Happy Puerto Rican Heritage Month

 

Siempre, Luis (2020): Official Trailer on Pioneering Activist Luis Miranda Jr.

A story that embodies the tenacity and passion of the American Dream, SIEMPRE, LUIS, debuting TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 (9:00 p.m. ET/PT) during National Hispanic Heritage Month, is a portrait of the pioneering activist Luis A. Miranda Jr. Luis is a decades-long fighter for Latino communities, a key player in the New York and national political arena, and a loving father of three – including the award-winning composer, lyricist and actor, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

 

The film will be available on HBO and to stream on HBO Max.  Directed by first-time filmmaker John James, the film had its World Premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. 

The documentary centers on Luis A. Miranda Jr. who left Vega Alta, Puerto Rico for New York City in the 1970s. Filmed over the course of a year, Luis’ devotion to family and country propels him forward despite recent health issues. Always searching for ways to assist communities in need, particularly when his beloved Puerto Rico is suffering, Luis moves to action following the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, coordinating relief efforts and raising money and awareness while managing the complicated and ambitious tasks involved in bringing his son’s award-winning production of Hamilton to the island. 

With humor and heart, SIEMPRE, LUIS tells the story of an unstoppable changemaker and proud American.  The film tracks Luis’ journey in the United States, which began with his acceptance to a clinical psychology doctoral program at New York University. Following his move at the age of nineteen, Luis quickly finds success in the competitive and fast-paced world of New York City politics, becoming a key figure in communicating to political candidates the importance of engaging with the Latinx community. 

A natural problem solver and indispensable bridge to multi-cultural communities, Luis consults for a number of winning political campaigns throughout his career, including Hillary Rodham Clinton, Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand’s campaigns for the U.S. Senate and Letitia James as public advocate and New York Attorney General, among others.   

The film explores Luis’ vast career and influence in politics, including his time in the 1980’s as special advisor for Hispanic Affairs to Mayor Edward I. Koch, and Director of the Mayor’s Office for Hispanic Affairs. In 1990, Luis was the founding President of the Hispanic Federation, where he became one of New York City’s leading voices for increased support to nonprofit Latino organizations.  

In 2017, when disaster strikes Puerto Rico in the form of Hurricane Irma and is quickly followed by the catastrophic devastation of Hurricane Maria, Luis uses his influence and resources to mobilize powerful figures and organizations to bring aid to his home island in a most dire time, working closely with his family along the way. He bears witness to unprecedented national political apathy in the face of the deadliest natural disaster to strike Puerto Rico, becoming an advocate for a Puerto Rican diaspora reeling in its aftermath. He grapples with a growing national xenophobia that threatens his family’s vision of a more inclusive Union. 

Without missing a beat, he works to bring a much-needed fundraising, and morale-building, new touring production of Hamilton to the island alongside his son, Lin-Manuel, all while remaining a committed father who refuses to outsource the around-the-clock obligations that define fatherhood. 

SIEMPRE, LUIS features interviews and appearances by notable figures in politics and entertainment, such as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the late former NY Mayor Ed Koch, Senator Chuck Schumer, former NY State Assemblyman Roberto Ramirez, former NY Secretary of State Lorraine Cortez-Vazquez, U.S. Congresswoman Rep. Nydia Velazquez, Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller, and many more.  

SIEMPRE, LUIS is directed by John James; written by Raul Santos, John James, Carlos Garcia de Dios, Luis Alvarez y Alvarez; produced by Katie Taber, John James, Carlos Garcia de Dios; executive produced by Michael Stolper; cinematography by Carlos García de Dios; edited by Luis Alvarez y Alvarez. Endeavor Content financed the documentary. For HBO: executive producers, Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller; senior producer, Sara Rodriguez.  

source: press release 

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@ The People's Puerto Rican March in support of Black Lives Matter

The People's Puerto Rican march yesterday in Harlem

To view more photos, visit my album.

(photos by Clarisel Gonzalez)

National PR Day Parade TV Special this Sunday

LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, ROSIE PÉREZ, ESAÍ MORALES,
GILBERTO SANTA ROSA, LA INDIA AND PEDRO CAPÓ
AMONG THE STARS HEADLINING THE
NATIONAL PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE TV SPECIAL ON JUNE 14

Program to feature the traditional Afro-Puerto Rican dance, Bomba,
historically used as an artistic and peaceful form of protest and cultural pride

Commemorative TV special to air on June 14 on ABC7 in New York
and streamed live on abc7ny.com at noon EDT,
and on ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco at 2:00pm PDT

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade announces an all-star lineup of Puerto Rican luminaries from television, film, music and theater to headline the commemorative TV special to air on WABC-TV channel 7 on June 14 at noon EDT, given the postponement of the 63rd Annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade that normally takes place on 5th Avenue, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Confirmed artists include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rosie Pérez, Esaí Morales, Gilberto Santa Rosa, La India, Victor Manuelle, Ivonne Coll, Pedro Capó, Anthony Ramos, Ariana DeBose, Kany García, and many others. The TV special will continue the longstanding tradition of the largest celebration in America that recognizes Puerto Rican culture and history, in addition to raising awareness of the issues that affect Puerto Rico.

A key feature in the program will be the Puerto Rican community’s solidarity with Black people around the world by showcasing the traditional dance of Bomba, an Afro-Puerto Rican tradition of music and dance that represents resistance, survival, celebration and healing. Bomba originates from the black slaves who worked on the sugar plantations in 17th century Puerto Rico. Today, Bomba has become an artistic and culturally meaningful form of protest and a symbol of pride.

For the first time ever, National Puerto Rican Day Parade programming will air in the San Francisco Bay area on ABC7/KGO-TV, at 2:00pm PDT, as well as on ABC5 WORA-TV in Puerto Rico at noon EDT. It will also be streamed on abc7ny.com, the station’s connected TV apps on Amazon FireTV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku. The stream will also be available on the websites of the ABC Owned Television stations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh/Durham and Fresno.

In late May, WABC-TV Channel 7 and the National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) Board of Directors announced their plans to broadcast a 90-minute TV special, hosted by WABC-TV anchors Joe Torres and David Novarro along with Sunny Hostin, co-host of “The View.”


Source: National PR Day Parade

Photos by Clarisel Gonzalez

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Three Kings Day Parade in El Barrio

El Museo del Barrio's 43rd Annual Three Kings Day Parade and Celebration titled "Nuestros Barrios Unidos: Celebrating our Collective Strength" was on January 6 in East Harlem. The parade theme honored the city's immigrant and migrant communities of past and present.

Here are some parade photos by Ismael Nunez: