Nelson Antonio Denis
Nelson Antonio Denis | |
---|---|
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 68th district | |
In office January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2001 | |
Preceded by | Francisco Diaz Jr. |
Succeeded by | Adam Clayton Powell IV |
Personal details | |
Born | New York City, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Parent(s) | Antonio Denis Jordan Sarah Denis |
Alma mater | Harvard College Yale Law School |
Nelson Antonio Denis | |
---|---|
Notable work | (Film) Vote For Me! & (book) War Against All Puerto Ricans |
Awards | "Best Editorial Writing" award from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists |
Nelson Antonio Denis is an American attorney, author, film director, and former representative to the
As the editorial director for El Diario La Prensa, Denis published over 300 editorials and won the "Best Editorial Writing" award from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.[5][6][7]
His most recent work is War Against All Puerto Ricans, a non-fiction book, about the life of Puerto Rican independence leader Pedro Albizu Campos, and the treatment of Puerto Rican nationalists by agencies of the United States government.[8][9][10]
Early life
Denis was born in New York City borough of Manhattan to Antonio Denis Jordan, a native of Cuba of French descent, and Sarah Denis, originally from Puerto Rico.[11] After his father was peremptorily deported back to his homeland, when Nelson was eight years old, he was raised by his mother and grandmother.[12]
Denis went on to graduate from Harvard College in 1977, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government, and then a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Yale Law School in 1980. He then went to work as an attorney with the New York law firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine.[13][14]
Journalism and writing
External audio | |
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You can hear Nelson Denis on WNYC Radio here. |
Denis's screenplays have won awards from the
Denis wrote the screenplay adaptation of his own book War Against All Puerto Ricans (Nation Books, 2015). According to
For several years Denis was the editorial director of El Diario La Prensa, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in New York City, where he published over 300 editorials and received the "Best Editorial Writing" award from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.[5][6][7]
Denis also wrote editorials for the
He was also a cultural and political commentator on WNYC,[28][29] WADO, and other radio outlets.[30]
From 2015 onward, Denis's journalism has focused on the economic crisis in Puerto Rico, and the historical and political underpinnings of this crisis. His editorials in this area have appeared in the New York Daily News, to discuss the history and current fiscal crisis of Puerto Rico.
Denis also gave radio interviews around the US to discuss conditions on the island: including the
He is a strong proponent of
His article on the status of Latino publishing in the U.S.[20] was the second most-read editorial in Publishers Weekly for the year of 2017.[47]
Advocacy and New York State Assembly
Before and during his years as an assemblyman, Denis conducted a neighborhood legal clinic that provided advocacy, advice, and free legal services to the residents of East Harlem.[13][14][48][49]
Denis majored in Government at Harvard,[3] and was involved in New York State government for fourteen years.
In 1995, as deputy director of Yucahu Inc., an East Harlem community group, Denis opposed the merger of
Denis was a member of the East Harlem Community Board (C.B. 11), the Area Policy Board, and the director of strategic planning for the Harlem Community Development Corporation.[13][52][53]
In 1996 Denis won a seat in the New York State Assembly, where he served as a Democrat from 1997 to 2000, and developed a reputation as a reformer.[54] He was also a New York State Democratic District Leader from 1995 to 2001.[14]
The press noted that his mother, Sarah Denis, worked 12-hour days on the campaign trail and that Denis was himself an untiring campaigner who was "often seen throughout the neighborhood campaigning on the back of a blue bus."[13][55]
Latin Kings controversy
In 1994, Denis entered into a controversial relationship with the
Denis and the Latin Kings cleaned up several parks in East Harlem, and attended community board meetings together.[52][55] Denis also pledged that, if he won, he would help the Latin Kings to create a community non-profit corporation, a leadership training course, and a construction apprenticeship program to rehabilitate roughly 800 abandoned buildings in East Harlem.[55]
Denis maintained that "the Kings are the product of 20 years of neglect. These are the youth that Reagan forgot."[55] However, others did not agree. His opponent, the incumbent Assemblyman Angelo Del Toro, said "they're gangsters and a threat."[55]
Another early skeptic was Denis's mother. She laid down rules that included no beepers or babies in the office, but she gradually learned to work with them.[55]
Despite this controversy, the New York Times endorsed Denis for the State Assembly that year.[56]
Works
Vote For Me!
