Amid the growing debate over immigration in the US, the island of Puerto Rico plays no role in the debate because of its status as a colony/commonwealth. However, our guest suggests that the history of Puerto Rican migration to the US before its colonial status offers us a vital frame of reference for today’s debate. Lilia Fernandez is a Prof of History @ Ohio State Univ and author of “Brown in the Windy City: Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in post-war Chicago.”
Category Archives: Caribbean
2015: Dominicans of Haitian descent
Nicole Phillips, staff attorney member for the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, tells about recent developments of the Dominican Republic stripping people of Haitian descent of their citizenship. Amid a similar racist climate in the US, what should Americans learn about what the DR is doing regarding citizenship and racial identity.
2015: Guyana & Walter Rodney
2015 marks the 35th anniversary of revolutionary leader Walter Rodney of Guyana. Very little is ever discussed regarding the struggle for social justice in the West Indies/Caribbean. Let alone one of its biggest figures. Prof Wazir Mohammed from the Univ of Indiana tells us about the life and times of Walter Rodney.