Pedro Albizu Campos
Pedro Albizu Campos (1891–1965) was a prominent Puerto Rican nationalist and political leader, known for his passionate advocacy for Puerto Rico’s independence from the United States. Educated at prestigious institutions, including Harvard University, Albizu became a key figure in the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and dedicated his life to the struggle for Puerto Rican sovereignty. He was a vocal critic of U.S. imperialism and colonial rule, advocating for self-determination and the restoration of Puerto Rico’s political autonomy. Albizu’s activism led to multiple imprisonments, including a lengthy sentence following his involvement in the 1950 armed revolt against U.S. control. Throughout his life, he was both admired as a freedom fighter by many Puerto Ricans and vilified by others for his more radical tactics. Albizu’s legacy continues to resonate in Puerto Rican political thought, particularly within movements that emphasize independence and resistance to colonialism.
“We Are a Nation” (1948)
Info: In this speech, Pedro Albizu Campos emphatically declares Puerto Rico’s identity as a distinct and sovereign nation. He argues that Puerto Ricans are not mere subjects of U.S. colonial rule but a people with their own culture, history, and heritage. Albizu emphasizes that the island’s political status, which at the time was that of a U.S. territory, undermines the fundamental rights of Puerto Ricans. He rejects the notion of Puerto Rico as a colony of the United States and calls for the island’s immediate independence. His speech is both a declaration of national identity and a call for unity among Puerto Ricans to reject Americanization and assert their sovereignty. Albizu advocates for a return to the nation-building ideals of Puerto Rican history, citing the struggles for independence that have occurred throughout the island’s past.
-
"La lucha por la independencia de Puerto Rico" (The Struggle for the Independence of Puerto Rico)
Info: In this work, Albizu Campos lays out a comprehensive vision of the Puerto Rican independence movement, presenting it as a struggle against U.S. imperialism and colonial oppression. He argues that the Puerto Rican people have been denied their basic right to self-determination by being subjected to the political and economic control of the United States. Albizu critiques the colonial policies of the U.S., highlighting how they have led to the economic exploitation of the island, the suppression of Puerto Rican culture, and the erosion of political autonomy. He also critiques the Puerto Rican government for collaborating with U.S. interests rather than advocating for the people’s true independence. The work calls for resistance to colonialism, urging Puerto Ricans to fight for their liberation through a revolutionary struggle that would restore the island's sovereignty. Albizu stresses that the fight for independence is not just political but also a cultural and spiritual necessity for the preservation of Puerto Rican identity.