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. […]

25th April: Has time come for another big change? – By Len Port

25 April 2015

By Len Port, Contributor(*) Forty-one years on from the joyous Carnation Revolution that ended half a century of dictatorship, the Portuguese are unhappy. According to the latest Eurostat opinion poll on the subject, the only less happy people in the whole of the European Union are the Bulgarians. “Overall, how satisfied are you with your […]

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

Book: ‘Crises of Empire’ Decolonization and Europe’s Imperial States – Editor’s Note

23 April 2015

Crises of Empire offers a comprehensive and uniquely comparative analysis of the history of decolonization in the British, French and Dutch empires. By comparing the processes of decolonization across three of the major modern empires, from the aftermath of the First World War to the late 20th century, the authors are able to analyze decolonization […]

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Posted in Angola, Arts&Culture, Books, Featured, Guiné-Bissau, Mozambique, Politics, Portugal, World

Book: ‘Portuguese Film 1930-1960’ – Editor’s Note

23 April 2015

‘Portuguese Film, 1930-1960: The Staging of the New State Regime’ provides groundbreaking analysis of Portuguese feature films produced in the first three decades of the New State (Estado Novo), a right-wing totalitarian regime that lasted between 1933 and 1974. These films, sponsored by the National Propaganda Institute (Secretariado Nacional de Propaganda), convey a conservative image […]

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Posted in Angola, Arts&Culture, Books, Cape Verde, Entertainment, Featured, Film, Guiné-Bissau, Heritage, Mozambique, People, Politics, Portugal, São Tomé and Prince, World

Community: Historic Sahar Hassamain Synagogue rededicated in Ponta Delgada – Azores

22 April 2015

Religious leaders, political representatives, dignitaries and private citizens will gather in Ponta Delgada on Thursday, April 23, to rededicate the historic Sahar Hassamain Synagogue. The event is the culmination of a 30 year struggle to save the Synagogue from ruin and preserve the Jewish legacy in the Azores. The synagogue, whose name means “Gates of […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Faial, Featured, Genealogy, Graciosa, Heritage, Interviews, Organizations, People, Portugal, Religion, São Miguel, Terceira, Travel

Honor: Ukulele named Hawaii state official musical instrument – Honolulu, HI

21 April 2015

Lawmakers in the state of Hawaii have named the ukulele the official state “modern” musical instrument. The pahu, the Hawaiian drum, was named as the “traditional” musical instrument. The ukulele, often seen as a symbol of the islands, was originally brought to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants, where it became an integral part of the Hawaiian […]

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Posted in Awards, Community, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, Music, Organizations, People, Porto Santo, Portugal, World

Lajes: United States are in ‘gross violation’ of bilateral agreement – Azores

17 April 2015

The United States are in “gross violation” of the spirit of the last bilateral agreement held in Lisbon, on February 11, the President of the Government of Azores, Vasco Cordeiro, said Friday in a statement to the press in Ponta Delgada. President Cordeiro was referring to a lay-off notification sent by the United States Air […]

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