US Puerto Rican Literature Web Page

Historical Background:

* 1898: Cesión de Puerto Rico a Estados Unidos.

* 1917: Ciudadanía estadounidense para los puertorriqueños.

* 1948: Operación Manos a la obra.

* 1952: Declaración del Estado Libre Asociado.

* 1960:  Aparecen los Young Lords en Chicago.

What is Puerto Rican Literature? Branches and divisions

-         A forgotten precursor: William Carlos Williams

-         The antecedents:

Island literature on migration: 1917-1945: Autobiographical  and journalistic works: Bernardo Vega and Jesus Colón

-         1960s: Nuyorican Barrio Literature. Bildungsroman: Piri Thomas, Nicholasa Mohr and poets Tato Laviera, Victor Hernández Cruz, Sandra Mª Estevez.

-         1980s and 90s: US Puerto Rican Literature. Women writers: Judith Ortiz Cofer, Esmeralda Santiago, Abraham Rodríguez, Ernesto Quiñonez.

       US Puerto Rican Works:

 * Piri Thomas, Don These Mean Streets (1967)

* Edward Rivera, Family Installments (1982)

* Nicholasa Mohr, Nilda (1986)

* Ed Vega, Mendoza’s Dreams (1987)

* Judith Ortiz Cofer, Silent Dancing (1990)

* Esmeralda Santiago, When I was Puerto Rican (1993)

* Abraham Rodríguez, The Boy Without a Flag (1992)

* Ernesto Quiñónez, Bodega Dreams (2000)