Puerto Rico has been a colony of the United States since 1898, and earlier this year, the House of Representatives introduced a bill on whether the island should become a state or gain independence.
The Puerto Rico Status Act would allow voters in the U.S. territory the options of statehood, independence and independence and sovereignty in free association with the U.S.
This summer, the United Nations Special Political and Decolonization Committee, approved a resolution reaffirming Puerto Rico’s right to Self-determination. Sharing the stories of the people on the island and how they live will help many understand why this decision is crucial.
La Lengua Teatro en Español wants to do exactly this — highlighting Puerto Rican history and how colonial rule persists today.
La Lengua Teatro’s founding Artistic Director, Virginia Blanco, said the second edition of the Decolonization Stories Festival is focusing on Puerto Rico. This continuing project showcases how colonization is still occurring throughout Latin America.
“We are interested in hearing the experiences of people living in Puerto Rico and why people are wanting to leave because it’s difficult for them to have the life they want there,” Blanco said.
The call to receive writing samples from playwrights was open from Nov. 1 to Dec. 10.
“In February next year, we will have a panel to decide the finalists and announce the names in March and the playwright residency will happen remotely between April and July,” Blanco said.
The candidates chosen will write a one-act play each and have the freedom to pick a topic that allows the audience to connect with the people of Puerto Rico and the complex relationship between the United States. It will then be performed next fall along with a festival.
Tere Martinez, a Puerto Rican playwright member from the first edition of the Decolonization stories, said that although she is an American citizen, she still feels far removed.
“I think people don’t really know much about who we are as Puerto Ricans and plays are a great opportunity to educate, give perspective and bring that human aspect to any subject,” Martinez said.
Martinez said she wants the playwright’s story to focus on both who Puerto Ricans are, from both a cultural and political perspective.
“This could be a great model for Latino and non-Latino theater companies to follow and give a voice to a minority group that’s pretty much out of the theater scene in the United States, that gives a real voice to the Puerto Rican political situation,” Martinez said.