The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) at Hunter College has announced that Puerto Rican Voices has won two New York Emmy Awards. The investigative TV documentary series streamed on CUNYTV has won in Documentary – Spanish and Politics/ Government- Spanish.
“It’s the biggest honor to have won these prestigious awards for Puerto Rican Voices for all of CENTRO. This investigative series into Puerto Rican experiences is a shining example of our mission and efforts as an institution. Puerto Rican perspectives deserve to be seen and heard, especially during these times of climate and governmental crisis on the archipelago. I am so thrilled the New York Emmy Awards see the worth and value of these stories and experiences,” said CENTRO Directora, Dr. Yomaira Figueroa-Vásquez.
The following episodes won the prestigious awards:
- “After the Boats Left,” for the category of Documentary – Spanish — Directed by Sonia Fritz, the episode focuses on Elba Dávila, a community leader in Fajardo, who organizes the community of Maternillo to demand better public services for an aging community facing displacement after the Ferry Service to Vieques and Culebra was moved to the town of Ceiba. The community has collapsed without the economic activity provided by the Ferry transit and local fishermen fight to maintain their livelihoods.
- “The Tax Paradise,” for the category of Politics/Government – Spanish — Directed by Ana María García, this episode is about how in the last decade, Puerto Rico has become a major destination for Americans seeking to evade federal taxes. Incentives provided by the Puerto Rican government are spurring gentrification and housing insecurity. In communities like Puerta de Tierra, community leaders are challenging not just the new arrivals, but also the local politicians that have betrayed them.
“This series of investigative documentaries has allowed CENTRO to produce from a decolonial and collaborative angle that has permitted us to amplify the voices of communities affected by the multiple crises Puerto Ricans are facing,” said the series’ Executive Director, Ángel Antonio Ruiz-Laboy. “These awards belong to them, to the people who denounce and fight against neo-colonial practices every day, and to the directors and local production teams who, in ways that were sensitive to the communities’ demands, helped communicate the reality of what they are experiencing. We sincerely hope that this celebration will help to activate solidarity networks as well as concrete actions in support of their complaints.”
This fifth season of Puerto Rican Voices, directed by Juan Carlos Dávila, has previously won two New York Emmy Awards. One of the awards is for the episode titled “Tito Matos ¡Ahora Sí!,” by Noelia Quintero-Herencia which follows the life, death, and legacy of legendary artist, musician, cultural worker, and mutual aid organizer Tito Matos. The other winning episode is titled “Privatized Resilience,” directed by Juan Carlos Dávila, which is about the controversial contract between the government of Puerto Rico, the private contractor with all the electrical distribution power, and the worsening energy crisis. As Puerto Rico continues to suffer due to modern-day colonialism and gentrification, Puerto Rican Voices — and the accompanying study guides linked in every episode — is a much-needed tool to educate ourselves and the general public about the harm our current system causes to communities and the environment in the archipelago.