CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Library

Alum/Author spotlight: Alejandro Heredia’s You’re The Only Friend I Need

Heredia, Alejandro. You’re The Only Friend I Need. Los Angeles, C.A.: Gold Line Press, 2021

We wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate and share our thoughts on queer Afro-Dominican writer and community organizer Alejandro Heredia’s debut collection of short stories You’re The Only Friend I Need, as well as briefly acknowledge his time with us at the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute. Alejandro worked as a research associate for three years helping us advance and develop several long-term projects at the Institute. One of those projects involved the forgotten early twentieth century Dominican writer Mercedes Mota and her experiences in the United States denouncing U.S. imperialism. Moreover, he was featured in a Manhattan Times article when CUNY launched the first “Dominican Studies Master’s Program” in 2017 where he expressed the importance of the program for a new generation of students.

Alejandro Heredia pictured here at Institute amongst CUNY DSI junior scholars and research fellows in the summer of 2015.

At the end of 2021, Alejandro participated in CUNY DSI’s two-day international virtual conference The Struggle for Freedom in La Español: Commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the First Slave Revolt in the Americas on the panel titled “Crafting Resistance: Artistic Renderings of the Dominican Imaginary” where he discussed revising Dominican origins and literary imagination.

Heredia’s debut short story collection You’re The Only Friend I Need illustrates how the complexity and nuance of friendship shapes the transnational lives of the Dominican diaspora by centering Blackness and Queerness. Throughout the four stories, Heredia explores Dominican migration and identity through an intimate, authentic, fierce, and compassionate lens that reveals the joy and unapologetic nature of his characters in a decidedly cruel world.

This story short collection was published in May of 2021, but we couldn’t help sharing this amazing read with our visitors. We highly recommend this book for professors, librarians, students, and the general public looking to read and uplift Afro-Dominican diasporic voices and Black LGBTQIA experiences.

Personal thoughts:

Librarian Ortiz: I was absolutely floored by the flow of beautiful words and use of Dominican dialect in this collection, and the incredible Black Queer characters that refused to be limited by their circumstances and never gave up searching for themselves through their friendships. The final story “1999” left me wanting more and needing to know what was going to happen next and whether everything would work out for the main character. 

Prof. Aponte: Alejandro has a way of describing intimacies with respect and grace… by reading his work; we get a glimpse into a world that exists in a very palpable way.

If you’d like to read and follow Alejandro’s work you can find him on Twitter and Instagram.

Jhensen Ortiz, Librarian

Prof. Sarah Aponte, Chief Librarian and Associate Professor

Acknowledging a Generous Donation: Classics of Dominican Migration

The fourteen publications donated by Librarian Adrian Johnson to the library, November 18, 2024

The CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Library proudly announces the recent donation of fourteen books from Librarian Adrian Johnson, Head of User Services at the Benson Latin American Collection at the University of Texas Libraries. This generous contribution includes publications by the Instituto Nacional de Migración de la República Dominicana, notably the Clásicos de la Migración Dominicana (Classics of Dominican Migration) series. This collection provides an invaluable resource for understanding the complexities of migration to and from the Dominican Republic through rigorous analysis and scholarship.

The donated titles encompass various migration studies, touching on gender, child trafficking, Haitian and Chinese migration, and historical immigration policies under Trujillo. These works will significantly enrich our collection and support our mission of fostering research and knowledge dissemination about Dominican heritage and migration.

