CHI Sunnyside E22: Living Culture of PR & AfroCaribbean with SRBCC's Omar Torres & Jose Guzman

Chicago Sunnyside Podcast

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Chicagosunnyside.net

Hosts: Nehez Meniooh, Giziribtah Debasah & Kasabez MAAKMAAH

Guests: Omar Torres & Jose Guzman

We begin a series on the cultural diversity that exists within Chicago with the city’s longest standing Latino or AfroCaribbean cultural center, the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center. We speak to the executive director and one of the directors from the center about Puerto Rica’s culture, resistance and African roots as well as the cultural programming and education that SRBCC has brought enriching Chicago for over 50 years now.

In this episode, we discuss:

0:00 - 1:05 - Introduction

1:05 - 3:48 - Our Chicago’s Cultural Diversity Series & SRBCC

3:49 - 8:05 - Kebtah opens the doors of initiation on July 6th

8:06 - 9:27 - First Chicago Kebtah Community Meeting

9:28 - 18:39 - Welcoming guests & their road to cultural preservation?

18:40 - 21:55 - SRBCC: Revolutionary activism & promoting African Roots

21:56 - 25:10 - Youth Programs & Professional Artistry

25:11 - 29:48 - Segundo Ruiz Belvis & Agua de Libertad

29:49 - 35:28 - Preserving Culture through the Arts at SRBCC: Bomba & Afro-Caribbean Jazz

35:29 - 41:31 - What does it mean to be Puerto Rican?

41:32 - 51:44 - Revival of Bomba & AfroCarribean Music history in Puerto Rico

51:45 - 58:06 - The National Anthem of Puerto Rico

58:14 - 1:02:09 - Culture as a Commodity vs. Living Culture

1:02:10 - 1:04:23 - The Puerto Rican Flag

1:04:24 - 1:07:27 - Expanding SRBCC Staff & Programming

1:07:28 - 1:09:00 - Upcoming July Event (19th & 20th weekend)

1:09:01 - 1:10:55 - Exchange Programs & Artist Residencies

1:10:56 - 1:13:48 - Cooking Cuisine, Garden & Mural Project

1:13:49 - 1:18:49 - Personal Projects

1:18:50 - 1:25:18 - Come Visit SRBCC - Summer Events & Programming

1:25:19 - 1:28:58 - Juneteenth an AfroDescendant Holiday

1:28:59 - 1:29:26 - Outro

Links:

Kebtah Doors of Initiation Opening in Chicago

https://link.theblackmall.com/widget/form/AGLNzfRHZZvQLO7XALWl

Kebtah Doors of Initiation Opening in Upstate New York; Toronto, Ontario; Coventry, Midlands UK & Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

https://www.theearthcenter.org/our-branches/mtam-temples?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1UQJTf8nZaYji0X9tS5Hn4mLEfyvK5aJiArPeWsDpAnr8B8wg8c0WBqhc_aem_uGlTlftyt8b9uq-XnlTWlg

Kebtah Membership:

https://www.theearthcenter.org/membership

SRBCC:

https://segundoruizbelvis.org/

Muralists:

https://www.colectivomorivivi.com/

Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective

https://acjcmusic.com/home

https://www.youtube.com/@JoseGuzmanMusic

Puerto Rico: A National History by Jorell Melendez-Badillo

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691231273/puerto-rico