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Section:
Getting a History Lesson With a Latin Beat
Hello! I'm Miriam
Medina, the Website administrator of
thehistorybox.com and the writer of my blog
"Mimi Speaks."
Welcome to the
Spanish Harlem Neighborhood known also as
"El Barrio." This was my old neighborhood
where I was born, raised and lived there
until 1962. To all the
Puerto Rican Community I dedicate this page.
SPANISH HARLEM: (El Barrio)
Also Called East Harlem: It clusters around the
110th street station of the Lexington Avenue subway.
East Harlem covers the area between Fifth Avenue and
the East River from 96th to 142nd Street. The bulk
of the population in this area by the 1930s
were circa 50,000 Puerto Ricans, though it is
today becoming increasingly mixed. The Puerto Ricans
settled here because of low rents and freedom from
racial discrimination. One of the sites not to be
missed in El Barrio is the market place
"La Marqueta," that extends along Park Avenue from
111th to 116th streets. You will find a large
variety of affordable international food
and meat products. Restaurants and cafés
offering such irresistible alluring aromas of
numerous Spanish dishes draw much of their
patronage from visitors to the area..
"El Rincón
Borinqueña"
which is a new addition to my blog for the
benefit of the Puerto Rican people and their
descendants. There will be articles in both
languages, music and other interesting topics that
will be published from time to time. If you would
like to contribute articles, humor or whatever may
be of interest to the Puerto Rican people, contact:
miriammedina@earthlink.net
"The photos show us things
we would otherwise have to imagine from verbal
descriptions. That's why photos are so important
they tell us so much more than any text does."
Professor Norman Thorpe
El Rincón
En
Español:Esta sección es
dedicada a los artículos de interés histórico, las obras
de José Martí,
pensamientos positivo, la música y otra información diversa
escrita en Español.
I have included on this page, the Spanish Corner for
the Latino ethnic groups who live in Spanish Harlem.
My growing up in El Barrio, gave
me exposure to the Spanish as well as the
Italian language of the East Harlem
neighborhood . Although English was
predominant in our home, Spanglish was
common throughout the neighborhood as local
Puerto Rican residents struggled to
pronounce correctly the strange English
words, which were new to them.
Out of
extreme necessity, In order to survive, a
new form of communication with its own
vocabulary was created. Hello, "Spanglish."
Spanglish?
What is that? There are many interpretations
of this word. Some say it is a mixture of
Spanish and English commonly used by Puerto
Ricans of New York or better said "Nuyoricans."
It is a jumble of English and Spanish words
and phrases, switching back and forth
between the two languages. Also when the
speaker is unsure if the word is correct or
not, then a Spanish suffix is added to the
end of English words such as in the word "plataforma"
which means Platform. As well as I am able
to speak Spanish fluently, once in a while
in the midst of a conversation I have
found myself at a loss for a
particular word, which I immediately would
substitute with an English one. Oops!
The Spanglish trend has
become so popular that as a result of
migration, and immigration of diverse latino
groups, variations of spanglish styles are
heard throughout the United States.
Spanglish can be fun as well as humorous but
should not become a substitute for correct
Spanish.
Here are a few
examples of Spanglish....that I have heard
over the years and collected from my
friends.
Cell-Phone
Conversation A Lo Puerto Rican Style by
Miriam Medina
Ring....ring....
Petra: halo? quien habla?
Nelda: "Oye Petra, soy yo, Nelda,
tengo un cacho de bochinche to tell you....
Petra: donde tu sta? esperate, que
este nene no me deja hablar...Mire muchacho
que te voy a meter un tronconazo si no sta
quieto...
Petra:
aha...Nelda....sigue contandome.
Nelda: You know que Gloria...Doña Ju
Ja's grandaughter, metió la pata, y está
preñá.
Petra: Wow! No me diga...she's only
quince años...ella parece a little chiflada
right?..y quien fue el caripelao que estaba
fuleando con ella?.
Nelda: Dicen que fue el rubio alto ,
you know the one con las bembas grande from
a hun twelve....
Petra: Ah! Yo se quien es.... Ahora
recuerdo que siempre vi el tipo ese
hangeando por allí. Perate, que tengo la
estufa puesta y se me quema los beans.
Petra: Aha! aqui estoy de nuevo.
Cuenteme...Does Doña Ju Ja know?
Nelda: Por supuesto, que si.... acaba
de regresar de Puerto Rico cuando le
plantearon la bomba. She was the one quien
me lo dijo." I feel so bad for her, La pobre,
se pasa llorando como si somebody died.
Imaginate the problema que Zoraida has
encima. Primero her husband la dejó con 3
kids. Ahora ella está trabajando 2 jobs. Oh,
antes de que se me olvide, otro bochinche....Doña
Ju Ja told me que vió de lejos Zoraida's
husband, y que estaba de brazo con una
gordiflona, Ave Maria purisima, que los
chichones se le estaban hangeando.