The donation includes the following titles and authors:
1. Trata de mujeres dominicanas en Costa Rica, Suiza y España en el marco de los estudios de género, migración y desarrollo – Tahira Vargas, Katia Núñez, and Rosa Beltrán
2. Niños, niñas y adolescentes extranjeros en situación o riesgo de trata en República Dominicana desde la perspectiva de actores clave – Mildred Martínez
3. Entre dos islas: La migración internacional dominicana – Sherri Grasmuck and Patricia R. Pessar
4. De Baní a Boston: Construyendo comunidad a través de fronteras – Peggy Levitt
5. Graveyismo y racismo en el Caribe – Humberto García Muñiz and Jorge L. Giovannetti-Torres
6. Braceros haitianos en la República Dominicana – Franc Báez Evertsz
7. La migración china en República Dominicana 1961-2018 – Mu-Kien Adriana Sang Ben
8. La otra inmigración: Estudio sobre las corrientes de inmigración de procedencia extrainsular y la integración social y económica de los inmigrantes de las principales comunidades etnonacionales – Francisco I. Cáceres Ureña, Frank Báez Evertsz, and César Andrés Caamaño
9. Estudio cualitativo sobre la trata de mujeres extranjeras en República Dominicana – Tahira Vargas
10. La política de inmigración del dictador Trujillo – C. Harvey Gardiner
11. Las políticas migratorias en la República Dominicana (1912-2018) – Farah Paredes, Aris Balbuena, and Rossana Gómez
12. La vida antes, durante y después de la trata – Ninna Nyberg Sørensen
13. Estudios migratorios, número 1, enero-junio 2021 (magazine)
14. Estudios migratorios, número 2, julio-diciembre 2021 (magazine)

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Librarian AJ for his thoughtful contribution, which will serve as a cornerstone for current and future research on Dominican migration. These resources are now available in the Library and will undoubtedly inspire critical scholarship in migration studies.

Visit us to explore this exceptional collection!

 Jhensen Ortiz, Librarian

Dr. Andrés Merejo visita y dona nuevas obras a la biblioteca

Dr. Andrés Merejo con ejemplares de sus publicaciones en la biblioteca, 20 de junio de 2024

Agradecemos al Dr. Andrés Merejo por haber donado dos de sus últimos libros, Cibermundo transido: Enredo gris de pospandemia, guerra y ciberguerra y Filosofía para tiempos transidos y cibernéticos, a la Biblioteca del Instituto de Estudios Dominicanos (CUNY DSI, por sus siglas en inglés) de CUNY. Estas obras se adentran en las complejidades del mundo cibernético moderno y en los fundamentos filosóficos de nuestros tiempos transitorios, proporcionando una visión inestimable para estudiantes, académicos y  para aquellos interesados en la intersección de la tecnología, la sociedad y el pensamiento.

Los dos libros donados a la biblioteca, 20 de junio de 2024

Gracias de nuevo al Dr. Merejo por su visita y amable donación de sus publicaciones. El Dr. Merejo es Director de Fomento y Difusión de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, y Viceministro de Ciencia y Tecnología.

Jhensen Ortiz, Bibliotecario

Celebrating Dr. Lissette Acosta Corniel: A Scholar's Journey and Heartfelt Donation to the CUNY DSI Library

Dr. Acosta Corniel dedicating a copy of Transatlantic Bondage to the library, June 6, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Acosta Corniel holding the copy of Transatlantic Bondage she donated to the library, June 6, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The CUNY Dominican Studies Institute (CUNY DSI) Library is delighted to celebrate the achievements of Dr. Lissette Acosta Corniel, a former CUNY DSI postdoctoral fellow and an enduring collaborator whose dedication and contributions have significantly enriched our academic community. Dr. Acosta Corniel has recently edited her first book, Transatlantic Bondage: Slavery and Freedom in Spain, Santo Domingo, and Puerto Rico. SUNY Press, 2024, and has kindly donated a copy to the CUNY DSI Library.

Dr. Acosta Corniel has a long-standing relationship with CUNY DSI, having been featured in our blog before. Notably, in both 2011 and 2014, she donated her doctoral dissertation, Towards A Theory about Spanish Women in Sixteenth Century Hispaniola. Her dissertation has been an invaluable resource for scholars delving into the early history of Hispaniola and the pivotal role of Spanish women during the sixteenth century.

Beyond her published works, Dr. Acosta Corniel has made significant contributions to essential digital resources at CUNY DSI. She was instrumental in the development of the First Blacks in the Americas/Los Primeros Negros En Las Américas and the Spanish Paleography Digital Teaching and Learning Tool. These projects have greatly enhanced the accessibility and understanding of primary sources related to Dominican and Latin American history, serving as crucial tools for researchers and educators alike.

This summer, Dr. Acosta Corniel continues to inspire and educate as she co-teaches a groundbreaking undergraduate course titled "El Gagá: An Exploration of Afro-Dominican Culture" at The City College of New York. This course, which runs from June 3 to 28, is co-taught with our second Threatened Scholar Fellow, Jonathan De Oleo Ramos. It provides students with a unique and immersive exploration of the rich cultural traditions and practices of the Afro-Dominican community.

