Author and activist Luis Miranda Jr. spoke on Sept. 30 at the Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics in a talk titled "Relentless Advocacy: The Role of Latino Voices in Politics.”
Miranda spoke about his new memoir titled "Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit That Is Transforming America.” The event was hosted by the Department of Political Science, the Albert M. Greenfield Intercultural Center, the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, La Casa Latina, and the Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies.
Miranda, who is the father of songwriter Lin Manuel Miranda, is a longtime Puerto-Rican activist and political strategist.
During the talk, he highlighted his journey throughout the United States and spoke of the constantly-evolving nature of Latinx communities. He described his time living in Washington Heights, where families came from all corners of Latin America. He highlighted the emerging idea of a collective Latinx identity and the complexities of representing such a diverse demographic.
“Our communities are going to continue to evolve, and it's up to [our] leaders to figure out what is important for us as a total community,” Miranda said.
Miranda also emphasized the changing significance of Latinx communities in the broader context of American politics.
“The dispersion of Latinos throughout the country… [is] changing the political output of this country, and it must also change the way in which we see our political power,” he said. “We’ve become a golden political commodity in Pennsylvania … we are 10% of the political vote, and to win, that 10% becomes key.”
Analycia Melendez, a College junior who attended the event, said that Miranda’s perspective as a Puerto Rican and New Yorker was both insightful and relatable.
“Being able to have someone in the area who’s also in politics is definitely something that’s a different experience … that I can relate to, but also just not used to seeing,” Melendez said.
Obed Arango, a lecturer at the School of Social Policy and Practice, said that he was impressed with Miranda’s responses, including his questions on the current political landscape for Latinx voters in the U.S.
“[Miranda] has studied…the [evolution] of the Latino community, and therefore he has this wide panorama to understand where it’s coming from…and how it is today,” Arango said.
Krista Cortes, director of La Casa Latina at the University and moderator of the discussion with Miranda, stated that she hoped the talk would provide a “holistic learning experience,” where students from various backgrounds at Penn could engage in discussions with experts and notable members of the field.
“I was just really blown away by how much experience [Miranda] had,” Cortes said. “I just really hope that in Luis’ story folks heard [that] there’s a possibility…to continue to do work that is meaningful and empowering to communities that are important to [them].”
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