Petra: Que barbaridad, Zoraida que es
tan cute y dulce la deja para esa porquería.
Hay! Esperate, no cuelgue.... que jodienda...nunca
falla....Alguien
sta tocando la puerta. Oye Carlito que necio
eres....gimme un break. No! Papo is not
coming out para jugar....okey? No me
molestes mas.
Petra:
Aha.....Nelda.....aqui estoy de nuevo.
Sigue con el chisme.
Nelda: quien fue?
Petra: era el nene majadero de cruzar la calle, looking for papo
to play.
Nelda: bueno dejeme terminar el
chisme, que estoy apurada y se me esta
muriendo la bateria. Tu sabes con quien me
encontre the other day?
Petra: Quien?
Nelda: Magaly....
Petra: Huy....hace tiempo que yo no
la veo. Oye nena, tu sta llena de chisme hoy!
Quentame ma. Esto se sta poniendo bueno, a
mi que me encanta el chisme.
Nelda: Coming back to Magaly, she
said que se casó con un viudo rico y está en
buen pompa. Esta de show-off. Se pintó el
pelo de rubia, y se ve lo mas chevere. Dice
que es un viejo bueno, le lleva 25 anos y
maneja un jaguar. Ave Maria purissima, que
suerte, some people have. Yo no tengo ni
donde ponerlo ni donde tirarlo. Ese marido
mio, is lazy. Hay Virgen, se me pasó la hora
bembetiando. Tengo que ir chopin a la
marqueta, antes de que enrique comes home,
so me voy. You know how Enrique gets, cuando
la comida no está hecha. Te hablo later okey?
Besitos. Bye.
Petra: mire, Nelda, la proxima vez,
pase por casa, que estoy haciendo unos
pastelles ma bueno que te chupe los dedos.
Okey? Bye. ...
Examples of Spanglish
Jorge, mi cariño, what are
you doing here?
Jorge wachale how the troka se parkea.
Oye nene, ya comiste el
lonche?
Mire Pablo, no quiero ver jonquería en
la yarda.
Hey mami, ayer fuí al dealer
de carros y el salesman me ofreció un deal
muy bueno.
Carlito, llame el super para que venga y
arregla el boila. (Boy-lah)
Juanito, come here and give
abuelita un beso.
Mami, hecha me la bendición, que voy
chopin. (cho-ppen)
Voy a cojer la guagua hoy,
to go to work.
Mañana no voy a estar en casa, voy a un
pari.
Te veo ahorita, me voy de
shopping para el mol.
Hey honey, va a chequear el newspaper para
ver si el show está allí?
Marcos, Quiero una
cheeseburger, fries y una soda por favor!
Juanito va al gym para pumpear los
musculos.
Que necio eres, dame un
break!
Voy a printear la información.
Ay, Bendito, el gato está en
el rufo de mi bildin.
I need to tell her que no voy a poder ir
al gym.
Compré unas blusas en el
mol, y estan bien cool!
La llave del agua estaba likeando toda
la noche!
Tengo que estudiar, so me
voy.
Oye mi negro, Que vas hacer this
weekend.?
Oye nene yo no estoy
fuleando.
Donde está el bacuncliner.?
Mami, hay un muchacho in my
class que es bien chevere.
Papi, hice un home-run hoy.....
Alejandra no pudo venir hoy,
porque tiene que babysit a sus sobrinitos.
Petra, voy al banco, to cash my check...vengo
enseguida.
Hay bendito, Ernesto lost
his job y está bien pelao.
Mi amor, wachale la nena, que voy chopin
en la marqueta.
Mire nene, estate quieto o
te doy un sopetazo.
Raul despierta a Reuben porque parece
que está bien achocao.
Oye Marta, el hijo tuyo le
gusta bulear a los otros niños.
Tia, hablé con la norsa in the
hospital, y dice que mami is getting better.
Manuel
Hernandez is a professional staff
development specialist and works full-time
for the Department of Education in Puerto
Rico. He is also a culturally relevant text
consultant and has given workshops
throughout the United States, Puerto Rico
and Mexico. He also writes freelance; his
commentary essays have appeared in numerous
newspapers and sites in Puerto Rico and in
cities in the United States
Manuel
Hernandez has written a series of educative
essays, which are quite beneficial to the
Puerto Rican people. Professor Hernandez
from time to time, will be sending me his
schedule of upcoming events, seminars and
other pertinent matters that may occur in
Puerto Rico, to which we are all looking
forward to. I am honored to have Professor
Hernandez as a literary contributor to
thehistorybox.com at Spanish Harlem.
You blast the music at 8am to clean the
house on a Sunday
Your mother keeps a can full
of recycled cooking oil on or near the
stove.
