Miguel Algarin born (c.1940) in New York City, is an English Professor at Rutgers University of Puerto Rican descent who is a poet, writer and co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City.

Algarin was educated and raised in culturally minded household. The love for all things involving culture always prevailed in his family. He received his primary and secondary education in New York and later went on to college. He developed a love and understanding of the works of Shakespeare. Shakespeare's storytelling of England was the force that motivated him to someday have a place of his own where he could tell the story of where he lives. Eventually, Algarin became a Professor of Shakespeare, Creative Writing and United States Ethnic Literature at Rutgers University.

In 1973, Algarin was using the living room of his apartment in Manhattan as a gathering place for poets and artists. By 1975, there were so many poets and artists gathering and reciting their works in the apartment, that Algarin decided to look for a more comfortable location.

That same year, Algarin with a group that included Miguel Piñero rented a location on East 6th Street and named it the Nuyorican (New York-Puerto Rican) Poets Cafe. In 1980, Algarin purchased a building in the same street to expand the cafe. The cafe now offers programs which include poetry and prose readings, theatrical and musical performances and visual arts exhibits.

The theater has won over 30 "AUBELCO Awards" and was honored with an "OBIE" Grant for excellence in theater. Of the screenplay reading in the theater, 40 have been turned into films. The Latin Jam Session which is celebrated at the cafe has been a weekly "Critics Choice" at the New York Press for six consecutive years.

The Cafe also has a radio broadcast through station WBAI, where Algarin starts the broadcast wit his signature "We're live from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe".

Algarin edited with Miguel Piñero "Nuyorican Poetry: An Anthology of Puerto Rican Words and Feelings". He is the editor of "Action: The Nuyorican Cafe Theatre Festival" and co-editor of "Aloud". Among his award winning poems are "Times Now/Ya Es Hora" and "Love is Hard Work".

Algarin holds a Professor Emeritus for more than 30 years of service to Rutgers University. He has received six American Book Awards and the Larry Leon Himlin Producer's Award at the 2001 National Black Festival.

In the movie "Piñero", about the life of Miguel Piñero, directed by Leon Ichaso, starring Benjamin Bratt, Algarin is portrayed by actor Giancarlo Esposito.

Miguel Algarin retired as professer from Rutgers University, but continues to be the president of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and is currently working on a piece of literature titled "Dirty Beauty".

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans