Spotlight on Oscar Zeta Acosta
from the Latino Writers & Jouranlists textbook

I chose to personally interview my subjects in the Latino Writers & Journalist to best capture the spark that makes them inspirational to readers, which is the point of any biography. I wanted to gain a glimpse into the foundation that molded them. In this way the biographical essays establish a commonality with readers and hopefully inspires and encourages them to seek out and unearth their own unique gifts.

Oscar Zeta Acosta intrigued me from the moment I read word one about him. Zeta Acosta is known as The Brown Buffalo, and was immortalized as the character Gonzo in Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The book was made into the 1998 film (by the same name) starring Benicio del Toro and Johnny Depp. I mean, come on! I had to find out more. Now, it is widely believed that Zeta Acosta is dead. There has been no word from him for over thirty years, but there are skeptics who believe he could be living under cover. Oscar was the quintessential tight rope walker on life's razor edge. The stories about him were so outrageous and he lived so close to some pretty scary people, I figured he had to be dead. I lit a white candle, (just like in church), held my pencil aloft, and waited to hear what Oscar wanted to be said about him. It was my very own little Dia de los Muertos, with chills, premonitions, and everything. It is my belief then, (although it is a long-winded sentence) Oscar followed a "roller coaster, insatiable hunt for acceptance in life from others and through his writings points to the need to bridge alliances rather than to focus on what separates ethnicities and people." He was definitely more than just a wild card.