Dr. Acosta Corniel’s edited book, Transatlantic Bondage, delves into the complex histories of slavery and freedom across Spain, Santo Domingo, and Puerto Rico, illuminating the interconnectedness of these regions and their shared histories of struggle and resilience. The scholars who contributed chapters to this book are Aurelia Martín Casares, Rocío Periáñez Gómez, Anthony R. Stevens-Acevedo, Lissette Acosta Corniel, Jacqueline Jiménez Polanco, David M. Stark, and Jorge L. Chinea. Dr. Acosta Corniel's donation to the CUNY DSI Library ensures that this vital work will be accessible to future generations of scholars and students.

We are incredibly proud of Dr. Acosta Corniel’s accomplishments and deeply grateful for her continued support and engagement with the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute. Her scholarship, generosity, and dedication to education embody the spirit of our institute, and we look forward to celebrating many more of her achievements in the years to come.

Join us in honoring Dr. Lissette Acosta Corniel for her outstanding contributions and her unwavering commitment to advancing our understanding of Dominican history and culture.

Jhensen Ortiz, Librarian

 

 

A Gift of Legacy: Julia Álvarez's Donation of a Rare Second Edition of Poesías by Salomé Ureña

Welcome to our first blog post of 2024, where we celebrate a heartwarming act of generosity by acclaimed Dominican-American author Julia Álvarez. Álvarez, known for her captivating storytelling and insightful exploration of the country’s historical and cultural themes, recently donated a rare second edition copy of Poesías by Salomé Ureña de Henríquez (1850-97) poet and educator to the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute (CUNY DSI) Library, enriching its collection and honoring the legacy of Dominican literature.

Ureña de Henríquez, Salomé. Poesías. Madrid: Tipográfica “Europa,” 1920.

Donating a rare second edition copy of Poesías holds significant meaning for Álvarez. She received this precious volume as a gift from the renowned Cuban intellectual and literary critic Ricardo Repilado (1916-2003) during her visit to Cuba in 1997. This personal connection speaks to the bonds that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries and reflects the interconnectedness of the literary world[1].

Julia Álvarez with Cuban intellectual and literary critic Ricardo Repilado (1916-2003) who gifted her his copy of Salomé Ureña’s collection of poetry. Photo taken by her husband in Santiago de Cuba, circa 1997.

The donation of Poesías is not just a literary contribution, but also a personal testament to the profound impact of Salomé Ureña's work on Álvarez. This second edition serves as a reference and inspiration for her novel In the Name of Salomé, published in 2002. In this masterful blend of historical fiction and poetic imagination, Álvarez brings to life the captivating story of Salomé Ureña and her daughter Camila Henríquez Ureña (1894-1973), who grew up in exile.

Inside the book, Álvarez preserved a republished magazine cutout featuring Salomé’s poignant poem "Umbral (A mi esposo)" alongside four original stamps commemorating the 100th anniversary of Salomé's death in 1997. This act not only enriches the library's collection but also adds layers of personal and historical connection to the literary artifact.

Republished magazine cut out of Salome’s poem Umbral (A mi eposo) originally written in April of 1894[1].

 

[1] Ureña de Henríquez, Salomé. Poesías Completas. Santo Domingo: Secretaría de Estado de Educación, Bellas Artes y Cultos, 1975, 185, https://issuu.com/librosdominicanosenpdf/docs/salom__ure_a_de_henr_quez_-_poes_as

. Accessed 19 April 2024.

      

Commemorative stamp to honor 100^th year anniversary of Salomé Ureña’s death on March 6, 1997 issued by Instituto Postal Dominicano[1].

 

[1] "Centenario muerte Salomé Ureña." Sellos Dominicanos, March of 1997, https://sellosdominicanos.blogspot.com/1997/03/centenario-muerte-salome-urena.html

 .Accessed 19 April 2024. 

Álvarez's donation not only honors Salomé's legacy but also symbolizes the cyclical nature of literary inspiration. Just as Ureña's poetry influenced Álvarez's novel, this rare edition of her work will inspire future generations of scholars, writers, and readers at the CUNY DSI Library. 

