Thirty years ago, within one week of my mother signing the contract for me, cause I was only 17, I was gone. I didn’t tell anyone I was leaving except two close homeboys. After I left homies and girls came searching for me, but my mother told them I had joined the Marine Corps. I wanted it that way. I was too ashamed to tell people I was going to escape. I had to leave. It was either the prison revolver during the advent of mass incarceration, death, or the Corps. My brother (RIP) was in Susanville State Prison at … Continue reading “The Best of Us Are the Most Fucked Up”

Clean new name for the novel: Pura Neta Simply Pura Neta And if you don’t know, then ask somebody! 🙂 Pura Neta is Street Spanglish for Pure Truth. Humbled by all the love and support, the blurbs that are coming in from literary heavy hitters, with more to come. This book is for you, la gente, loved ones. It has always been my privilege to serve you. Publication release date: September 2020, Pochino Press. PRAISE FOR PURA NETA: Pura Neta is uniquely Benjamin Bac Sierra. His experiences in the Bay Area’s barrio streets, in the Gulf War, and as a … Continue reading Pura Neta

        Love and power created on the San Francisco San Fran Frisco streets, my streets, your streets, our streets—my heart, mi corazon. Up in the morning with the rising sun. Called up the brother and simply said VAMANOS! We cruised to the Marina and worked out because it is natural power and love to be strong and to feel the energy of others who work and feel themselves, their bodies, their temples. Afterwards, we met a French couple who had traveled the world in their 1960’s van! They had actually shipped it to the United States and … Continue reading Sunday, September 29: A Day in the Life

“If they take you in the morning, they will be coming for us that night.” James Baldwin to imprisoned Angela Davis, Black Panther, 1970. Because we must create our own media! Witness what the mainstream media will never show you: La Pura Neta! Coverage and analysis of the entire train of thousands of gente being led by children because—you will be taught through the mouths of babes! Share with lots of love and strength: On Monday, September 16, 2019, in the historic revolutionary San Fran Mission district, the children led the way for us to march and shout and sing … Continue reading I Find It In You

Share our song, our story: Well, it seems like my new book, La Pura Neta, will be published next year by Pochino Press 🙂 A special shout out to Norman Zelaya for the connection and to all of you for your support and amor. Set in the San Francisco Mission varrio from 2012 to 2014, La Pura Neta explores the creative struggle of Homeboys and Homegirls fighting against gentrification, police brutality, racism, and economic and educational injustice. Cartoon, a Homeboy who had been banished from the varrio twenty years earlier, has returned from his educational and spiritual odyssey. He finds the … Continue reading Pochino Press Will Publish My New Book, La Pura Neta!

It is true love and therapy to embrace your neighbors, loved ones, and perfect strangers 🙂 The 9th Annual Barrio Bushido Amor for Alex Nieto Carnaval Booth in La San Fran Mision. I used to do the booth with my brother Alex, RIP. Now we do it in his honor by spreading love and smiles, by sharing positive spirit and gifting literature, by fundraising together for the first ever memorial dedicated to the victim of a police killing. After the final approval of the memorial this past April, The San Francisco Arts Commission and Parks and Recreation Department slapped a … Continue reading 9th Annual Barrio Bushido Amor for Alex Carnaval Therapy 🙂

Share our song, our story: Fifth book complete: Not Forward but Upward, a 140 page single-spaced novel manuscript. Now to convince for a second publication, besides Barrio Bushido 🙂 Set in the San Francisco Mission varrio from 2012 to 2014, Not Forward but Upward explores the creative struggle of Homeboys and Homegirls fighting against gentrification, police brutality, racism, and economic and educational injustice. Cartoon, a Homeboy who had been banished from the varrio twenty years earlier, has returned from his educational and spiritual odyssey. He finds the hood under attack, and it is no longer the gangs, but the monsters … Continue reading Not Forward but Upward

Share something new 🙂 From a new novel I’m working on titled Not Forward but Upward. Pages 90-100, poetry prose story, heart art. CHAPTER SEVEN: THE MISSION OF DOLORES Me llamo La San Fran Mision de Dolores Varrio of peace and pain Born as a savior San Francisco Bald-in-the-middle monk You taught me to find peace in blood Dolores Creek of sorrows You cursed me the tears of a woman True torture I am floating in the ether I am in every homey’s cup In every junkie’s needle In every rat roaming around The dirty Mision Not the clean pristine … Continue reading The Mission of Dolores