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. […]

Art: Richard Taittinger Gallery presents Joana Vasconcelos – New York, NY

18 January 2021

The New York based Richard Taittinger Gallery is presenting today the grand opening of acclaimed Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, internationally recognized for her large-scale art installations. One of the most prominent visual artists in the world, Vasconcelos’s work consists of transforming everyday objects in inventive and unexpected ways. She creates traditional clichés of her Portuguese […]

Read the full story

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

Review: When you return home without ever leaving – by Vamberto Freitas

18 January 2021

Azorean Suite: A poem of the moment is fortunately now available in book form, in the original English version, as well as the full translation (into Portuguese) made by the author with José Francisco Costa, who emigrated to the USA, and by Eduardo Bettencourt Pinto, who emigrated to Canada, both poets and prose writers recognized among […]

Read the full story

Posted in Arts&Culture, Azores, Books, Community, Featured, Heritage, Portugal, World

COVID’19: Government declares complete lockdown – Portugal

14 January 2021

The government of Portugal has declared a state of emergency due to a surge in COVID’19, and ordered a complete two-week, strict lockdown for the whole country, effective Friday, Prime Minister António Costa announced on Wednesday. The lockdown could be in place indefinitely, although, under Portuguese law, it will be reviewed every 15 days. The […]

Read the full story

Posted in Azores, Community, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, People, Portugal, Travel, World

January 24: Portuguese to elect next president – Portugal

12 January 2021

Portuguese voters will cast their ballots, on January 24, for the country’s next president. Incumbent Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, 72, is set to lead the vote, with polls showing he may get over the 50% needed to claim an outright win for a second five-year term. If the presidential elections were now, Marcelo Rebelo de […]

Read the full story

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

Curse of Roses: Diana Pinguicha unveils Isabel de Aragão – Interview

10 January 2021

With Millicent Accardi A Curse of Roses, Diana Pinguicha’s debut YA (young adult) novel is a fascinating re-telling of the myth of Isabel de Aragão, a woman of great renown who turns all the food she touches into flowers. Based on a Portuguese legend, this historical fantasy is an epic tale of mystery, magic, and making […]

Read the full story

Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Featured, Interviews, People, Portugal

Book: ‘That Hair’ by Djaimilia Pereira de Almeida – Editor’s Note

08 January 2021

That Hair is a family album of sorts that touches upon the universal subjects of racism, feminism, colonialism, immigration, identity and memory. “The story of my curly hair,” says Mila, the narrator of Djaimilia Pereira de Almeida’s autobiographically inspired tragicomedy, “intersects with the story of at least two countries and, by extension, the underlying story […]

Read the full story

Posted in Angola, Arts&Culture, Awards, Books, Featured, Heritage, Portugal