Free Puerto Rico

by Pedro Albizu Campos

Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on the island’s southern coast, Don Pedro was the most uncompromising fighter for Puerto Rican independence of the 20th Century, spending two decades behind bars for his activities.
Albizu Campos was arrested on several occasions for advocating and organizing violent uprisings against the occupying power.

During his final incarceration, which lasted from 1954-1964, Don Pedro’s health deteriorated badly, which he claimed was a result of his being the guinea pig in unauthorized experiments on the use of radiation. These accusations have since been found to have basis in fact.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Latino

16 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2012

Reviews

[Roxanne (The Novel Sanctuary) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was great to learn more about the stance of the face of the Puerto Rican Nationalist movement. Proud to know he was from Ponce, like myself. Wish it was longer and that I knew more about this pamphlet, was is a transcribed speech or did he sit and write it, etc.

[Fer Prz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pedro Albizu Campos our last great bastion of independence and sovereignty. A harvard valedictorian and leader of the independece party. The US government imprisoned, tortured, and killed him in order to send a clear message to other people with similar ideologies. He was treated like a terrorist (torture and all) in US soil. A superfluous treatment to a great figure. If needed for context he can be regarded as a MLK in his way of leading people.

In this pamphlet he argues and outlines a roadmap to free Puerto Rico from its territory status and able to participate in the trade market. This was back in the early 1900s when Puerto Rico had good land and ability to build a market using the island resources. In present times, the island is a paved parking lot for the four or five corporations that Pedro was looking to free the island from.

[Edgar Negrón Rabell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Según entiendo de este pequeño panfleto, es un reclamo escrito por Don Pedro Albizu Campos a los Estados Unidos para que nos concedan la Independencia, estableciendo algunos beneficios de la misma y explicando tanto razones sociales, como culturales y hasta usando definiciones judiciales para apoyar su argumento. Como dije, es un panfleto, no un libro y es corto. También tengo mis dudas sobre la veracidad de algunas cosas que dice al principio sobre el estatus de Puerto Rico con España, pero llego a estar de acuerdo con el reclamo de Albizu sobre la independencia de Estados Unidos, especialmente a cuanto al comercio con este país se refiere.

[Jackie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not read any of his work before this, and I now understand why he is referred to in the Puerto Rican Independence movement as such a figurehead.

This was written so long ago, and so much more has happened since it’s time. Alas, so much about Puerto Rico’s status as a country-not country/commonwealth is still the same, if not worse.

It’s a short read; one that I only took in chunks because of the disappointment I felt while reading it. I will be reading it again, along with more of his works.

[Benjamin Britton · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Since Puerto Rico is a very rich country the absentee corporations established here carry out propaganda in the North American press in order to induce the innocent North American people to support this regime of economic exploitation through the falsehood that it is for the good of the poor people of Puerto Rico."

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish it was longer

[sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Puerto Rico’s dissent from the US rises, the nationalist movements become more real. Puerto Rico is so beautiful and so diverse, and seeing its growth (especially with Bad Bunny’s new album Debí Tirar Más Fotos) makes me so proud to be half Puerto Rican. Campos shuts down American ideas of PR in which they cannot grow or support themselves in a powerful manner.

[Joe Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good points not in debth

It summarized the points of Puerto Rico being able to self govern and the abuse from the U.S. Government but I would of liked to see more details and examples.

[David Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful

Good read, touches on several topics on past and on the current state of a beautiful island that has been suffering for so many years. Puerto Rico and it's people are fighting for what is rightfully their's.

[T ct · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great brief primer

Great brief primer on Puerto Rico and United States relations. This is hugely relevant in the wake of Hurricane Maria, earthquake and continual natural disasters tied to the capitalist market system.

[Manuel Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important Historical facts

I gave a five star rating as I felt the book interesting and informative, with the timetable of events correct.

[Juan Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This opens up the door for me to look more into the story of Puerto Rico and its conflict with its independence

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ikke en stor fan av Campos sentralisering av Kristendommen, men ellers et brennende utrop mot sine fiender. Selve teksten fungerer simpelt og greit som en slags løp gjennom Puerto Ricos historie, med tydeligvis motiv til å våkne opp folket. Håper PR ikke blir lik som Hawaii :(

[Brandon White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This SUPER short book provides some of the writings of Pedro Albizu Campos, an Afro-Latino Boricua who really wasn't playing around when it came to getting Puerto Rican independence. Super-smart, super dedicated, it's crazy how when you read this man's writing, you see and understand how Puerto Rico is now economically imploding due to the "absentee corporations" he referred to like 90 years ago. It's like he tried to warn Los Yanquis and the Boricuas. Would the same thing have happened if they achieved independence? statehood? I don't know, but this was an insightful read.

[Jose L Nunez Rosa]

great short and to the point

Great. This book describes what Pedro Albizu Campos believes to be the true status of the unincorporated territory of Puerto Rico.

[Maria Cruz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do not waste your time or money on this pamphlet as I foolishly did!!

[ale · Rating 3 out of 5]

couldve been more elaborate tbh

[Juan Brignoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing book that presents the alternate story to the official story about our history and how things really happened. A must-read for all Puerto Ricans.

[Brenda Yasir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small book and yet very informative about the ideals of Campos and the struggle for an Independent Puerto Rico.

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is short, but it peaks at the end with the reminder that the American education exist to control the masses as well as maintain blind ignorance.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great

It's a good book with a great massage but i think that is too late for Puerto Rico to be free. Plus after FDR there's no other president in support Puerto Rico's freedom