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. […]

Book | Global Histories of the Portuguese Revolution | By Luís Trindade (Editor) – Editor’s Note

12 June 2025

The Portuguese revolution marked the closure of the country’s five-centuries of imperial history as well as its 48-year authoritarian period, a dramatic moment of political radicalization and social conflict that took place against the backdrop of rapid social transformation in an increasingly globalised world. This collection goes beyond the limits of national history to locate […]

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

Zé Povinho | Satirical beloved popular icon celebrated today – Portugal 

12 June 2025

The creation of the beloved figure “Zé Povinho”, the iconic everyman created by Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro (1846–1905), is being celebrated today in Portugal for his 150th anniversary, marking a century‑and‑a‑half since his debut on 12 June 1875 in the satirical magazine A Lanterna Mágica. Attention once again turns to the enduring legacy of his creator, one of the nation’s […]

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

Community | California Legislature Honors Portuguese-American Community – Sacramento, CA

11 June 2025

On June 9, 2025, the California State Assembly and Senate jointly honored the Portuguese-American community by adopting Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR 91) introduced on May 29, 2025, by Assembly member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.  The resolution officially proclaims June as Portuguese Heritage Month, recognizes June 10 as the Day of Portugal, and designates June 9 as the […]

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

Community | SL Benfica and FC Porto playing in the 2025 Club World Cup – FIFA, US

10 June 2025

Portugal’s two most relevant football clubs, FC Porto and SL Benfica, are officially set to represent the Portuguese nation on the world stage at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, taking place for the first time in the United States from June 14 to July 13, 2025. This marks the first time both clubs will […]

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Posted in Community, Featured, Organizations, People, Portugal, Sports, World

Book | Midnight Is Not in Everyone’s Reach | By António Lobo Antunes | Editor’s Note

10 June 2025

A polyphonic novel set over the course of three days, Midnight is Not in Everyone’s Reach is a stunning meditation on memory and time from António Lobo Antunes, considered by many to be Portugal’s greatest living writer. The year is 2011, and our aging narrator has returned to Alto da Vigia to say goodbye to […]

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

Book | Hummingbird | By Elaine Ávila – Editor’s Note

09 June 2025

When forced to choose a topic for a mandatory high school project, Alex sarcastically says “hummingbirds” because one is hovering outside the window. Alex has no idea that this offhand choice will lead them to uncover hidden family histories in a mysterious journal from the 1860s, find an essential role in a community nest-finding network, […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Community, Featured, People