Category: Boricua Profiles

Eugenio María de Hostos Puerto Rican Educator

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Eugenio María de Hostos

Eugenio María de Hostos, a name synonymous with Puerto Rican intellectualism and activism, was a towering figure of the 19th century. Born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, in 1839, Hostos’s life was a testament to his unwavering commitment to education, social justice, and the liberation of Latin America. His legacy continues to inspire generations, making him a true “Great Citizen of the Americas.” A Formative Education Hostos’s early education in Puerto Rico laid the foundation for his future intellectual pursuits. He later traveled to Spain to study law, where he became…

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Carmen Bardeguez-Brown Published Works & Anthologies

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Carmen Bardeguez-Brown is the author of For the Love of Cooking: Chef Tao, a Memoir (2022). Her published poetry collection includes Meditation on Love, Dancing, Loss and Forgiveness (2022); Three Poets/Tres Poetas, a collaboration with Marlena Maduro Baraf and Julio César Paz (2022); Lo que aprendí al otro lado del mundo, a collaboration with author Julio César Paz (2020); Dreaming Rhythms: Despertando el Silencio (2016); and Straight from the Drums (2012).  Her poetry appears in several anthologies and poetry magazines: Trauma Tresses & Truth ed. by Lizette Wanzer (2021); Boundaries…

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Theresa Varela Award Winning Puerto Rican Author

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Theresa Varela

Award-winning Puerto Rican author Theresa Varela was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is the recipient of multiple International Latino Book Awards (ILBA): Murder in Red Hook:  A Daisy Muñiz Mystery (2022), Coney Island Siren (2020), Nights of Indigo Blue: A Daisy Muñiz Mystery (2016) and Covering the Sun with My Hand (2015). She holds a PhD in Nursing Research and Theory Development and has worked more than twenty-five years in the mental health field in New York City blending spirituality with culture for healing. Theresa Varela’s relationships…

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Healthy Rican Founder Mayra Luz Colon

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At Healthy Rican, we’re on a mission to bring the tasty culture-rich flavors of Latin and Puerto Rican cuisine to kitchens everywhere, while promoting a healthier lifestyle. Born from a deep love for our cultural heritage and a commitment to wellness, Healthy Rican offers an exciting line of all-natural seasonings crafted with the finest ingredients nature has to offer. At Healthy Rican, we believe that people no longer have to choose between quick ‘n’ easy or healthy. We exist so that healthy eaters no longer have to choose between quick…

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Ed Morales | Author Journalist Professor

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Ed Morales is an author and journalist who has written for The Nation, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, and the Guardian. He was staff writer at The Village Voice and columnist at Newsday. He is the author of Fantasy Island: Colonialism, Exploitation, and the Betrayal of Puerto Rico (Bold Type Books), Latinx: The New Force in Politics and Culture (Verso Books 2018), The Latin Beat (Da Capo Press 2003) and Living in Spanglish (St. Martins 2002). In 2019 Latinx was shortlisted for the Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize for Global Cultural Understanding by the British Academy in London. In 2009, while a Columbia University Revson Fellow,…

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Esmeralda Santiago – Acclaimed Puerto Rican Author

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Esmeralda Santiago is the author of three groundbreaking memoirs;  When I was Puerto Rican and Almost A Woman, which she adapted into a Peabody Award-winning movie for PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre, and The Turkish Lover. Her novels include America’s Dream, the national best seller Conquistadora, and Las Madres. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Esmeralda lives with her husband documentary filmmaker Frank Cantor in Westchester County, New York. Esmeralda Santiago, a name synonymous with resilience and the power of storytelling, was born in 1948 amidst the sugarcane fields of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. The eldest of eleven children, her early…

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Arturo Alfonso Schomburg | Historian Writer Activist

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Early Years Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, born on January 24, 1874, in Santurce, Puerto Rico, emerged as a pivotal figure in the early 20th century, championing the recognition and preservation of African and African diaspora history and culture. His contributions laid the groundwork for what would become an enduring legacy in the realms of African American studies and library science. Schomburg was born to a Puerto Rican mother of African descent, Mary Joseph, and a German father, Carlos Federico Schomburg. This biracial heritage positioned him uniquely at the intersection of multiple…

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Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

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supreme court justice sonia sotomayor

A Pioneering Figure Sonia Sotomayor, a pioneering figure in American jurisprudence, stands as a beacon of justice, intellect, and resilience. Born on June 25, 1954, in the Bronx, New York, to Puerto Rican parents, her journey from humble beginnings to becoming the first Latina and third woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court is a testament to her unwavering dedication and remarkable abilities. Sotomayor’s formative years were marked by struggle and perseverance. Raised in a South Bronx housing project, she navigated the challenges of poverty and faced the realities…

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Francisco Oller: A Pioneer in Puerto Rican Art

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Early Life and Education Francisco Oller (1833-1917) stands as a towering figure in Puerto Rican art history. More than just a talented painter, Oller was a pivotal figure who bridged the artistic gap between the Caribbean and the burgeoning Impressionist movement in Europe. His prolific career, encompassing various styles and themes, not only documented Puerto Rican life but also helped shape the artistic identity of the island nation. Born into an affluent family in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Oller’s artistic talent was evident from a young age. He received his initial…

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Caridad de la Luz | La Bruja

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Caridad de la Luz, widely recognized by her stage name “La Bruja,” is a multifaceted artist whose life and work have left an indelible mark on the landscape of New York City’s cultural and artistic scene. Born and raised in the vibrant and diverse neighborhoods of the Bronx, Caridad’s journey is a testament to the power of art to transcend boundaries and bridge communities. La Bruja’s story begins with her early exposure to the rich tapestry of Latinx and African-American cultures that defined her upbringing. Growing up in a melting…

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