Prior to serving in the New York State Assembly, Denis directed TV commercials and several short films, and wrote eight screenplays.[57] His screenplays won awards from the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and CineFestival.[15][16]
Denis also wrote and directed the feature film Vote For Me! which premiered at the
Starring Malik Yoba (New York Undercover, Soul Food, Cool Runnings); Chi Chi Salazar (Scarface (1983 film), Carlito's Way); Ricardo Barber (The Feast of the Goat); Vote For Me! was a comedy about a 75-year-old Puerto Rican super who runs for the United States Congress.
The film was based on Denis's own experiences in East Harlem. Many East Harlem residents, musicians, and even local politicians appeared in the film, which "blurred the line between reality and fiction to capture the spectacle of New York City politics."[3][57] Vote For Me! screened in over a dozen film festivals in New York and Puerto Rico, and was well received by the press.
The New York Times declared it "reminiscent of Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, but with a lighter touch."[3][57]
The Boston Globe found it "ebullient...politically charged...mixes quirkiness and cultural poignancy."[60]
Vote For Me! also received national coverage from
Make America Great Again
Denis wrote, produced and directed the feature film Make America Great Again, a dark comedy about the immigrant experience in America, which premiered at the Chelsea Film Festival in New York City.[69]
According to
Long Island Weekly reported that, "With the daily political narrative being defined within a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction framework, filmmaker Nelson Denis has taken a satirical crack at addressing these strange times we currently live in. The former
In New York City, the film received additional newspaper[73] and radio[74] coverage from the Latino press, and was invited to the Chelsea Film Festival, for a world premiere on October 20, 2018.[75][76][69]
In Spring 2019, Make America Great Again was commercially distributed in Puerto Rico.[77] While playing in movie theatres throughout the island, the film received major coverage from the island's largest newspapers.[78][79][80][81]
War Against All Puerto Ricans
Denis is the author of War Against All Puerto Ricans, which was published on April 7, 2015. The book is based on recently declassified
The book also documents how the U.S. Army arrested 3,000 Puerto Ricans, deployed thousands of troops and bombarded two towns in order to stop the uprising - the only time in history that the U.S. government intentionally bombed its own citizens.[82][83]
Amongst the reviews for the book, the
Mother Jones called the book "The lost history of Puerto Rico's independence movement."[85]
VIBE Magazine wrote that "War Against All Puerto Ricans, in obvious wake of the island's economic turmoil, is relevant in understanding, full circle, why Puerto Rico is where it is today."[86]
Kirkus Reviews described the book as "a scathing examination of American colonial policy in Puerto Rico...a pointed, relentless chronicle of a despicable part of past American foreign policy."[87] In La Respuesta, the reviewer praised "the book's historical value...a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about Puerto Rico."[88] Gozamos reported that "Nelson Denis doesn't just give us history. He gives us history on fire…a thoroughly researched indictment of over a century of U.S. policy toward one small island…a full-throated eulogy of brave heroes, men and women of conviction, who devoted every drop of their blood to a people and a principle."[89]
War Against All Puerto Ricans was featured on national and local television, including
Extensive author interviews were also conducted in
The
A year after its publication, Rain Taxi reported that "Denis's book is a work of history, essential history...an indictment and a call to action."[94]
The book has stirred some controversy. One historian questioned Denis' writing style and "resourceful imagination."[95] Another stated that it contained "extraordinary and incredible assertions" and that Chapter 14 should have "more references."[96] Denis responded to these concerns with a detailed article in the University of Puerto Rico newspaper, Diálogo UPR.[97]
Denis also wrote the screenplay adaptation of his book War Against All Puerto Ricans. According to
In March 2016,
See also
- Puerto Rican literature
- List of Puerto Rican writers
- List of Latin American writers
- Nuyorican Movement
- Harvard Political Review (Notable Alumni)
- Yale Law School (Notable Alumni)
- Taft School (Notable Alumni)
- Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine (Notable alumni)
References
- ^ ¿Que Pasa?: Ex-politician takes a role at directing. Robert Dominguez. Daily News. New York. 3 April 2003. p. 1.