Thank you again, Julia, for your donation and for reminding us of the power of literature to connect us across time and space.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates and donations in our upcoming blog posts. Happy reading, and may your literary journeys be filled with discovery and inspiration!

By Jhensen Ortiz, Librarian

 

[1] This edition of Salomé verses was published in 1920. It has a prologue, without signature, written by her son, Dr. Pedro Henríquez Ureña. It omits the poem “Anacaona” and nine compositions from the 1880 first edition. See Silveria R. de Rodríguez Demorizi. Salomé Ureña de Henríquez. Buenos Aires: Imprenta López, 1944, 9,

 http://www.cielonaranja.com/salome-bio.pdf. Accessed 19 April 2024.

Professor Emeritus Michiel Baud donates rare and valuable book collection to the library

The most recent contribution to the library significantly broadens and enhances our understanding of the Dominican Republic's history and society throughout various periods.  

Prof. Michiel Baud, a retired faculty member of the Department of Latin American Studies at the University of Amsterdam and former Director of CEDLA (Centre for Latin American Research and Documentation) from 2000 until 2018, his research focused on the Dominican Republic, southern Ecuador, and northern Brazil.

Dr. Baud obtained the books from the private collection of his PhD mentor, Harry Hoetink (1931-2005), an influential figure among the initial cohort of post-World War II scholars. Hoetink was instrumental in redefining perceptions of race and color within the broader Caribbean context[1]. Hoetnik is remembered for his seminal work The Dominican People 1850-1900: Notes for a Historical Sociology, initially published in Spanish in 1971[2]. Additionally, Hoetink was married to Ligial Espinal, the daughter of Andrés Julio Espinal, who served as the ambassador/consul of the Dominican Republic in Curaçao during the Trujillo era. Ligial's connections facilitated Hoetink's introduction to Dominican society and enriched his research on the Dominican Republic[3]. 

The following is a list of donated books from the collection:

1. Al amor del bohio: tradiciones y costumbres dominicanas, tomo 1" (V. Montalvo, 1927)
2. "Al amor del bohio: tradiciones y costumbres dominicanas, tomo 2" (Editora La Información, 1929)
3. "Estados Unidos y las Antillas" (Compañía ibero-americana de publicaciones, 1931)
4. "Camino real, cuentos" (Imprenta. "El progreso," R.A. Ramos, 1933)
5. "Episodios dominicanos: la independencia efímera" (Fernand Sarlot, 1938)
6. "Cosas anejas; tradiciones y episodios dominicano" (Ciudad Trujillo, 1951)
7. "El tratado de Basilea y la desnacionalización del Santo Domingo Español" (Ciudad Trujillo, 1952)
8. "La canción folklórica en Santo Domingo" (Sociedad Folklórica Dominicana, 1958)
9. "Trujillo: causas de una tiranía sin ejemplo" (Libreria Las Novedades, 1959)
10. "Santiago: Quien te vio y quien te ve" (Impresora commercial, 1961)
11. "Del Puerto Plata de ayer" (Editora del Caribe, 1963)
12. "Crisis de la democracia de América en la República Dominicana" (Centro de Estudios y Documentación Sociales, A.C., 1964)
13. "La Misericordia y sus contornos, 1894-1916" (Editorial Arte y Cine, 1967)
14. "Hostos Y Su Ideal De Una Confederación Antillana" (Editora del Caribe, 1970)
15. "Memorias para un capítulo de la historia domínico-haitiana una revolución frustrada y un presidente vitalicio" (Santo Domingo, 1976)
16. "Encuentro en Santo Domingo" (Santo Domingo, 1980)

Additionally, Dr. Baud has donated the English-language version of his book Peasants and tobacco in the Dominican Republic, 1870-1930 (University of Tennessee Press, 1995) and Confianza: Governance and Trust in Latin America and the Netherlands (University of Amsterdam, CEDLA, 2018).

Dr. Baud's authored books donated to the library.

This generous donation enriches CUNY DSI's collection of primary and secondary sources on the history and society of the Dominican Republic, bridging a notable gap in our collection. On behalf of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Library, we eagerly anticipate the immense value this contribution will offer students, scholars, and the public interested in Dominican Studies for many years to come.

