How to Hide an Empire

Life of Pedro Albizu Campos

Albizu Campos speaks to a crowd of 6,000 people

"He started slowly and built up a cadence. He cited history and religion, culture and tradition. It started to rain, but no one left the square. Albizu spoke to the people for two hours about their work, their land, and their island. He recited “Puerto Rico, Puerto Pobre,” a poem by Pablo Neruda. When he finished, the crowd of 6,000 applauded for over five minutes and asked him to lead the workers through the bitter sugar cane strike. The next business day, El Imparcial ran his entire speech on its front page."

Puerto Rico, Puerto Pobre
Pablo Neruda

Es tarde en esta edad para un principio
Y sin embargo este es mi sentimiento
Aquí una vez, como otras veces salgo
A cantar o a morir aquí comienzo.

Y no hay fuerzas que puedan silenciarme
Salvo la triste magnitud del tiempo
Hizo aliada la muerte con su arado
Para la agricultura de los huesos

Puerto Rico, Puerto Pobre
Puerto Rico, Puerto Pobre

Tango elegido un tema caluroso
Con sangre, con palmeras, con silencio
Se trata de una isla rodeada
Por muchas aguas e infinitos muertos

Allí crece el dolor de los que esperan
Y se desangra un río de lamentos
Es una pobre isla encarcelada
Van y vienen los días cenicientos

Puerto Rico, Puerto Pobre
Puerto Rico, Puerto Pobre

Vuela la luz y vuelve a las palmera
La noche viaja en su navío negro
Y allí sigue allí está la encarcelada
Isla rodeada por el sufrimiento

How to Hide an Empire

This timespace is inspired by the 7th chapter of the book How to Hide an Empire, by Daniel Immerwahr. It tells the life of Puerto Rican nationalist Pedro Albizu Campos in the context of other nationalist movements and U.S. interventions in Latin America.

Albizu Campos' trial Birth Scholarship to University of Vermont Transferred to Harvard Elected vice-president of the Cosmopolitan Club Elected president of the Cosmopolitan Club Admitted to Harvard Law School Communication: Porto Rico and the War Joins the Army Attempt to raise money to send him to Paris Journey to the mainland Returns to Harvard Law School Graduates from Harvard and returns to Puerto Rico Married Dr. Laura Meneses Joins the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Travels around Latin America Becomes president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Defends the nationalist Luis Velasquez Runs for the Puerto Rican Senate Sugar cane strikes Barceloneta's Central Plazuela workers go on strike 1,200 workers from Central Coloso join the strike 8,000 workers join the Coloso strike Central Guánica goes on strike Peak of the strike
Albizu Campos speaks to a crowd of 6,000 people
Albizu Campos has a lunch with Colonel E. Francis Riggs The sugar strike is settled Río Piedras Massacre Our Political Status, by Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican Nationalism, an essay by Pedro Albizu Campos Assassination of Colonel Riggs First arrest Trial Ponce Massacre Albizu Campos is flown to a prison in Atlanta Released on probation Hospitalization at Columbus Hospital, New York US Congress authorizes Puerto Ricans to choose their own governor Returns to Puerto Rico The Nationalist Party is targeted by the FBI Puerto Rican flags were illegal Public Law 53 or "Gag Law" Vito Marcantonio speaks to the US Congress about Albizu Campos Speech: Pedro Albizu Campos speaks about the independence of Puerto Rico Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts Attempt to assassinate president Harry Truman Crossfire at Albizu's home Second arrest Brass Tacks Speech at the Municipal Meeting in Lares Pardoned by Luis Muñoz Marín Attack on the United States House of Representatives Third arrest Luís Muñoz Marín talks about Albizu Campos in an interview Albizu Called House Attack "Heroism" Albizu y Campos Arrested for Link With Recent Shooting in Congress Suffered a stroke Death A recording of Pedro Albizu Campos is released