Portal, Magda (1903–1989)

Peruvian activist, feminist and poet. Born May 27, 1903 (some sources cite 1900), in Lima, Peru; died July 11, 1989, in Lima; m. Federico Bolaños (div.); children: (with poet Serafín Delmar [pen name], brother of her ex-husband) Gloria del Mar (committed suicide, 1947).

Hailed as "Poet of the Poor" for lifelong push for social justice, was involved in student activism at University of San Marcos and a founding member of American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) movement; with encouragement of José Carlos Mariátegui, began publishing poetry and essays in influential journal Amauta; deported to Mexico with Serafín Delmar, Mariátegui and others (1927), helped found Mexican cell of APRA movement; after overthrow of repressive Leguía regime, returned to Peru (1930) and helped develop Peruvian APRA Party, PAP, serving as leader of women's section of national executive committee; moved to Chile with daughter because of renewed political persecution (1939), then returned to Peru and organized National Congress of Aprista Women in Lima (1946); after PAP colleagues denied women active membership in party (1948), broke all ties with accusatory essay ¿Quienes traicionaron al pueblo? (Who Betrayed the People?, 1950); served as director of Mexico's Fondo de Cultura Económica publishing house (1958–71); published poetry collection Constancia del ser (Constancy of Being, 1965); joined one of Lima's 1st feminist groups, Action for the Liberation of Peruvian Women (now Flora Tristán Peruvian Women's Center); served as president of Peru's National Association of Writers and Artists (1982–86). Honored by Inter-American Congress of Women Writers (1981).

See also Kathleen Weaver, Magda Portal, Peruvian Rebel: A Life and Poems (Teachers College Press).