Curated by Beatriz Domínguez Alemán under the guidance of Margarita Vargas-Betancourt
Designed by Katiana Bagué
Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez (Puerto Rican, 1970-)
Ricanstruction: Reminiscing & Rebuilding Puerto Rico
2018. Somos Arte
PN 6726 .R53 2018
Latin American and Caribbean Collection, George A. Smathers Libraries
Introduction
This exhibit, inspired by Julia de Burgos’ poem “Yo misma fui mi ruta,” represents various aspects that have contributed to the construction of Puerto Rican women’s image. With images of everyday life, articles about forced sterilizations, and the struggles of Puerto Rican political leaders, this exhibit seeks to create meaningful conversations about Puerto Rican feminism and Puerto Rican women’s fight against systematic oppression.
From voices of dissonance to empowering messages, we invite you to explore the diverse points of view regarding Puerto Rican women that have developed since 1899.
Positionality Statement
I first read Julia de Burgos’ poetry for my third-grade class in Chile when my mother handed me “Río Grande de Loíza.” I was the only student in the class that brought in a poem by a non-white woman. It wasn’t until the beginning of this year that I realized the importance of studying Julia de Burgos, an Afrolatinx suffragette, feminist, and activist for Puerto Rico’s independence. To this day, Burgos’s life and poetry continue to inspire my work as a professional in the arts.
Julia de Burgos struggled throughout her life. She resisted imposed gender roles and fought for her recognition. Her life was determined by acts of resistance against patriarchy, yet she died in poverty on the streets of New York. This exhibit is a tribute to Julia de Burgos and all the Puerto Rican women who have resisted systematic racism and sexism.
Beatriz Domínguez, Curator
Julia de Burgos (Puerto Rican, 1914-1953)
Yo misma fui mi ruta
1986. Ediciones Huracán, Inc
PQ 7439 .B9 Y6 1986
Latin American and Caribbean Collection, George A. Smathers Libraries
Julia de Burgos
Julia de Burgos is considered one of the most influential poets in Puerto Rico and Latin America. She wrote poetry that illustrated women’s struggles, racism, and Puerto Rican politics. The poem “Yo misma fui mi ruta” was first published posthumously in Burgos’ book Poema en veinte surcos (1938). In it, she relates her experiences as a Black Puerto Rican woman and her search for self-discovery. The poem also presents feminist ideals in opposition to imposed gender roles, sexism, and social injustices.
Julia de Burgos (Puerto Rican, 1914-1953)
Yo misma fui mi ruta
1986. Ediciones Huracán, Inc
PQ 7439 .B9 Y6 1986
Latin American and Caribbean Collection, George A. Smathers Libraries
La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico
La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico was founded by Ramón B. López in San Juan, Puerto Rico on December 18, 1890. With a print run of 5,000 copies a day, it became the most widely circulated newspaper in Puerto Rico and earned the name “El periódico de las cocineras” (the housewife’s newspaper).
La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico masthead
1899. La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras
Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC)
https://dloc.com/AA00031601/04820
This column, titled “Go Ahead!,” criticizes Puerto Rican feminism and attributes the movement to U.S. influence. The anonymous author states that the first wave of feminism was associated with a foreign invasion that cannot be compared with movements of the masculine (nationalist) type.
La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico,“Go Ahead!”
1899. La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras
Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC)
https://dloc.com/AA00031601/04820
La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico, “Policías Hembras”
1907. La Correspondencia de Puerto Rico
Universidad de Puerto Rico Recinto de Río Piedras
Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC)
https://dloc.com/aa00031601/07689
The following newspaper column criticizes women who joined the police force in Belgium. The author considers this new role a threat to justice and order. One of the most relevant topics discussed is the policing and cover-ups of adultery of these newly designated women police officers.
Forced Sterilizations
Since the 1970s, Puerto Rico has had a higher-than-average rate of sterilization. This article responds to the U.S. health program that endorsed the forced sterilizations of low-income Puerto Rican women.
Committee for Puerto Rican Decolonization Bulletin, ¡Puerto Rico libre!, “35% Puerto Rican Women Sterilized”
1974. Committee for Puerto Rican Decolonization
Puerto Rican Political Collection
Special and Area Studies Collections,
George A. Smathers Libraries.
Bulletin of the Puerto Rican Solidarity Committee, ¡Puerto Rico libre!, cartoon in “National conference found solidarity”
1975. Committee for Puerto Rican Decolonization
Puerto Rican Political Collection
Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries
The Puerto Rican Solidarity Committee was founded in 1975 as a national anti-imperialist organization dedicated to building support within the United States for Puerto Rican independence.