By Jhensen Ortiz, Librarian

 

[1] Oostindie, Gert. “IN MEMORY OF HARMANNUS HOETINK 1931-2005.” NWIG: New West Indian Guide / Nieuwe West-Indische Gids, vol. 79, no. 1/2, 2005, pp. 5.

[2] Baud, Michiel. "Harry Hoetink, 1931-2005." Revista Europea de Estudios Latinoamericanos y del Caribe, no. 78, 2005, pp. 6.

[3]Maingot, Anthony P. "Harry Hoetink, 1931-2005." The Journal of Caribbean History, vol. 39, no. 2, 2005, pp. 137-138.

Donación y visita del Sr. Borja Medina

Gracias al Sr. Borja Medina por su visita y amable donación de su publicación:

Camino a la democracia: Una visión integral para la formación política. Santo Domingo: Editora El Nuevo Diario, 2023.

Reciente visita de la destacada escritora e investigadora Dra. Ylonka Nacidit-Perdomo

 

De izquierda a derecha: Bibliotecario Jhensen Ortiz, Dra. Ylonka Nacidit-Perdomo, Profesora Sarah Aponte, y el periodista Julio Pérez en las instalaciones del Instituto de Estudios Dominicanos de CUNY (CUNY DSI), 28 de junio de 2023

Agradecemos a la Dra. Ylonka Nacidit-Perdomo, destacada escritora e investigadora de género, por donar varios de sus libros y el primer documental con perspectiva de género producido en la República Dominicana, Las Sufrasgistas. Agradecemos al periodista Pérez por coordinar este grato encuentro.  

La donación constituye de tres obras y un documental: Aire (Editorial Santurario, 2022), Sueña Pilarín… Novela Abigaíl Mejía (Banreservas, 2020), La sonrisa del paisaje Abigail Mejía (Editorial Nacional, 2020) y Las Sufragistas, Un documento para la historia (Junta Central Electoral (JCE), 2016). El relato del documental, la selección de textos antológicos y la iconografía bajo la curaduría de la Dra. Nacidit-Perdomo.

 

Jhensen Ortiz, Bibliotecario

Dr. Vanessa K. Valdés donates edited volume to the CUNY DSI library

We are grateful to Dr. Vanessa K. Valdés, Associate Provost and esteemed scholar who purchased and donated a copy of her book: Racialized Visions: Haiti and the Hispanic Caribbean (SUNY Press, SUNY series, Afro-Latinx Futures 2020) to the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Library. 

Racialized Visions: Haiti and the Hispanic Caribbean is the first volume in English to explore the cultural impact of Haiti on the surrounding Spanish-speaking nations of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.

To check Dr. Valdés's most recent project, please visit the exhibition: Juan de Pareja, Afro-Hispanic Painter at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York City. To learn more about the exhibit, please click here. 

By Prof. Sarah Aponte and Librarian Jhensen Ortiz

Dr. Norma Fuentes-Mayorga donates latest publication to CUNY DSI Library

We would like to thank Dr. Norma Fuentes-Mayorga, Associate Professor in Sociology and Latin American and Latina/o Studies at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, The City College of New York for donating her recent publications to the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Library.

Dr. Norma Fuentes-Mayorga signing a copy of her PhD dissertation for the library. 

Prof. Sarah Aponte with Dr. Norma Fuentes-Mayorga holding a copy of her recent book and PhD dissertation on April 4, 2023.

We are grateful that Prof. Fuentes-Mayorga donated a copy of her PhD dissertation back in 2005 and has now signed and dedicated a copy of her recent book From Homemakers to Breadwinners to Community Leaders: Migrating Women, Class, and Color (Rutgers University Press, 2023) to the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Library.

In addition, she shared her recent article: "Migraciones sin hombres y en contextos racializados. Contribuciones de las mujeres
dominicanas migrantes a las comunidades de origen y de destino," Ronddhha (Revista del Centro Internacional para la Promoción de los Derechos Humanos, CIPDH-UNESCO), N0. 1, Vol. 1, Feb. 2023, 98-103. You can read the article by clicking here.

We are are grateful for her support!

