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. […]

Education: Portuguese language qualifies for college placement and credit – NEWL

06 March 2017

Effective April 2017, college bound secondary education students in the United States will be able to earn college placement and college credits for Portuguese as a foreign language’. To qualify, students will take the National Examinations in World Languages (NEWL), a test developed by the American Councils for International Education and recognized by the Advanced […]

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Posted in Community, Education, Featured, Heritage, Organizations, Portugal, World

Book: ‘The Lusophone World’ by Sarah Ashby – Editor’s Note

01 March 2017

Portugal’s European Union honeymoon has officially ended. It was the victim of a Europe-wide political and financial crisis and an unstable EU identity increasingly splintered along regional and economic fractures. What does this mean for the former ‘‘good student’’ of European democracy? The answer may lie in renewed Portuguese efforts to deepen and strengthen ties […]

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Posted in Angola, Arts&Culture, Books, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Featured, Guiné-Bissau, Heritage, Mozambique, Politics, Portugal, São Tomé and Prince, World

Scholarships: Portugal Summer Study Program – UMass, Lowell

01 March 2017

The Saab-Pedroso Center for Portuguese Culture and Research, at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, has announced a 2017 summer abroad program in Lisbon, Portugal. Financial aid and/or scholarships are available for eligible students. Students can choose Option 1 (4 week program) departing the US on June 3 and returning June 30, 2017. Students who choose […]

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Posted in Community, Education, Featured, Heritage, Organizations, People, Portugal, Scholarships, Travel, World

Book: ‘Pereira Maintains’ by Antonio Tabucchi – Editor’s Note

28 February 2017

Dr. Pereira is an aging, lonely, overweight journalist who has failed to notice the menacing cloud of fascism over Salazarist Lisbon. One day he meets Montiero Rossi, an aspiring young writer whose anti-fascist fervor is as strong as Pereira’s apolitical languor. Eventually, breaking out of the shell of his own inhibitions, Pereira reluctantly rises to […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Featured, Politics, Portugal

Europe: Portuguese rank second with more emigrants leaving the country – Portugal

25 February 2017

Portugal ranks second after Malta among the European countries losing more population to emigration, the Lisbon-based Emigration Observatory [Observatório da Emigração] reported. According to the report, an average of 110,000 Portuguese/year have left the country between 2013 and 2015. It is estimated that currently 2.3 million (22%) Portuguese born nationals live abroad, a figure only […]

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

Joe Perry: Aerosmith lead guitarist speaks of his Portuguese heritage – Exclusive

24 February 2017

By Susan L. Hornik (*) Recently, Aerosmith’s lead guitarist Joe Perry was bestowed with the 2017 ‘Les Paul Award’ at the NAMM TEC Awards convention, one of the top music product trade shows in the world. Of Portuguese and Italian descent, Joe Perry is the consummate guitarist, singer, songwriter and lyricist. It is no wonder […]

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