Documentary " Soy Boricua, pa que lo sepa "

Rosie,
I was amazed and intrigued by the documentary. Taught me much of the history of Puerto Ricans in NYC that i was not aware of.
I laughed and became emotional as history was being explained through your eyes and family experiences.
You helped me!
Understand what participating in the Puerto Rican Parade means.
y pa que lo sepa
" Soy Boricua "
Thank you
Domingo Lopez
from Chicago

Domingo are u kidding me, You were intrigued and taught you history. Look I am not here to knock on your experience but this documentary was not even close on the in-depth look in Puerto Rico. No question there were areas that were spoke upon but the problem here was it was not deep enough. It was disappointing.

I gree with you Angel - I understand how proud some might feel to see "us" on TV - but that is absurd. If we all read a few more books and did a little more research we would know more about ourselves and would not let a "star", tell us who we are.

If Rosie represents Puerto Ricans - I'm better off unrepresented!

I hated the way Ms. Perez portrayed Puerto Ricans! We are not all ghetto - and we do speak Spanish- not Puerto Rican! The slang and regionalism is common to EVERY language - I can not speak for the uneducated persons you have run into. But our language, español is intact, our island and culture is our pride.

Puerto Rico is better off economically than any other Caribbean island! I'm glad we are not like Cuba, Dominican Republic or Haiti, free from American influence. Free for what? To live in Cuban or Domincan poverty not the American meaning of poverty, the third world meaning of poverty. We are not victims we are resilient, humble,honest and intelligent people.

Our ancestry does include strong African roots, but not "black" roots- I have nothing in common with Black Americans not the culture, food, music, values, etc....(do the research). Besides black can be anyone from the Peruvian indigenous people to the aberigines of Australia, to Pakistan and India.

The analogy between Pedro Albizu, Che Guevarra and Martin L. King could not be more off the mark.

MLK was a great hero a true revolutionary- an honest man who saw a day when we would all be free.

Che Guevarra helped Castro create the Cuba that is today, is that why boat fulls of Cubans risk their lives to come to America and even Puerto Rico- because Che made such a better place for them?

Rosie Perez had an awesome, bright idea but she politicized it too much. We have so many things to be proud of as a people - don't bring shame to our people by victimizing us. I am not a Nuyorican and perhaps that is why I can't share your views. I am Puerto Rican, I speak Spanish, I am not a victim and I have been able to accomplish many of my goals in America. If there is a part 2 in the future - less politics more history more stories of triumph- there are many.

In all honesty the film left me feeling like a second class citizen- in need of pity. Let's not bite the victim bait- it does not help anyone. We can recognize that there were wrongs but we can not dwell in the past- we have what many other races were stripped of and even gave up willingly- our culture, our roots let's grow from it, teach our children our true history.

Asi lo veo yo!

Damaris Maldonado

How and where can I get a copy of this film. It was awesome!!!!!!!!!!

Damaris Maldonado wrote:

