Meet Richard Carranza | Writer-Author-Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Richard Carranza and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Richard, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
” Every man chooses his own destiny.” – James Lee Carranza

This is a phrase my father would always say to me. I often think about this when decisions in life need to be made. I consider this deeply with every step I take, with every mistake I have made. The art of freewill, has a major impact on the path we choose towards our destiny or not. With every choice that is made, it brings us closer to fulfilling our destiny, or moving us further away.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I used to train towards becoming a professional boxer. I then realized, I can be more powerful with my own words that I write, than my own two hands to fight. I always had a passion for sharing any story of mine, naturally I love to speak. I am passionate for the arts. Expression is the art to create and relate. ” I know I may not change the world with my words, but if I can change yours, purpose fulfilled. ” That is why I got into writing, and sharing my story through the words of poetry. I write to share some light, to share some experiences from my life and life itself. I write to share the good, the bad, the happy and sad times that have occurred in mine. I write for the positivity and things we as human beings tend to look past or neglect. I write to share my story for inspiration, for perspective, for a little insight. I began writing my point of views and the flip side of things in life in a poetic way. I wrote what I felt, I wrote what I saw. I then wanted to share it with the people. I wanted to express myself in a creative way that others could understand and relate to what I had to say. I searched for open mics in Los Angeles on the internet and social media. I’d travel Westbound across the LA river from East Los, only to have a minute and a half or two on the mic to share, to speak, to throw my voice out there. Tribal cafe in Echo park was the first open mic I attended and read. I continued to search for open mics in other areas of Los Angeles, with larger, and diverse creative crowds. Performing at various open mics in LA, has brought many opportunities and connections from networking. Such as being a featured artist for specific events and open mics, to being published in magazines, non-profit organizations. Artwars LA is one organization that gave me the opportunity to speak my poetic word at the top of Los Angeles City Hall. Based off a performance at an open mic one night in Little Tokyo downtown Los Angeles, I was offered the opportunity to apply and attend a creative literature program at the University of Southern California. Upon acceptance at the Community Literature Initiative program, there I studied other poets, writers and authors with each of a style of their own. I also gained knowledge of the publishing aspect in the literature world. I created a manuscript for a book of my poetry from my mobile cell phone because I didn’t own a computer at the time. I was working a full-time job at a Grocery store while attending class to have my work published. It was very challenging balancing the two and life on the side. On the other hand at the end of this literature program I was offered a publishing contract with a local press in LA. That offer didn’t workout, so I pursued the path of self-publishing. I had to learn how to create and edit everything of my first book of work being published, from the cover to the copyrights. Perseverance of flipping the script is what got me through. I was determined to accomplish something different that wasn’t destined for me. I wanted the people to, C-RICH to believe it that someone like me achieved it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would definitely go eat at King Taco on 3rd and Ford in East LA. If this best friend wasn’t from Los Angeles, I would take them to visit El Pino on Indiana and eat some mariscos. I would take them to City terrace on Thursday evening for the farmers market. I would take them right back Saturday morning to City Terrace Dr and Hazard Ave for some tacos de birria or barbacoa ( el Tapatio) for breakfast. If they wanted to do a little shopping I would take them down to the callejones ( alley’s) for the experience. We would ride the Red line train from the Union Station to Hollywood to see the stars on the walk of fame and then grab some food and drinks at the Jameson bar right on the sidewalk. There is always all sorts of life walking through there. Friday I’d take them to the Golden Gopher in downtown Los Angeles for Happy hour and to play billiards. If the weather was right I’d take them to the Santa Monica pier and Venice boardwalk on Sunday. Lastly, if the opportunity presented itself we would cruise down Whittier blvd.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Jaase – a long time good friend of mine who is an artist himself. He has always encouraged me with his light of life, to keep going. He always reminds me, to not give up on the passion of words I have found. He has been the positivity during the negative times. Shoutout goes to all the people, family and friends, teachers, coaches, neighbors and anyone that was just passing through, who have helped me along the way to get here and still be. Thank you for everything you’ve shared.

Instagram: c_r.i.c.h

Other: TikTok- Chicano RICH