JANUARY 23, 2023 – September 8, 2023 | Smathers Library Gallery
Pura Belpré, Bringing Boricua Stories to the Bookshelf
Pura Teresa Belpré made significant contributions to librarianship and children’s literature through her 40+ years of activism as a writer, scholar, and the first Black Puerto Rican librarian for the New York Public Libraries (NYPL). Belpré believed in the universality of childhood and dedicated herself to serving children from Puerto Rican and BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) communities. It is crucial to look at her legacy, as her activism is one that many can learn from and is still relevant to the present day. Curated by Katiana Bagué with assistance from Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler & Dr. Ramona Caponegro.