This bulletin section and cartoon depict critical views of U.S. interventionism in Puerto Rico and how it has affected women’s reproductive health on the island. In some cases, sterilization was forced upon women. In other instances, women agreed to this invasive procedure under false pretenses. The sterilization campaign, which was carried out in collaboration with local companies, affected a third of Puerto Rico’s female population.
Lolita Lebrón
This poster advertises a series of protests in New York, San Francisco, California and Springfield, Missouri, for the liberation of political prisoners. Four of the individuals depicted took part in the March 1st, 1954, attack on the U.S. Capitol: Andrés Figueroa Cordero (left), Irvin Flores (center-left), Lolita Lebrón (center) and Rafael Cancel Miranda (center-right). The fifth political prisoner, Oscar Collazo (right), was convicted for the attempted assassination of President Harry S. Truman on November 1st, 1950. Regardless of the sexist portrayals of women in positions of power, this poster places a woman, Lolita Lebrón, at the center of this political movement.
Libertad Para los Cinco Nacionalistas
circa 1965-1980. Comité Nacional de Coordinación Pro Libertad de los Cinco
Puerto Rican Political Collection
Special and Area Studies Collections,
George A. Smathers Libraries
El Tacón de la Chancleta
“The flip-flop is at the same level as the floor and its use is limited to the confines of the house. It also is an object of little value. We believe that a heel must be added to that flip-flop. With a heel, you can go out onto the street and you are slightly above ground level. Yet, its nature remains the same: it is just a flip-flop.”
El Tacón de la Chancleta Editorial Board
This was the slogan used by the feminist publication El Tacón de la Chancleta. It describes the historical moment and the social transformation of the 1970s in Puerto Rico. It was printed from 1974-1976 and addressed issues concerning women, children’s education, health, and politics.
El Tacón de la Chancleta,“Cómo criar una niña”
1975. El Tacón de la Chancleta
Colección Puertorriqueña UPRRP y Colección Documentos del Feminismo Rivera Lassén-Crespo Kebler
Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC)
https://dloc.com/AA00070290/00002
Puerto Rican Women: A History of Oppression and Resistance
This booklet includes poems, interviews, speeches, and short biographies of revolutionary Puerto Rican Women women such as Doña Consuelo Lee Corretjer, Lolita Lebrón, Blanca Canales, Julia de Burgos, Maria Haydee Torres, Ida Luz Rodríguez, Dylcia Pagan Morales, Alicia Rodrigues, Nydia Ester Cuevas, and Carmen Valentín. It also features statement from by the Comandos Revolucionarios del Pueblo (CRP).
Puerto Rican Women: A History of Oppression and Resistance
circa 1983. Rebeldía Publications
Puerto Rican Political Collection
Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries
The Urban Poor of Puerto Rico
During 1959-1960, anthropologist Helen Safa conducted research in Los Peloteros, a former shantytown in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her study describes the town and its people, focusing on family, kinship, and community solidarity. In the 1960s, an urban renewal program demolished the community and displaced its residents. Helen Safa returned to Puerto Rico in 1969 and conducted a follow-up study on the consequences of relocation.
Safa’s work and the photography from the study seek to highlight the intimate everyday realities of Puerto Rican women living in impoverished areas.
Helen M. Icken Safa (American, 1930 – 2013)
The Urban Poor of Puerto Rico: A Study in Development and Inequality
1974. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston
301.4410972 S128u
Latin American and Caribbean Collection, George A. Smathers Libraries
Gift of Helen Icken Safa
Ricanstruction
Featuring stories written by Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, this anthology teams up his original character La Borinqueña with DC Comic’s iconic Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, The Flash, and others. It includes several original stories that explore Puerto Rican history, as well as stories that envision a stronger island in the future.
After a long history of foreign intervention, systematic racism, and gender oppression, this anthology offers a message of hope for Puerto Ricans. The reconstruction of this island can only be done by its people: we must be our own route.
Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez (Puerto Rican, 1970- )
Ricanstruction: Reminiscing & Rebuilding Puerto Rico
2018. Somos Arte
PN 6726 .R53 2018
Latin American and Caribbean Collection, George A. Smathers Libraries
Curated by Beatriz Domínguez under the guidance of Margarita Vargas-Betancourt
Designed by Katiana Bagué
This online exhibit is based on the exhibit of the same name that is currently on display at the George A. Smathers Libraries Latin American and Caribbean Collection from August 14, 2023, to October 30, 2023.
