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Puerto Rico: A History of the People

This collection contains documents detailing the various struggles of Puerto Ricans against foreign invaders from the arrival of Spanish Conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon in 1493 to the current occupation by the United States of America. Beginning in 1898, the U.S. invaded Puerto Rico and established a colonial government that intended to destroy Puerto Rican identity by replacing the people’s history, language, and culture with its own.  This occupation caused widespread unemployment and stimulated a massive migration of Puerto Ricans to the U.S. People of the Puerto Rican diaspora were made to feel ashamed of their culture as they were pressured to become “American” and leave behind the language, culture, and history that unite Puerto Ricans as a sovereign nation. Often, these materials were some of the first and only exposure that the diaspora had to its own history. These documents were meant to unite Puerto Ricans through exposing this history of oppression in hopes of inspiring solidarity with the independence movement.


“Once we begin to see ourselves and our oppressed condition in the clear light of our own truth, then the process of change, revolutionary change, which leads to a revolutionary struggle, begins to take place.” –Puerto Rico Our People’s History


Documents

Gov't Network Sterilizes Workers Gov't Network Sterilizes Workers
Publisher: Committee for Puerto Rican DecolonizationFormat: ArticleCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
A continuation of an article about the history of mass sterilization in Puerto Rico but focuses on the problems with the current health system and includes the results of a 1968 study on sterilzation.
35% Puerto Rican Women Sterilized 35% Puerto Rican Women Sterilized
Publisher: Committee for Puerto Rican DecolonizationYear: 1974Volume Number: Vol. 2-5Format: ArticleCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
An article from the Committee for Puerto Rican Decolonization in New York exposing the massive sterilization program carried out by the U.S. Government and the Rockefeller Foundation in response to the "population problem" in Puerto Rico that was seen as responsible for widespread unemployment.
Women in the Colonial Society: Oppression Women in the Colonial Society: Oppression
Author: Margarita MergalFormat: ExcerptCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
An overview of the socialist revolutionary struggle in Puerto Rico but focusing on the role of women in the struggle as they experience specific forms of oppression and exploitation.
Puerto Rico Our People's History Puerto Rico Our People's History
Format: MonographCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
A monograph that gives a short history of the Puerto Rican people beginning with the Spanish conquest and ending with the current social ills caused by oppression. Slight damage to the back cover.
Puerto Rico A Colony of the United States Puerto Rico A Colony of the United States
Author: Puerto Rican Youth MovementPublisher: New England Free PressYear: 1969Format: MonographCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
Describes the role of colonization in Puerto Rico's history focusing on the contributions of Nationalist leaders and the consequences of their imprisonment.
Puerto Rico: Showcase of Oppression Puerto Rico: Showcase of Oppression
Publisher: Centro Social Juan XXIII & PRISA & Latin America Publications ServiceFormat: CompilationCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
A folder that contains monographs to educate the American public about colonialism in Puerto Rico and generate support for the Puerto Rican independence struggle. Each complete set was sold for $2.50 and contained 6 books.
Introduction to the Packet Introduction to the Packet
Author: Bishop Antulio Parrilla-BonillaPublisher: Puerto Rico: Showcase of Oppression, Centro Social Juan XXIII & Latin America Publications ServiceFormat: StatementCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
Written by Bishop Antulio Parrilla-Bonilla, S.J. describing the intention of publishing this catalog of items pertaining to Puerto Rican independence.
Book I: Journey to Identity the Historical Evolution of Puerto Rico Book I: Journey to Identity the Historical Evolution of Puerto Rico
Publisher: Puerto Rico: Showcase of Oppression, Centro Social Juan XXIII & Latin America Publications ServiceFormat: MonographCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
Commentary on a collection of quotes from 1526-1937 about the identity experiences of the inhabitants of the island as it was affected by outside influence.
Book II: Promised Progress- An Examinatinon of Operation Bootstrap Book II: Promised Progress- An Examinatinon of Operation Bootstrap
Publisher: Puerto Rico: Showcase of Oppression, Centro Social Juan XXIII & Latin America Publications ServiceFormat: MonographCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
A multi-faceted view of the "bootsrap" efforts in PR to attract American industries and capital by the Puerto Rico Development Corporation or "Fomento" that drew criticism from all sides on both economic and moral grounds.
Book III: Puerto Rico Decade 70- A Summary Evaluation of Politial Development Book III: Puerto Rico Decade 70- A Summary Evaluation of Politial Development
Publisher: Puerto Rico: Showcase of Oppression, Centro Social Juan XXIII & Latin America Publications ServiceFormat: MonographCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
A political history focused around the changing power of the Pedro Albizu Campos and the Nationalist Party in the Puerto Rican government.