Skip to main content
San Mateo de Cangrejos

San Mateo de Cangrejos

By Aponte Torres, Gilberto

Published by State University of New York Press

English 94 pages 2023
Estimated reading time: 1 h 43 min
PDF

About this book

Establishes the central role of Afro-Puerto Ricans in the island's history and the creation of its capital city, San Juan. Originally published in Spanish in 1985 as part of a book series commissioned by Banco Popular, this slim volume makes an invaluable contribution to the history of Black people in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean more broadly. Today, San Mateo de Cangrejos is known as Santurce-a stylish district in the capital of San Juan, birthplace of Harlem Renaissance intellectual and collector Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, and home of the Santurce Cangrejeros for which baseball legends Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays once played. Gilberto Aponte Torres's brief yet transformative history is not about the feats of such "great men" but rather the "human foundations" of this unique municipality. San Mateo de Cangrejos was founded in the seventeenth century by cimarrones, or maroons, who were fleeing enslavement on neighboring islands and were later recognized as free by local authorities. Never losing sight of the significance of this fact, Aponte Torres details the religious life of Cangrejos, its economic and urban development, demography, military contributions, and eventual annexation by San Juan in 1862. Thoughtfully translated by Karen Juanita Carrillo, the English edition of San Mateo de Cangrejos includes photographs, a glossary, and other new features to help situate readers and further illuminate the deep roots of Black culture on the island.

Availability

San Mateo de Cangrejos is available as PDF at 9 online bookshops. Bookshops carrying it include Bajalibros Argentina, Bajalibros Latam, Bookshop Uruguay.

Language
English
Share

Frequently asked questions

In what formats is San Mateo de Cangrejos available?
San Mateo de Cangrejos is available as PDF at 9 online bookshops.
Where can I buy San Mateo de Cangrejos?
You can buy San Mateo de Cangrejos at Bajalibros Argentina, Bajalibros Latam, Bookshop Uruguay. Compare every option in the list on this page.
How long does it take to read San Mateo de Cangrejos?
At an average reading pace, San Mateo de Cangrejos takes about 1 h 43 min to read (94 pages).

Ratings & reviews

No ratings yet. Be the first to review this book.

Sign in to rate and review this book.

Comments

Sign in to join the conversation.

No comments yet.