Blackness and Puerto Rican Literature

Catalog description

This course approaches Puerto Rican literature as a set of texts with which to critically think about discourses of racial blackness in the Puerto Rican archipelago and its diasporas. We examine key literary moments, from 19th century “foundational fiction” and early 20th century “Afro-Antillean” poetry to contemporary Black Puerto Rican voices. Guided by a set of Puerto Rican and Black U.S. scholars, our discussions are informed by the historical changes in the political status of Puerto Rico and how these changes have shaped discourses of racial blackness in Puerto Rican literature and culture. By focusing on the specificities of various Puerto Rican literary scenes, this course aims to gain insight into broader discussions regarding racial blackness in the Caribbean and Afro-Latin America. Class discussions are in Spanish. A playlist of music by Puerto Ricans complements the course.