El Apellido Nicolas Guillen English Translation Exclusive Jun 2026

The surname "Guillén" is Spanish. It represents the colonizer, the master, the Catholic church, and the legal system. The poem asks: Is this name truly his? Or is it merely a label given to him by the society that enslaved his forefathers? By questioning this, Guillén performs an act of decolonization. He refuses to accept the Spanish surname as the only truth of his identity.

"Since school / haven't they called me Nicolás Guillén? / ...But is that my name? Do you have all my blood? / Does my entire lineage come from that Galician or Biscayan grandfather?"

"Ever since the school-house, / I have been told my name: / a surname, a label / to tell me from the next man..." el apellido nicolas guillen english translation

"The Surname: A Family Elegy" The word "elegy" is crucial. It establishes the poem not just as a political protest, but as a poem of mourning for a family history that was never allowed to be recorded. 2. The Fragmented Self

Guillén describes his current name as a mask or a blank slate that covers up his true history: The surname "Guillén" is Spanish

Guillén was a pioneer of Afrocubanismo and the son poem, which infuses poetry with the rhythms of Afro-Cuban music and speech patterns. Translators often struggle to keep this musical cadence alive in English.

"Desde la escuela / y aún antes... Desde la cuna / me dijeron mi nombre. Mi apellido..." Or is it merely a label given to

"El Apellido" is more than a historical lament; it is a foundational text for modern discussions on diaspora, post-colonialism, and systemic racism. For millions of people across the African diaspora in the Americas—whether Spanish, English, French, or Portuguese-speaking—the question of "What is my true name?" remains a deeply personal and political reality. Guillén’s work empowers readers to look beyond colonial structures to find their true identity in resilience and cultural heritage.

In "El Apellido," Guillén asks a simple yet devastating question: What is my real name?

: He seeks his "real" name—the one lost in the middle passage or buried in African history.