The biggest pot in the house is burned
from all the rice cooked in it.
Your relatives take photos
and videos at a wake.
You set up a "hamaca" whenever your
family goes to the park
You have to say "bendición"
to your grandmother / mother / aunts when
you come in and before you leave.
Your Mom has two sets of dishes and bed
sheets: One for everyday use and the other
for "cuando llege visita."
Your grandma's couch is
covered in plastic even though it's older
than you.
Your mother keeps the rice in a big
green soda-cracker can and instead of a
scoop inside , it's a tea cup with a broken
handle.
You call all cereal "con
flay".
You are older than one of your uncles or
aunts.
You call any sneaker "tenis".
Your mom / tia / abuelita has a ceramic
elephant on the living room table.
You can't leave a party
without taking home a plate of food.
You go to a birthday party and your
friends that couldn't go are asking you to
bring them back some food.
Your grandma makes you put
on slippers because walking around
barefooted will make you get sick.
Your favorite dish is pegao.
You need that piece of cake
before you leave the party.
You have an aunt who sells pasteles on
the side.
You found out about a
Saturday party on Wednesday.
It could be 100 degrees outside and your
mom has a pernil cooking inside the oven.
"La Correa" or "La Chancla"
were used to discipline you.
The whole family gathers around and
stands still in front of the video camera at
a wedding, baptism, or birthday party and
just smiles like its a regular camera.
You have those huge wooden
spoons on the wall.
Author Unknown
Marc Anthony: Preciosa
Lyrics in Spanish to:
Preciosa
yo se lo que son los
encantos
de mi borinquera hermosa por eso la quiero yo tanto
por siempre la llamare precioooosa
yo se de sus hembras trigueñas
se del olor de sus rosas
por eso a mi tierra riqueña
por siempre la llamare preciooosa
isla del caribe , (isla del cariibe)
borinque,
preciosa te llaman
las olas del mar que te bañan
preciosa por ser un encanto,
por ser un eden,
y tienes la noble
Hidalgia de la madre España
y el fiero cantio , del indio bravio
lo tienes tambien,
preciosa te llaman
los Bardos que cantan tu historia,
no importa el tirano te trate
con negra maldad
preciosa seras sin bandera, sin lauros, ni
gloria
preciosa, preciosa te llaman los hijos de la
libertad..
preciosa te llaman los barrios que cantan tu
historia
no importa el tirano te trate con negra
maldad
preciosa seras sin bandera, sin lauros, ni
gloria oohh
preciosa , preciosa te llaman los hijooos
dee la libeeertaaaad..
coro
preciosa te llevo dentro
muy dentro de mi corazon
y mientras mas pasa el tiempo
en ti se vuelca mi amor
porque ahora es que comprendo,
porque ahooora es que comprendo
que aunque pase lo que pase
yo sere puertoriqueño"yo sere puertoriqueño"
por donde quiera que ande oooohh oohhh
porque lo llevo en la sangre, por herencia
de mis padre
y con urgullo repito "yo te quiero puerto
rico
yo te quiero puerto riicooooooo...
y por eso es que me nace hoy
dedicarle este canto a ese noble jibarito
rafael
y mi isla del encanto
yo te quiero puerto riico ,
yo te quiero puerto riiiiiicooooooooooooooou
The Lyrics to Preciosa was written in 1937
by Rafael Hernandez who was born in
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico
Folkloric Dance: The Puerto Rican Folkloric
Dance & Cultural Center (PRFDance) is one of
only four active cultural centers on the mainland US
affiliated with the Institute of Puerto Rican
Culture for the offering of authentic, high-quality,
cultural programming. Founded by Dr. Ana María
Tekina-eirú Maynard in 1997, the mission of their
volunteer-run, nonprofit 501(c)(3) is to promote
cultural awareness and pride through authentic
performances and high-quality educational programs
in the folkloric performing arts (dance, music, and
theatre), and the historic development of Puerto
Rico's customs and traditions. Music and dance
is a very important part of Puerto Rican culture.
The Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center
is dedicated to those who come seeking a world-class
education in culture and folklore, who wish to
discover and celebrate their identity.
To enter the website, click on the banner. I suggest
you find yourself a comfortable chair and pour
yourself "un cafe con leche caliente
"and you'll be all set to settle down for a while,
for there is a lot to see and read. Enjoy......
Section:
El Barrio Memories
(Feel Free To Add Your Memories to this Section)
Special Mention:
Blog "Mimi Speaks",
"I Remember Papa" (A very
touching narration
) (Feel free
to share cherished memories about your father
or mother, I would like to create a special section
on this page honoring them.)
Hay que estirar el pies
hasta donde llegue la sabana.
El que siembra espinas que no espere
cosechar flores.
