America and Race, Globalization, Hemispheric Identity, Latin Music, Latinos and Race, Latinos in Media, New York City Politics, Puerto Rico's Colonial Status, Republican Party politics, Urban/Global Politics, US Intervention in Latin America

Living in Spanglish: Puerto Rican Pride Edition

The new Living in Spanglish radio episode is a special Puerto Rican Pride edition, in time for the Puerto Rican National Day Parade in New York. There’s plenty of salsa, bugalú and boleros, and special guests iLe, Calle 13 vocalist with a new solo album called Ilevitable, and David Galarza, Nuyorican activist, talk about life, love, […]

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New York City Politics, New York Mayoral Politics, Urban/Global Politics

City Council Forum: Rumble Uptown

For some reason the New York Daily News mobile app went with this story about last night’s City Council forum on affordable housing, sponsored by East Harlem Preservation and JustPublics@365, as its lead this morning. The headline, “Ugly Council Debate Paints Melissa Mark-Viverito as a Gentrifier” seems designed to stir up some shock-value interest on another sleepy summer […]

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Urban/Global Politics

How a Puerto Rican Jew Jump-started Hip-Hop

The Ghetto Brothers in the studio, recording their only album, Power Fuerza, originally released in 1971. (Courtesy of Truth & Soul Records) It happened a little over 41 years ago, in the middle of a South Bronx park—a moment that would change Benjy Meléndez, his street gang and rock band the Ghetto Brothers, and music history forever. […]

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