- ^ Alumni Spotlight: The Candidate. Taft Bulletin. The Taft School. Summer 2004. p.5
- ^ a b c d e Navarro, Mireya, (2003-5-6), Smile, You're on Candidate Camera: With an Insider's Eye, a Film Skewers Harlem Politics, The New York Times
- ^ For Defeated Incumbents, Shock and an Interest in Want Ads. Jonathan P. Hicks. 30 December 2000.
- ^ a b Author Biography: Nelson Denis; Hachette Book Group
- ^ a b Washington Times Book Review; Puerto Rico is a US Colony; May 10, 2015
- ^ a b Sofrito For Your Soul; War Against All Puerto Ricans by Nelson A. Denis, July 4, 2015
- ^ a b Sam Roberts, "The last Big Colony and the First Suburb," New York Times, August 23, 2015
- ^ a b Ray Monell, "Author Nelson Denis releases new book War Against All Puerto Ricans: Revolution and Terror in America's Colony," New York Daily News, February 12, 2015
- ^ El Nuevo Mundo; May 17, 2015; Historia de Puerto Rico desde la Perspectiva de las Carpetas del FBI
- ^ Mireya Navarro. Smile, You're on Candidate Camera; With an Insider's Eye, a Film Comedy Skewers Harlem Politics. The New York Times. 6 May 2003.
- ^ Arif Jamal, "Puerto Rico is a US Colony," Washington Book Review
- ^ a b c d Rising Stars Battle in East Harlem – New York Times. Nytimes.com (1996-08-19). Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
- ^ a b c Hicks, Jonathan, (2000-8-15) Power of Incumbency Vies With a Household Name, The New York Times
- ^ a b W.T. Whitney, Jr., "New Book Offers No Optimism for a Free Puerto Rico," People's World, Nov. 12, 2015.
- ^ a b Visiting Author to Discuss Book on Puerto Rico, California State University Long Beach; September 15, 2015
- ^ a b This War is Escalating, New York Daily News, June 10, 2016
- ^ a b c Denis, Nelson, (9/25/17), The Jones Act: The law strangling Puerto Rico, New York Times
- ^ a b Denis, Nelson, (8/6/15), Free Puerto Rico, America's Colony, New York Times
- ^ a b Denis, Nelson (January 20, 2017) Dear Publishers: Latinos Read Books Too, Publishers Weekly
- ^ a b Denis, Nelson; "After a Century of US Citizenship, Puerto Ricans Have Little to Show for It"; The Nation; March 2, 2017
- ^ Harvard Political Review, Spring 1977, pp.21-24, The Curious Constitution of Puerto Rico
- ^ Denis, Nelson, (9/23/99), History still roils Puerto Rico, New York Daily News
- ^ a b New York Daily News, "Puerto Rico Democracy at Risk," Nelson A. Denis, January 19, 2016
- ^ Denis, Nelson, (2007-1-22) Reforming Albany takes more than talk,
- ^ a b Denis, Nelson, (9/22/2015) Sharks Are Circling Puerto Rico's Assets, Orlando Sentinel
- ^ Denis, Nelson, (2006-12-21) Albany's Political Club, New York Sun
- ^ Brian Lehrer Show; WNYC Radio. Retrieved 09-25-2013.
- ^ WNYC; The Brian Lehrer Show Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- ^ Nelson Denis on The Perez Notes Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- ^ Nelson Denis, "After a Century of American Citizenship Puerto Ricans Have Little to Show For It", Nation; March 2, 2017
- ^ Nelson Denis, "Orwell in Puerto Rico: Congress 'Promises' a New Dictatorship", Nation; April 15, 2016
- ^ Nelson Denis, "No More Colonialism Disguised as Financial Assistance: The US Must Relinquish Puerto Rico," Truthout; March 20, 2016
- ^ Tiempo, WABC TV; October 11, 2016
- ^ "After Words with Nelson Denis | C-SPAN.org".