I gree with you Angel - I understand how proud some might feel to see "us" on TV - but that is absurd. If we all read a few more books and did a little more research we would know more about ourselves and would not let a "star", tell us who we are.
If Rosie represents Puerto Ricans - I'm better off unrepresented!
I hated the way Ms. Perez portrayed Puerto Ricans! We are not all ghetto - and we do speak Spanish- not Puerto Rican! The slang and regionalism is common to EVERY language - I can not speak for the uneducated persons you have run into. But our language, español is intact, our island and culture is our pride.
Puerto Rico is better off economically than any other Caribbean island! I'm glad we are not like Cuba, Dominican Republic or Haiti, free from American influence. Free for what? To live in Cuban or Domincan poverty not the American meaning of poverty, the third world meaning of poverty. We are not victims we are resilient, humble,honest and intelligent people.
Our ancestry does include strong African roots, but not "black" roots- I have nothing in common with Black Americans not the culture, food, music, values, etc....(do the research). Besides black can be anyone from the Peruvian indigenous people to the aberigines of Australia, to Pakistan and India.
The analogy between Pedro Albizu, Che Guevarra and Martin L. King could not be more off the mark.
MLK was a great hero a true revolutionary- an honest man who saw a day when we would all be free.
Che Guevarra helped Castro create the Cuba that is today, is that why boat fulls of Cubans risk their lives to come to America and even Puerto Rico- because Che made such a better place for them?
Rosie Perez had an awesome, bright idea but she politicized it too much. We have so many things to be proud of as a people - don't bring shame to our people by victimizing us. I am not a Nuyorican and perhaps that is why I can't share your views. I am Puerto Rican, I speak Spanish, I am not a victim and I have been able to accomplish many of my goals in America. If there is a part 2 in the future - less politics more history more stories of triumph- there are many.
In all honesty the film left me feeling like a second class citizen- in need of pity. Let's not bite the victim bait- it does not help anyone. We can recognize that there were wrongs but we can not dwell in the past- we have what many other races were stripped of and even gave up willingly- our culture, our roots let's grow from it, teach our children our true history.
Asi lo veo yo!
Damaris Maldonado

Damaris Maldonado is an educated, intelligent, spanish-speaking Puerto Rican from Wisconsin, not to mention "racist", knocking a wonderful production. The way she highlighted the word black in quotations. Then mentioned it could be a variety of people - only based on the color of their skin! She also mentioned, "I have nothing in common with Black Americans..." The correct term is African-Americans and their complexion has nothing to do with the term and if you consider yourself an "American", you have more in common with them than you think. I know I do! Gracias. Rosie - great job!

finally, a movie that shows our roots to others...oh yeah! we need people to stop discriminating towards us puertoriceños y la pelicula enseñan y dicen nuestra historia...much tsnks for making this movie! it was great!!

i made a few mistakes in my comment...oops!!!

Thank you Armando!!
Damaris is doing what some Afro-Latinos tend to do...pretend they have nothing in common with African Americans so they can appear to be a special "other black" and not have the stereotypes attached to them( Domincians are notorious for this). I caught what she was trying to do from the moment I read her comment. As well she has went to several Puerto Rican/Latino related boards posting her same comments, but using the name DAWN. What kills me is that I am a white skin Puerto Rican and I am VERY proud of my African/black roots and feel that we have alot in common with my African American brothers and sisters. I am married to a black American man and my children are "black". Its sad that she is a Afro-Latino, but she wants to separate herself as if she is a "better version of black". DAWN DAMARIS needs to remember that the imagery of any minority that is in the media in most cases will always be negative and the stereotypes were created by the dominant culture as a way to keep blacks and other minorities boxed in. Sure there are people that may fit the stereotypes, but you can find that in any race. You need to take a step out of the hood for a while and turn off MTV and BET, if these are the only indicators of "black" culture for you, Dawn. Take a trip to Atlanta, Georgia . The wealthy,successful, highly-educated, entreprenuerial black Americans there will blow your mind. Black American women in particular, are excelling at records numbers in education and in positions in corporate America so they may have a problem being lumped into a category with you and your type.

Damaris you may not have anything in common with African Americans, but this Puerto Rican sure does...its called Africa. That and many more things. Get over yourself and your prejudices. You have alot of nerve.

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I bought it at imoovie.com anyway. It was really cheap, so why not right? It looks like it'll be really good, and from what you guys said about it it makes me want to watch it even more :D

rosie thank u so much for showing the film am also an actor and just came back from puerto rico filmming it great honer to say your the besr rosie, we are comming out on top
love romeo , romalf 44@aol.com

ha yall dumb

There is a difference between Black and African . So i think the term African-American is difference than the term Black-American.
Anyways, the film was quite a good one. thumbs up.

I find it strange that the film was almost entirely in English and it does not even have Spanish subtitles available. Somehow ironic.