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. […]

Darrell Kastin: Novel ‘The Undiscovered Island’ back in print – Interview

21 July 2024

By Millicent Borges Accardi The novel, The Undiscovered Island, chronicles the adventures of Julia Castro, who journeys to The Azores after her father goes missing. On the islands, she is introduced to incredible tales of sirens, ghost ships and rumors of a brand new island emerging from the sea, as sort of a sleight-of-hand trick. […]

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

Opinion | Donald Trump return to power concerns European leaders – Len Port

19 July 2024

By Len Port Portugal and other European Union countries are now quietly but increasingly concerned about the prospect of Donald Trump returning as president of the United States and “tearing Europe apart.” Portugal has always fully endorsed the United States and European countries giving large quantities of weapons to Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s […]

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

Book | A Thousand Thoughts in Flight | Maria Gabriela Llansol – Editor’s Note

16 July 2024

A remarkable collection of diary entries from cross-genre Portuguese author Maria Gabriela Llansol, which span dozens of diaries and 33 years. Over the course of her life, Maria Gabriela Llansol wrote many thousands of pages. She left behind 70 diaries in all, which began in November 1974 and continued until 2007. Three of them were […]

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

Community | Author Anthony Barcellos has died at age 73 – Sacramento, CA

30 June 2024

Portuguese American author, Anthony Barcellos died at age 73 at the Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Sacramento, California, due to complications following a hemorrhagic stroke. Born in 1951, with roots on Terceira Island, Azores, Barcellos grew up speaking Portuguese. All four of his grandparents emigrated to California where one of his grandfathers managed a […]

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

Opinion | António Costa appointed European Council President – Len Port

28 June 2024

By Len Port Former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa has been formally appointed to take on the second highest job in the European Union, that of President of the European Council. Ursula Von der Leyen has been reinstated for a second term as President of the European Commission. The nominations were approved at a special […]

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

Protest: EU Parliament elections disregard voting rights of Portuguese abroad – TSP

22 June 2024

For the Civic Association TSP – [Também Somos Portugueses {We are also Portuguese}] – “it is clear that having only the option of voting in person inhibits greater electoral participation of the Portuguese abroad. That is why it is necessary to relaunch the debate on the amendment of electoral laws as a matter of urgency.” […]

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Posted in Community, Featured, Heritage, Organizations, People, Politics, Portugal