Posted
on July 24, 2015
Even
though Puerto Rico is not independent (it is a United States
commonwealth), it has several patriotic holidays honoring people who
worked...for independence! This includes Hostos Day (in
January) and Birthday of Jose de Diego (in April).
Today
Puerto Ricans honor another hero who worked for something that hasn't
happened (at least yet) – Jose Barbosa, considered the father of
the Statehood for Puerto Rico movement.
Barbosa
was born in Puerto Rico on this date in 1857. He was the first Puerto
Rican to earn a medical degree in the United States, and he was among
the first African Americans to do so.
Going
home to Puerto Rico with his M.D., Barbosa practiced medicine, became
a member of the Red Cross, and even helped to create some early forms
of health insurance. He risked his life to doctor injured soldiers
during the Spanish-American War, and he served in the Puerto Rican
Senate. He founded the first bilingual newspaper, El Tiempo.
By
the way...
 |
| Is there room for one more? |
The
statehood-for-Puerto-Rico movement is still going strong. As a matter
of fact, it seems to be picking up steam. Only a small percentage of
Puerto Ricans, these days, want full independence, and more than half
of the people who chose to cast their votes in a referendum on Puerto
Rico's political status said that they wanted Puerto Rico to become a U.S. state.
Also
on this date:
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out my Pinterest boards for:
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