Cuba and Puerto Rico

The intertwined stories of two archipelagos and theirdiasporasThisvolume is the first systematic comparative study of Cuba and Puerto Rico fromboth a historical and contemporary perspective. In these essays, contributorshighlight the interconnectedness of the two archipelagos in social categoriessuch as nation, race, class, and gender to encourage a more nuanced and multifacetedstudy of the relationships between the islands and their diasporas. Topicsrange from historical and anthropological perspectives on Cuba and Puerto Ricobefore and during the Cold War to cultural and sociological studies of diasporiccommunities in the United States. The volume features analyses of politicalcoalitions, the formation of interisland sororities, and environmental issues.Along with sharing a similar early history, Cuba and Puerto Rico have closelyintertwined cultures, including their linguistic, literary, food, musical, andreligious practices. Contributors also discuss literature by Cuban and PuertoRican authors by examining the aesthetics of literary techniques anddiscourses, the representation of psychological space on the stage, and theimpacts of migration.Showinghow the trajectories of both archipelagos have been linked together forcenturies and how they have diverged recently, Cuba and Puerto Rico offers a transdisciplinary approach to thestudy of this intricate relationship and the formation of diasporic communitiesand continuities.Publication of this work made possibleby a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from theNational Endowment for the Humanities.