A Puerto Rican in New York, and Other Sketches

by Jesús Colón

A Puerto Rican in New York makes invaluable reading for anyone who would gain a closer understanding of labor and immigrant history, ethnic and racial relations, and the centrality of Caribbean-U.S. affairs in the present-day workings of world imperialism. Jesus Colon throws open a window through which all can hear an intelligible and sympathetic Puerto Rican voice.

Genres: Nonfiction, Latinx, Memoir, New York, Essays, Poetry

218 pages, Paperback

Published March 10, 2022

About the author

Jesús Colón (1901-1974) was a Puerto Rican writer of African descent who moved to Brooklyn, New York, at age 16. Colón wrote about his experiences as an immigrant and discussed how racism influences American culture

Reviews

[Emily]

One of those "best books you've never heard of"--really worth the read!

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus Colon is a communist puerto rican living in New York and detailing his personal life with history to show the truth of imperialism and the negatives of capitalism. All this while documenting what it's like in New York during the first half of the 20th century. He deals with prejudice, racism, poverty, and more all the while trying to provide for his wife and spread the word of socialism through his periodicals. This book is beautiful and vital in providing everyone, be it puerto rican or otherwise, insight in how the world is putting us against each other and trying to perpetuate this myth of all minorities being seen as "other." Colon is such well spoken mind and I'm thoroughly glad that this book found me.

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

hi sir, mr netflix
read these & adapt em asap as possible

[Brent Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book about the life of a Puerto Rican in New York. Disclaimer about the book, Jesus is a very big socialist and communist so if you are put off by this then the book isn't for you. The theme of Puerto Rican workers being taken advantage of is a recurring idea.

It is interesting how each chapter is a new anecdote that is somewhat in chronological order. I will say it falls toward the end of the book and becomes a bit repetitive. Anyways I would recommend this to anyone interested in the Nuyorican experience.

[Nichola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for some Puerto Rican history through literature and this was recommended. Published in 1961, I hoped it would share the experience of New Yorkers, but it is really more about the struggle of the workers, and how they will eventually rise up against the capitalist system, etc. There was some documentation of the blatant discrimination and poor treatment these legal migrants experienced.

[Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. I found it on one of those 'discard' piles at my local library. The book is a series of short stories that details the writers experience of living in NYC early last century. Living conditions in the neighborhoods of NYC, and the reality of daily racism were particularly prominent in his writings. The book is a true window into the past of NYC.

[thestarsailor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the fact that it took me so long to finally get around and finish this book, it was really breezy and easy to read as I finished it over the past few days. And it made me think that this would have been a pretty good book to publish today because it is essentially not boring or difficult and has fun little stories. I don't know what makes these sketches different from vignettes, besides not having to put them in chronological order. My teacher always went on about form in Latinx books, and while I know it's not unique for different formats for books, so far the two I've read like this have both been by Latino authors.

With all that said, even though I'm not convinced or won over by his stories and short analyses of the problems of imperialism, capitalism, and racism against Puerto Ricans because it feels almost boilerplate at this point in time, those topics aren't reasons to just throw away the book. They're all moments of the same theme of his own struggle to live and fit in a notoriously difficult city. The problems he speaks of then are still there today. I had fun dog-earring the moments he criticized mainstream press and reading culture because that is all still true too. Colon writes well and tells an interesting story with his own little details and personality traits that make it fun to read.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a really important piece of literature. i think a lot of puerto rican history, especially that history within the context of the united states, isn't really thought of as important. it goes ignored most of the time. this was a beautiful collection of non-fiction pieces that exemplify puerto rican nationalism as well as the complexities of being an immigrant. read read read !!!!!!

[Lunar Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fenomenal glimpse into the psyche of the Puerto Rican of the past, present and possible future.

[RYD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesus Colon was a Puerto Rican-American communist who wrote for The Worker. These essays are whimsical, comical, and sentimental, but rarely unenjoyable. My favorites were: "Little things are big," "The origin of Latin American dances (according to the Madison Avenue Boys)," "Greetings from Washington," "On singing in the shower," and "She actually pinched me!"

[Phil Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!!! The way Colon writes makes you feel like your right there next to him. I was reluctant to read it at first but glad I did; and am reading a second time through.