8. I Have Puerto Rico in My Heart

In this heartfelt and powerful episode of La Brega: Campeones, host Alana Casanova-Burgess explores the legacy of the Young Lords, a revolutionary Puerto Rican political organization of the 1960s and 70s, through the lens of Iris Morales—also known as Edis, a pioneering activist and educator. The episode centers on a rediscovered 1969 video clip of a young Edis speaking in a church in New York, a rare moment of visibility for women in a movement often remembered as male-dominated. Through personal storytelling, archival footage, and reflections on identity, Edis recounts her journey from a young Puerto Rican woman in New York grappling with shame and displacement to a key leader in a movement that redefined Puerto Rican-ness as a diasporic, revolutionary, and inclusive identity. The episode delves into the Young Lords’ grassroots organizing, their bilingual newspaper Palante, their radical platform, and their eventual misstep in attempting to transplant their U.S.-based activism directly to Puerto Rico—leading to a rift with island-based activists. Despite this, the episode affirms the enduring impact of the Young Lords as champions of Puerto Rican pride, resistance, and the belief that 'Tengo Puerto Rico en mi corazón'—I have Puerto Rico in my heart—transcends geography and language. The episode also reflects on the broader themes of cultural preservation, intergenerational memory, and the importance of reclaiming history. Edis emphasizes that Puerto Rican identity is not defined by birthplace, language fluency, or even food, but by a shared history of colonization and resistance. She critiques the erasure of women and Afro-descendant voices in historical narratives and celebrates the radical imagination required to envision a just world. The episode closes with a call to continue learning, organizing, and affirming Puerto Rican-ness in all its forms—past, present, and future. It’s a moving tribute to a generation that fought to belong, to be seen, and to build a world where Puerto Ricans could be proud of who they are.