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. […]

Community | PALCUS 27th Annual Leadership Awards Gala – Washington, D.C.

19 October 2025

The Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS) hosted its 27th Annual Leadership Awards Gala at the historic Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event celebrated the accomplishments and contributions of outstanding Portuguese-Americans across a wide spectrum of professions and community endeavors. The 27th Annual Leadership Awards Gala brought together Portuguese-American leaders, elected […]

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Posted in Awards, Community, Featured, Heritage, Organizations, People, World

Rabo de Peixe | Netflix premieres season two of acclaimed “Turn of the Tide” – Azores

17 October 2025

Netflix today premieres season two of the acclaimed Portuguese series Rabo de Peixe (Turn of the Tide), continuing the thrilling saga that first placed the Azores on the global streaming map. Produced by Ukbar Filmes in partnership with Netflix, the series has become one of the platform’s most-watched non-English shows, ranking in the Top 10 […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Azores, Community, Featured, Film, Heritage, Portugal, São Miguel, World

Terceira | U.S. Government shutdown leaves workers at Lajes Air Base without pay – Azores

17 October 2025

Hundreds of Portuguese civilian workers employed at the U.S. Air Force’s Lajes Field (Base das Lajes) on Terceira Island, Azores, have gone without pay as a direct consequence of the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. The situation has created a bilateral diplomatic reaction. According to reports, confirmed by the Government of the Azores, Portuguese employees working […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Politics, Portugal, Terceira, World

Book | The First Boat | By José Saramago – Editor’s Note

16 October 2025

International award winner! A beautifully illustrated story book for kids 4-8 about the importance of nature and community, from Nobel Prize winner José Saramago. The sea is the universe close to us. Here is the story of a man who lives at the water’s edge, watching the rise and fall of the shoreline. It is […]

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

Municipal Elections | Voters resist populism and polarization in favor of democratic resilience – Portugal

13 October 2025

The morning after Portugal’s 2025 municipal elections, a new political map is taking shape across the country, while final certified results from the Ministry of Internal Administration are expected in the coming days. Meanwhile, analysts suggest that Portugal’s strong local democratic culture, rooted in community identity, continues to resist the populist polarization that has reshaped […]

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

Summit for Peace | António Costa to represent the EU at Sharm el-Sheikh – Egypy

12 October 2025

António Costa, President of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Portugal, will represent the European Union at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit for Peace, taking place on Monday, October 13, in Egypt. The summit, co-hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and U.S. President Donald J. Trump, seeks to consolidate international efforts toward ending […]

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Posted in Featured, People, Politics, Portugal, World