Tag Archives: Puerto Rico

Possible Argument

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Rebecca H. Diaz

As I continue to conduct research and try to critically analyze them, I tend to fall into a leisurely reading mode, because what I am reading about interests me on multiple levels. What I am learning to do is begin to trim parts that I just find interesting and parts that can be used as research-worthy parts that will help reflect a particular image and side of Puerto Rican “Independence” in the U.S.

So, I think my argument is becoming something along the lines of:

The contribution of Organizations and Parties, like the Young Lords, have helped develop an intellectual culture of Independence among Puerto Ricans in New York. Even so, New York-Puerto Ricans have yet to put these ideals into practice to further develop and advance the Puerto Rican community. 

Based upon the research that I have conducted and personal experience, I feel that this is an accurate picture of modern New York-Puerto Ricans, descendants of those influenced by Young Lords and other organizations of the like/time. The YLP and other organizations gave the NY-PR community the tools of Puerto Rican culture, history, and problems. The YLP and other organizations also gave them a framework around a shared set of views by which they believe Puerto Ricans on the U.S. mainland continue to be oppressed, such that these ideas continue to resonate amongst the Latino community today. As I understand it, it is not as much a matter of availability (while that is a significant part of the NY-PR struggle), but more so, it is the inability to apply the ideals, intellect, and will-power passed down from the 2 previous generations.

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Rebecca’s Research Update

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Rebecca H. Diaz

Since we last met, I was able to read through the article that I had skimmed through before the citation worksheet was due. Reading through them allowed me to better understand aspects of my research topic, what Independence is (for my paper), what types of Independence I want to focus on, and which organizations I want to draw additional research from for my paper. Since commencing research, I knew that I wanted/had to look into the influence of the Black Panthers and some prominent Black leaders, but would have been unable to find local, leaders of success.

This leads me to the group conversation that we had last week. Some  of the highlights from our group conversation on my topic was (1) whether my research would focus on a specific location/region in the U.S. and (2) what leader(s) were involved, and (3) whether or not those leaders are still influential or existent in their initial field of involvement during the time of the Young Lords Party (YLP). I have chosen to focus primarily on NYC as the hub of the  YLP Independence movement.

With respect to specific leaders, I am commencing that research with leaders of education within the NYC-Puerto Rican (or Nuyorican) community. During the weeks, I will also research political and socio-economic leaders, which leaves me at a crossroad.

Q: Would it be feasible to focus on 3 forms of Independence in the US (NYC) for Puerto Ricans: education, political, and socio-economic, Or should I focus on 1 or 2  of them? I feel that they are interdependent but don’t want to overwhelm myself.

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