Affirming Identity, Citizenship, and Nationhood: The Centennial of The United States and Puerto Rico

Spotlight Archive

September 9, 1998
Affirming Identity, Citizenship, and Nationhood:
The Centennial of The United States and Puerto Rico

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Brooklyn, NY - Puerto Rico holds a unique position in American history and culture. Annexed one hundred years ago at the conclusion of the Spanish-American War, the island functions as both a dependency of the United States and an independent nation. To mark the centennial, Brooklyn College and its Department of Puerto Rican and Latino Studies will host the Third International Conference of the Puerto Rican Studies Association, October 15 through 17.

The conference, whose theme is "Affirming Identity, Citizenship, and Nationhood," will bring together scholars from 20 states and Puerto Rico to explore through diverse perspectives and experiences the significance of the annexation of the island after the Spanish-American War. The conference will feature some 35 sessions, including panels and roundtables on history, literature, education, politics, gender studies, sociology, law, and ecology. Other events will include a book exhibition, displays of recent publications, readings by noted and emerging writers, slide presentations, an exhibition of photographs documenting the migration experience, and musical and theatrical presentations.

The Puerto Rican Studies Association meeting coincides with the end of "One Hundred Years of Transformation: The Caribbean and the United States, 1898-1998," a conference being cosponsored by Lehman, Hunter, and Brooklyn Colleges. Both meetings will explore the legacy of United States involvement in the Caribbean during the past one hundred years.

For information about the Puerto Rican Studies Association, conference registration, and travel directions, please contact the Department of Puerto Rican and Latino Studies at Brooklyn College at (718) 951-5561; fax, (718) 951-4183; e-mail, vsankorr@brooklyn.cuny.edu. Special pricing discounts are available to students.