Sandra María Esteves is one of the founders of the Nuyorican poetry movement, which showcases artists who are Puerto Rican and living in New York City. Talented as a poet, playwright, and essayist, Estevez draws on her role as a cultural activist for her material. Beginning in the early 1970s, her poems have been chosen for anthologies centered on the experiences of the Hispanic community. Much as Martin Luther King Jr. taught that nonviolent protest through civil disobedience was more effective than violence, Esteves firmly believes that creative outlets such as writing and drawing are a superior alternative to physical acts of protest. She emphasizes individual growth and learning as the key to tolerance and peace among people from various ethnicities.