By Prof. Sarah Aponte and Librarian Jhensen Ortiz

New Acquisitions in the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Library

A glimpse at some of the titles we have acquired for the library.

CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Library is always busy making new acquisitions available to our patrons. To start the semester, we want to share the books that were recently made part of our permanent library collection. Don't forget: you can always visit us in person to read these titles!

Here are some recent titles that the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Library has acquired with abstracts provided by the publishers:

What’s coming to me. Francesca Padilla. Soho Teen, 2022.

Debut novel by queer Dominican-American fiction writer Francesca Padilla.

“After the ice cream stand where she works is robbed, seventeen-year-old Minerva Gutiérrez plans to get revenge on her predatory boss while navigating grief, anger, and dreams of escape from her dead-end hometown.”

Crossing Waters: undocumented migration in Hispanophone Caribbean and Latinx literature and art. Marisel C. Moreno. University of Texas Press, 2022.

Marisel C. Moreno is the Rev. John A. O'Brien Associate Professor in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Notre Dame.

“Debates over the undocumented migration of Latin Americans invariably focus on the southern US border, but most migrants never cross that arbitrary line. Instead, many travel, via water, among the Caribbean islands. The first study to examine literary and artistic representations of undocumented migration within the Hispanophone Caribbean, Crossing Waters relates a journey that remains silenced and largely unknown. Analyzing works by novelists, short-story writers, poets, and visual artists replete with references to drowning and echoes of the Middle Passage, Marisel Moreno shines a spotlight on the plight that these migrants face. In some cases, Puerto Rico takes on a new role as a stepping-stone to the continental United States and the society migrants will join there. Meanwhile the land border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the only terrestrial border in the Hispanophone Caribbean, emerges as a complex space within this cartography of borders. And while the Border Patrol occupies US headlines, the Coast Guard occupies the nightmares of refugees. An untold story filled with beauty, possibility, and sorrow, Crossing Waters encourages us to rethink the geography and experience of undocumented migration and the role that the Caribbean archipelago plays as a border zone.”

How not to drown in a glass of water. Angie Cruz. Flatiron books, 2022.

Angie Cruz is an American novelist and associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh, where she teaches in the M.F.A. program.

"From the beloved author of Dominicana, a GMA Book Club Pick and Women's Prize Finalist, an electrifying and indelible new novel about a woman who has lost everything but the chance to finally tell her story. Write this down: Cara Romero wants to work. Cara Romero thought she would work at the factory of little lamps for the rest of her life. But when, in her mid-50s, she loses her job in the Great Recession, she is forced back into the job market for the first time in decades. Set up with a job counselor, Cara instead begins to narrate the story of her life. Over the course of twelve sessions, Cara recounts her tempestuous love affairs, her alternately biting and loving relationships with her neighbor Lulu and her sister Angela, her struggles with debt, gentrification and loss, and, eventually, what really happened between her and her estranged son, Fernando. As Cara confronts her darkest secrets and regrets, we see a woman buffeted by life but still full of fight. Structurally inventive and emotionally kaleidoscopic, How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water is Angie Cruz's most ambitious and moving novel yet, and Cara is a heroine for the ages.”

The border of lights reader: bearing witness to genocide in the Dominican Republic. Megan Jeanette Myers and Edward Paulino. Amherst College Press, 2021.

Megan Jeanette Myers is an Associate Professor of Spanish at Iowa State University and Edward Paulino is assistant professor of global history at John Jay College, City University of New York. He is a cofounder of Border of Lights, an organization that commemorates the anniversary of the 1937 genocidal Haitian massacre and promotes solidarity.

“Border of Lights, a volunteer collective, returns each October to Dominican-Haitian border towns to bear witness to the 1937 Haitian Massacre ordered by Dominican dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo. This crime against humanity has never been acknowledged by the Dominican government and no memorial exists for its victims. A multimodal, multi-vocal space for activists, artists, scholars, and others connected to the BOL movement, The Border of Lights Reader provides an alternative to the dominant narrative that positions Dominicans and Haitians as eternal adversaries and ignores cross-border and collaborative histories. This innovative anthology asks large-scale, universal questions regarding historical memory and revisionism that countries around the world grapple with today.”

Jhensen Ortiz, Librarian