🇵🇷Boriken🇵🇷

As Black History Month comes to a close we want to acknowledge a key Afro-Boricua figure who holds a significant place in Black History. Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, namesake of the Schomburg Center located in New York City, migrated to New York City in 1891 and settled in Harlem. He was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico to Mary Joseph and Carlos Frederico Schomburg. His mother was a midwife from St. Croix and was a free Black woman. His father was German and made a career as a merchant on the island. He was born in 1874. By the time Arturo migrated to New York, he was active in political discourse especially advocating for Puerto Rican independence. He, like many early freedom fighters, believed that Puerto Rico deserved full autonomy from any kind of colonial rule and modeled their fight after the Cuban revolution. Arturo’s move to the US pre-dates US occupation and subsequent colonization of the island. Arturo’s early life and the life of his parents were likely impacted by key events such as the abolishment of slavery in Puerto Rico in 1873, the increasing unrest of Boricuas and continued mistreatment of and violence toward Tainos and Africans under the Spanish crown. Upon moving to the US, Arturo experiences more discrimination and identifies his struggle as a Black Boricua as similar to the Black community in the US. He began referring to himself as an  "Afroborinqueño”.

Early on, Arturo primarily worked as a teacher followed by over 20 years as a supervisor of the Caribbean and Latin American Mail Section for the Bankers Trust Company. During this time, Arturo wrote for various publications and pamphlets about his experience as a Black Man and a member of the Pan-African diaspora. All the while, Arturo collected work by fellow Black and African scholars in an impressive library. In 1911, Arturo Schomburg and John Edward Bruce, a Black scholar from Maryland, founded the Negro Society for Historical Research. This was significant because it joined together and created space for Pan-African scholars to write, research, and hold space together. Arturo continued demanding and creating space both literally and physically through anthologies, collections, and essays about Blackness and Black creative expression.In 1926, the Schomburg Collection of Negro Literature and Art was established and overseen by Arturo Schomburg himself and the New York Public Library. This legacy lives on in the Schomburg Center.

A powerful earthquake hit off Mexico’s southern coast late Thursday night, toppling houses in Chiapas state. Dozens of aftershocks have also been felt. At least five people were reported killed.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the 8.1-magnitute quake struck at 11:49 p.m. local time and its epicenter was 102 miles west of Tapachula in Chiapas — not far from Guatemala.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto says it was an 8.2 quake — making it the largest in Mexico in 100 years. He also said it was bigger than the one in 1985, when thousands were killed in four Mexican states.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System said hazardous tsunami waves were possible on the Pacific coasts of several Central American countries, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Honduras, within three hours.

Deadly Earthquake Off Southern Mexico Triggers Tsunami Warning

This hurricane has officially hit a category 5. To give you an idea of the strength of this storm:

Harvey was a category 4.

Katrina and Andrew were a category 5 and Irma is at the moment is stronger than both of them. This hurricane is going to cause absolute destruction when it hits. Puerto Rico (especially this beautiful isla)  Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Florida are all in it’s path. Here’s a checklist if you can afford these supplies.

Food

Bottled Water- a week’s supply minimum (One gallon daily per person)

Non perishable items that don’t require cooking ( Tuna, nuts, fruit cups, Cereal bars, peanut butter, crackers, dried fruits, canned vegetables, chili)

Dry pet food 

Packaged juices 

Powdered or canned milk 

Supplies

Manual can opener

Toilet paper 

Baby wipes ( this will make a great alternative for showers)

Batteries ( AAA, AA, 6V, C, and D)

Flash lights (if you have manual ones even better)

Battery powered radio 

Utility knife 

Waterproof matches 

5 gallons of gas

Tampons and pads 

Portable phone charger fully charged)

Sand bags (redirects water and debris flow)

First aid kit

Blankets 

Rain gear - Ponchos, boots. (avoid umbrellas)

Medications 

Portable cooler

Documentation / Legal End

A closed water proof sealed container

Take pictures and send them to yourself in an email of the following: Drivers License, photo ID, social security numbers, medical insurance cards (of each person) 

Take photos of everything! Insurance companies are not your friends. Email everything to yourself. 

If you have young children and they are able to make sure they memorize your name, address, and phone number

Other tips: 

Before the hurricane hits fill up the bath tubs in your house (extra water for flushing the toilet) 

Bring any ornaments from outside inside 

Trim trees

Board your windows

Have a secure room that you an pile everyone ( has to have no windows) 

Quran 18:27 – Surat al-Kahf