Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award
 

1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy – Azores 

The Autonomous Region of the Azores is preparing for a historic year of celebrations in 2026 to mark the 50th anniversary of its Constitutional Autonomy. This milestone underscores five decades of self-governance, regional identity, and transatlantic connection.  The commemorations will culminate on September 8, 2026, marking the formal implementation of autonomy under the Constitution of […]

Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira – Editor’s Note

For a little girl whose daddy is a fisherman in the #1 fishing port in the world, goodbyes are never easy. But before he leaves for sea, her parents share a special secret―a magical bag of kisses that keeps their love close, no matter how far the waves carry him. As the days pass and […]

April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora – Portugal

The Portuguese nation commemorates today the 52nd anniversary of the Carnation Revolution transition to democracy, with a nationwide program of official ceremonies, public demonstrations, and cultural events. The celebrations expanded abroad, connecting the country to its global diaspora, particularly in the United States. At the center of the national commemorations will be the traditional formal […]

Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants – Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Justice is moving to accelerate efforts to revoke the citizenship of certain naturalized Americans, targeting cases where individuals are suspected of having obtained citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation. Citizenship is considered one of the most secure legal statuses in the United States. Therefore, the overall impact of such measures is likely […]

Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award – New York, NY

Portuguese writer João Pedro Vala has been awarded a prestigious PEN/O. Henry Award for his short story “Inês,” a recognition widely regarded as one of the highest honors in English-language short fiction. The first Portuguese author to receive that distinction, his short story ‘Inês’ was selected for inclusion in the PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories anthology. […]

Opinion: Ukraine and the (dis)information war – By Len Port

14 March 2022

As the saying goes, “There are three sides to every story: your side, my side, and the truth.” No one has to be lying. They may just have different viewpoints, but that’s not what’s going on in Ukraine. Stories told in the past by Donald Trump and Boris Johnson were obvious examples of inexcusable lying. The main […]

Read the full story

Posted in Azores, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, Politics, Portugal, World

MARO: Winner of ‘Festival da Canção’ lives in Los Angeles – California

13 March 2022

Better known by her stage name MARO, Mariana Brito da Cruz Forjaz Secca, 24, is the winner of the 56th edition of Festival da Canção and will represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with the song “Saudade, Saudade.” MARO won the Portuguese edition of the contest with both the public vote and the […]

Read the full story

Posted in Arts&Culture, Community, Entertainment, Featured, Heritage, Music, Organizations, People, Portugal, World

Ukraine: Authorities speed up entry process for war refugees – Portugal

10 March 2022

Portugal’s Council of Ministers has approved a resolution simplifying the entry process and protection requirements for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the impending war launched by Russia against Ukraine. Portugal can receive “tens of thousands of Ukrainians without risk of turbulence,” said Justice Minister, Francisca Van Dunem. “We have a large Ukrainian community in Portugal which is […]

Read the full story

Posted in Featured, Heritage, Organizations, People, Portugal, World

Book: ‘Writings on Art and Poetical Theory’ by Fernando Pessoa – Editor’s Note

07 March 2022

Writings on Art and Poetical Theory contains a selection of Fernando Pessoa’s writings (or those of his heteronyms) on art and poetical theory, originally written in English. In Pessoa’s oeuvre one finds not only literary and fictional works but also a multiplicity of theoretical texts on the most diverse subjects concerning artistic movements, literature, and writers. […]

Read the full story

Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Featured, Heritage, People, Portugal, World

Opinion: Portugal’s past, Putin’s future – by Len Port

01 March 2022

It is increasingly possible that President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine could be his downfall, not so much because of sanctions imposed by the West, but because of condemnation by his own people. That’s what happened in Portugal during this country’s colonial war in the 1960s and ‘70s. Portugal’s conflict in the last colonies of […]

Read the full story

Posted in Featured, Heritage, People, Politics, Portugal, World

Book: ‘The Wind Whistling in the Cranes’ by Lídia Jorge – Editor’s Note

28 February 2022

From the winner of the prestigious FIL Prize in Romance Languages comes this masterpiece saga, set in the twilight of the late twentieth century, of two clashing families in coastal Portugal. With the grand sweep of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels, this enduring tale transports us to a picturesque seaside town haunted by its colonial past. […]

Read the full story

Posted in Arts&Culture, Awards, Books, Featured, Heritage, People, Portugal, World