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Yo Soy Boricua/I am Puerto Rican

Actor and activist Rosie Perez has made her directorial debut with a new documentary, “Yo Soy Boricua Pa’ Que Tu Lo Sepas,” or “I’m Puerto Rican, Just So You Know.” Narrated by actor Jimmy Smits, “Yo Soy Boricua” is a cultural exploration that begins and ends with the annual Puerto Rican Day parade in New York. Throughout the film, Rosie Perez researches her own roots and heritage and explores a much ignored history between Puerto Rico and the United States. “Yo Soy Boricua,” answers the question of how the island of Puerto Rico became a commonwealth of the United States, highlighting the numerous contradictions that a commonwealth status brings. During World War II, Puerto Ricans fought oversees to die for a president but could not vote for one. The history of the U.S. naval base in Vieques, the Young Lords, and the forced sterilization of more than one-third of the women of the island of Puerto Rico are just some of the other histories brought to light in the film. The documentary features historians, social critics, artists and ordinary Puerto Ricans. Jorge Morales of the Village Voice hailed Rosie Perez’s directorial debut as “Funny, heartbreaking, and essential.”

Occupation 101

We’ll continue the program with a look at another instance of colonization that has continued to this day, with the intimate involvement of the US government. I’m referring to the “Israeli-Palestinian” conflict which is explored in a new documentary called Occupation 101, created by two brothers, Sufyan Omeish and Abdallah Omeish. The winner of 8 film festival awards, Occupation 101 is comprehensive historical and current analysis of the Israeli occupation. The film also details life under Israeli military rule, the role of the United States in the conflict, and the major obstacles that stand in the way of a lasting and viable peace.

The roots of the conflict are explained through first-hand on-the-ground experiences from leading Middle East scholars, peace activists, journalists, religious leaders and humanitarian workers including Noam Chomsky, Phyllis Bennis, Peter Bouckert, Amira Hass, Cindy and Craig Corrie, Rashid Khalidi and many others.

The film covers a wide range of topics — which include — the first wave of Jewish immigration from Europe in the 1880’s, the 1920 tensions, the 1948 war, the 1967 war, the first Intifada of 1987, the Oslo Peace Process, Settlement expansion, the role of the United States Government, the second Intifada of 2000, the separation barrier and the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as well as many heart wrenching testimonials from victims of this tragedy.

For more information, visit www.occupation101.com.

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