Friday on the NewsHour: Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco

Richard Blanco was, as he says, “made in Cuba” (he was conceived there), “assembled in Spain” (his mother gave birth to him there) and quickly “imported to the United States” (he grew up in Miami). He trained and worked as a civil engineer before turning to poetry. He’s published three volumes, most recently, “Looking for the Gulf Motel.”

On Monday he will become the first Latino, the first openly gay, and the youngest poet to read his work at a presidential inauguration. I spoke to him earlier Friday. You can watch that conversation HERE.

Below, you can watch our extended interview and Blanco reading his poem “Betting on America”:

Read Richard Blanco’s Q&A with the Poetry Foundation here.