele-Mundo and The Christian Science Monitor.
From 1975 to 1981, Saumell was a radio and television producer
and scriptwriter, eventually becoming the assistant to the president
of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television. In 1980, he received
an award as a scriptwriter for Best Musical and Variety Show, “Todo
el Mundo Canta,” and was also a member of the Union of
Writers and Artists of Cuba.
Following the publication of a collection of short stories,
Saumell was detained by Cuban security forces on the charge of
spreading “enemy propaganda,” which is often used
to control, harass and incarcerate pro-democracy Cubans.
He was sentenced to five years in prison, and upon his release
was prevented from working in radio and television. He emigrated
to the United States in 1988, and completed doctoral studies
at Washington University in St. Louis before coming to teach
at SHSU.
The Liceo Internacional de Cultura was founded in Los Angeles
20 years ago. Its contest, named after the famous writer and
poet Jorge Luis Borges, is open internationally to all Hispanic
writers.
As the winner, Saumell received a diploma and an honorarium,
along with the publication of his piece.
—END—
SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
Jan. 13, 2006
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