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Y uno mas. El idioma (video in three parts, in Spanish)

Biggs, Julian (Creator)

1969

Discrimination

Maria Sanchez, Father Pickett of St. Michael’s Church, and Tito Santiago sit in Sanchez’ bodega and debate and discuss the main barriers for recently migrated Puerto Ricans in Hartford. The main debate is started by Father Pickett and Maria Sanchez in which Sanchez argues that although the discrimination that is experienced by the black community is similar to that of the Puerto Rican community, Puerto Ricans have a different level of discrimination because of the Spanish language barrier. Father Pickett argues that although Spanish language is a huge barrier to employment and education, a white-dominated society would still see Puerto Ricans as non-white and therefore race is also a crucial barrier for Puerto Ricans. Sanchez says that unlike blacks, Puerto Ricans don’t want to argue, they just want their rights as citizens to be upheld. With Puerto Ricans holding citizenship status, she believes it is important for Puerto Ricans to be treated as though they are citizens and not as foreigners. She describes the relationship the United States has had with Puerto Ricans on the island in that American companies have recruited Puerto Rican bodies to come work and then left them without any real supports. Some Italians have told Puerto Ricans and blacks that their families have been here for fifty years and they are now just getting integrated and that the black and Puerto Rican communities need to have patience. But as Father Pickett points out, these same Italians do not realize that blacks have been in the country for 300 years and Puerto Ricans have been citizens since the turn of the century and so patience is not the solution. As Sanchez and Santiago agree, in this age of advancement, the time is now for change and for supports to be offered to everyone, not just a select group.

Ownership Statement: Hartford History Center, Hartford Public Library

color

video/mov

Source Note: Butch Lewis Collection

Hartford (Conn.)

This is one of a number of 1969 documentary-style films in the collection of Hartford Black Panther Party co-founder, Butch Lewis. The films were directed and filmed by Canadian filmmaker Julian Biggs and assistant Baylis Glascock. . They document various Hartford black and Puerto Rican community leaders and communities as well as white governmental and business leaders discussing issues facing poor communities in the City of Hartford. Issues include urban renewal, housing, employment, education, and governmental representation.

Glascock, Baylis (Creator)

Priests

Puerto Ricans

Racism

50002:5551

local: hpl_hhc_bl_y-uno-mas-el-idioma

MovingImage

video recordings

http://hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:5551