Lo que no mata engorda.
Cada cual se reparte con la cuchara
grande.
Más vale pájaro en mano que
cientos volando.
No te undes en un vaso de agua.
Hoy por ti, mañana por mi.
El que no llora no mama.
El pez muere por la boca.
Grano a grano la gallina llena el buche.
Tan bonita la dentadura y
tan mala la pronunciación.
Más vale estar solo que mal acompañado.
Dios aprieta pero no ahoga.
A cada uno llega su día.
Grano a grano la gallina
llena el buche.
No hay mal que por bien no venga.
Ojo por ojo y diente por
diente.
Mientras menos perros menos pulgas.
Barriga llena, corazón
contento.
No cruces el puente antes de llegar a
el.
Donde reina la mujer, el
diablo es primer ministro.
Desde que se inventaron las excusas,
nadie quiere ser culpable.
No se puede tapar el cielo
con un dedo.
Más vale un hoy que dos mañanas.
A caballo regalao no se le
mira el colmillo.
Del árbol caído todos hacen leña.
Quien anda mal, acaba mal.
El que no quiere caldo le dan tres tazas.
Al que a buen árbol se
arrima, buena sombra le cobija.
Palo que nace doblao jamás su tronco
endereza.
Section:
SPICING IT UP IN SPANISH
HARLEM
LATIN DANCING
Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton,
Bachata, Grupero, Ranchera, Bomba, Plena,
Regueton, Reguero and many more are forms of
Latin artistic expression evoking positive
emotions. It is said that "Listening and
dancing to music can benefit people
suffering from stress. The Latin music is
part of the culture and heritage of the
artist who interprets it and for those who
listen to the Latin music, it races the
heart beat and awakens in the blood the
movement of dance.
Today's topic is the "Bachata Dance". Let me
give you a little background on this
sensuous dance. There are many Latin
cultures in the United States, and their
music and dance styles are constantly
changing and intermingling with each other.
One of the major groups that define U.S.
Latino popular music is the U.S. Puerto
Ricans. In the early 2000s the "Bachata,"
was the newest trend in popular music among
the Puerto Ricans. The Bachata originated in
the Dominican Republic, and is also a
popular guitar music from there. It has a
variety of romantic or sad themes telling a
story of love which are reflected in the
mood of the music and dance steps, which
show close sensual hip and body movements.
This dance consists of basic back and forth
or sideways motions. The Bachata is an
informal dance and is deeply rooted in
tradition and folklore. As you will see in
this video, a couple heating up the
atmosphere on the dance floor with their
sexy bachata moves, that the Bachata is an
erotic and expressive dance which many
definitely enjoy watching. Actually this
dance is much like a bolero. The Bachata is
in 4/4 time. The Bachata Dance is becoming
progressively popular not only among the
Latinos in the United States but also in the
world. So as they say in Spanish "caliéntalo,
y menéalo (heat it up and move it.....enjoy
the video). :-)
Here is a link to another video on the
Bachata Dance. Great dance couple in their
exciting interpretation of the Sensual
Bachata.
Just in case you can't see the video
below:
Sexy Bachata
Sub Section:
Puerto Rican Cuisine: Caliéntalo,
menéalo, y
échale pique. Taste the delicious Boricua flavor.
Te voy a
cocinar una comida criolla bien sabroso para
chuparte los dedos.
El Menu de Hoy
Sopa de Pollo
Arroz con Pollo
Habichuelas Rosaditas Guisada
Sorullitos de Maiz
Platanos Maduros Fritos
Una Ensalada
Y como postre: Bizcocho Tres Leches
(Boricua)
Ah! Para terminar no te olvides del buchito
de cafe con leche.
WOW! QUE RICO.....
Sub Section:
Music of El Barrio (Feel the power, passion and
youthful energy of gifted Boriqueños
and other Latin performers
as they express the love of their latin heritage and
culture.
If you love to dance to the
Latin Beat.....I suggest you put on your dancing
shoes, and crank up your speakers....in preparation
for these musical numbers played on YouTube. If you
don't have a partner, then just dance away...and
shake that booty....GO BABY GO!" Just close your
eyes and YOU ARE IN EL BARRIO......Dance away to your heart's content.....
Sub Section:
More Youtube videos of Latin Performers and their
music
The History Box's Choice As Best of the Web On
East Harlem Information.
Web Link:
Eastharlempreservation.org (a well
informed website that covers many areas of East
Harlem, such as Arts/Culture, Churches/Schools,
Civic Government , current events as well as website
listings that reflect on East Harlem's early
history.
Web Link:
East
Harlem.com(created
by Jose B. Rivera, a local East Harlem resident and
community activist. The site is not sponsored by any
organization or business. Mr. Rivera receives
nothing but the satisfaction of highlighting his
community to the world at large.
