Bicentennial Without Colonies of '76 & Relations Between Blacks and Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia

Our guest is Dr. Alyssa Ribeiro, an urban historian whose work uncovers the intertwined histories of Black and Puerto Rican communities in Philadelphia. We talk about how race, migration, and community power shaped the city from the 1950s to the 1980s—and why those stories still matter today.We also dig into the historic 1976 “Bicentennial Without Colonies” protest, which challenged the contradiction of celebrating American independence while maintaining colonial rule over Puerto Rico. With the 250th anniversary of the U.S. approaching, this conversation feels more timely than ever.