Yo soy Boricua, pa'que tu lo sepas!

As a Puertorican raised in Chicago, "por la Division" I certainly can identify with the documentary. Some people, especially from mainland Puerto Rico may consider it offensive or distorted, but for us, those who were raised in New York or Chicago, prior to the new Puertorican boom exodus to Miami and Orlando that came in the late 1980's, we can tell, we have lived that we have suffered that, not to mention our parents and ancestors. Myself, I was victim of more discrimination from mainland Puertoricans when I returned as a child to the Island than the one I already experienced in Chicago. Gringo, jincho, etc were among the nice compliments I got from the mainlanders.

Newyoricans, Chicagoricans, we have something in common and it is our pride in our ancestry and heritage.

The part of visiting cousins you have never seen brought fond memories. The documentary presents a relatively unknown aspect of Puertorican history, especially the discrimination against independentist, documented experiments performed on women and radiation exposure to inmates and the awful living conditions that our ancestors had to endure in New York living in slums resembling those that many Italian immigrants experienced during the 1910's. Something's are better not said, but this kind of thing must be denounced. For those of my paisanos who live in LALAland, this documentary is not for you. For those who want to learn and research a little bit more, this is a good starting point.

Bravo Rosie!

I think that this film is great. Its target audience will find the film very insightful. I highly recommend this film for all to see! There is a lot of history explained. Not many people, even Puerto Ricans, who know about Don Pedro Albizu Campos, but they should. In the film, the audience is introduced to the works of Campos. The film helps people to begin to understand the stagnated situation the island of Puerto Rico and it's people are in. After viewing the film, the audience should be interested in learning more about Puerto Ricans and their culture. For those that seek to learn more, there are a lot of academic works dedicated to the study of Puerto Ricans and Puerto Rico.

At first, I was a little skeptical about watching this film because most films I have watched go along with all of the stereotypes. I heard an interview on the radio, where Rosie gave an overall summary of what the movie included. This sparked an interest in watching it. She spoke about testing samples taken from Puerto Rico, and although I knew worst than this has happened, to imagine that such a civilized country would do something like this. Since then, I have referred people to see this movie. I think that it is important to know where you came from...and why we're where we are today. It was after watching this film that I started asking my parents questions because I remembered that as a child my parents participated in political movements in Puerto Rico. I found out that it was for this reason that we moved to Boston, MA. Corruption in PR during that time was at it's best and the police and government were ridding' of all people who were in the independent movement. I never understood it, but now I understand why my parents were fighting.

Thanks Rosie! We need to continue to educate the world... And ask those posting ignorant responses, where they came from... Chances are, they don't know.

Rosie Perez is a woman who has distinguished herself for her work in films and in the theater. She was also a dynamo choreographer that made that old TV series "In Living Color" come alive with her inspired dances that were amazing. Now, she returns as co-director with Liz Garbus of this enormously appealing documentary where she shows her proud heritage as a Puerto Rican.

We are taken by Ms. Perez, and her sister to visit her relatives. The extended family include relatives in New York, Puerto Rico and Florida, where we accompany her in a voyage of discovery. Rosie and her family prove they have a rich heritage living in two cultures. Together with her sister and a cousin, Sisto, they exchange their views about what being Puerto Rican means to them.

This 86 minutes is much too short as we get involved in the stories and the folklore the proud Rosie has to tell. There is also a comprehensive history of Puerto Rico and the people that made it great. She pays tribute to Pedro Alvizu Campos, the man who did so much for the island without asking anything in return. Also, the 60s group, the Young Lords' work in the community is pointed out.

The narration by Jimmy Smits serves well the documentary, but it's Rosie's personality and ebullience that keeps us wishing for more and more.

I am "New YoRican" (just so you know) and "documentaries" like this are made because they serve three (3) groups of people, as follow:

1) "minority" extortionists looking to line their pockets by making "white" people feel guilty so that they buy the documentary and/or support the organization that sponsored the documentary,

2) welfare state bureaucrats looking to line their pockets by increasing their constituency rather than empowering them towards self-reliance, and

3) white "Liberals" whose condescension gives them the psychological advantage of high self-esteem.

Further, such "documentaries" accent and encourage the characteristics most likely to make and keep us uncompetitive in academics, the workplace, and high society. Thus, keeping the social "scientists" in business and keeping us from "pulling our knees up" alongside:

1) "white" students who have learned to endure thorough and rigorous academic training in private schools (while "Liberal" denial of tuition credits helps keep our kids in public school),

2) "white" professionals whose savvy parents have steered them into the higher earning professions, and

3) golf/country/swim clubs of the dignified elite (unless we are there to, like Whoopi Goldberg at a Kerry campaign get-together, get drunk and entertain with our "lack of restraint" or class).