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. […]

UPDATE: US Secretary of Defense pressed to maintain Lajes Air Base – Washington, DC

21 November 2016

Members of the Portuguese-American Caucus, of the US House of Representatives,have  appealed to US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter to maintain operations at the US Lajes Air Base on Terceira island, Azores. In a letter dated October 19, 2016, the Portuguese-American Caucus emphasizes the fact that the US Lajes Air Base is not only a strategic […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Featured, Organizations, People, Politics, Portugal, Terceira, World

Lisbon: Portuguese language to expand to 400 million speakers globally – Portugal

17 November 2016

By Carolina Matos, Editor (*) According to the New Atlas of the Portuguese Language [Novo Atlas da Língua Portuguesa], published in Lisbon this week, in 2100 the Portuguese language is projected to be spoken globally by 400 million. Published in a Portuguese-English edition, by the Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE), the book was presented in […]

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Posted in Angola, Arts&Culture, Azores, Books, Brazil, Cape Verde, Community, East Timor, Featured, Guiné-Bissau, Heritage, Macau, Madeira, Mozambique, Organizations, People, Portugal, São Tomé and Prince, World

Community: PALCUS Portuguese Heritage Gala – Bealton, VA

15 November 2016

By C. Naseer Ahmad, Contributor (*) The Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS) which has been the prominent national advocacy organization for Portuguese-Americans in the United States for twenty five years (25) celebrated its 20th Annual Leadership Awards Gala in Bealton, Virginia at the Morais Vineyards and Winery. The landmark event had […]

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

Trump effect: Full moon madness across the world – By Len Port

15 November 2016

By Len Port, Contributor (*) Viewed from this relatively calm corner of the European continent, it seems as though the world is collapsing in an unprecedented period of political turmoil. On Donald Trump’s election victory, top Portuguese model Sara Sampaio expressed the shock of many when she tweeted: “Brexit and now this! Wow the world […]

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

Book: ‘The Portuguese-Speaking Diaspora: Seven Centuries of Literature and the Arts’ – Editor’s Note

15 November 2016

Long before the concept of “globalization,” the Portuguese constructed a vast empire that extended into Africa, India, Brazil, and mid-Atlantic territories, as well as parts of China, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Using this empire as its starting point and spanning seven centuries and four continents, The Portuguese-Speaking Diaspora examines literary and artistic works about the […]

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

Sarah A. Hoyt: Saudade for Portugal and the me I never was – Interview

10 November 2016

 By Millicent Borges Accardi, Contributor (*) Science Fiction genre novelist Sarah A. Hoyt was born in the northern village of Granja, Águas Santas, Maia, mainland Portugal, where she grew up. She recalls: When I was little there were often processions down the village street. The village women used to collect flower petals and lay them […]

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