- ^ http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/inside-city-hall/2015/05/15/ny1-online–former-assemblyman-discusses-book—war-against-all-puerto-ricans–revolution-and-terror-in-america-s-colony–.html [dead link]
- ^ "What's going on with Puerto Rico? | MSNBC". www.msnbc.com. Archived from the original on 2015-08-01.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b "War Against All Puerto Ricans: Inside the U.S. Crackdown on Pedro Albizu Campos & Nationalist Party," Democracy Now!, April 21, 2015
- ^ a b "PART 2: Nelson Denis on the U.S. Persecution of Puerto Rican Independence Leader Pedro Albizu Campos," Democracy Now!, April 21, 2015
- ^ a b When Puerto Rico Rebelled, WNYC, April 15, 2015
- ^ a b History of US Intervention in Puerto Rico, WBEZ, April 6, 2015
- ^ a b The Untold History Between the US and Puerto Rico, WNPR Connecticut, April 9, 2015
- ^ a b War Against All Puerto Ricans, The Jordan Journal, Feb. 27, 2015
- ^ a b The Secret War for Puerto Rico, WGBH/WNYC, April 13, 2015
- ^ New York Times: "Free Puerto Rico, America's Colony" by Nelson A. Denis August 6, 2015
- ^ Publishers Weekly (December 29, 2017) Most Read PW Opinion Pieces 2017
- ^ Hicks, Jonathan P. (2005-08-16) With Incumbent Out of Race, an Unpredictable District – New York Times. Nytimes.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
- ^ Political Notes; Once More, Powell Ponders Harlem Race – New York Times. Nytimes.com (1998-04-20). Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
- ^ Lavan, Rosemary Metzler, (1995-11-17) Chase/Chem Face Music at Hearing, New York Daily News
- ^ Harrigan, Susan (1995-11-17) Minority Lending at Issue in Chemical-Chase Merger, New York Newsday
- ^ ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ State Senate District 28 – East Harlem. Gotham Gazette (2004-04-22). Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
- ^ The Village Voice; The Prodigal Son Returns, 08-22-2000. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f THE 1994 CAMPAIGN: EAST HARLEM; Legislative Candidate Turns to Gang for Help – New York Times. Nytimes.com (1994-09-13). Retrieved on 4 February 2012.
- ^ New York City Primary Choices – New York Times. Nytimes.com (1994-09-13). Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
- ^ a b c Navarro, Mireya, (2003-5-6) Smile, You're on Candidate Camera: With an Insider's Eye, a Film Skewers Harlem Politics, The New York Times
- ^ That's a wrap for Staten Island's SINY Film Festival. SILive.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
- ^ Orlando Hispanic Film Festival Announces 2009 Audience Award. PRLog. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
- ^ Tang, Jean. (2003-10-21) / News / Boston Globe / Living / Arts / Political themes abound in Latino film fest. Boston.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
- ^ Dominguez, Robert, (March 2002), Nelson Denis: Politics as Reel Life, VIVA New York/The Daily News
- ^ El Diario 17 April 2003
- ^ Comedia politica desde El Barrio. El Nuevo Dia
- ^ Waddell, Robert, (2003-04-22), Vote For Me!, Siempre, 22 April – 5 May 2003
- ^ Saade, Carmen Lira, (2003-04-25), Ex Politico de Nueva York Estrena Pelicula, La Jornada
- ^ Eric Bennett Dark Comedies Featured at Film Festival, The Spartan Daily (2004-03-10)
- ^ Film Festival : VOTE FOR ME! Archived 2011-06-04 at the Wayback Machine. Cinequest. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
- ^ Vote for me (Voto Para Mí). cinemaartscentre.org. Dec. 12
- ^ a b "Make America Great Again".
- ^ Julio Pabon, "Re-affirming the American dream with a great movie," Huffington Post, 11/12/2017
- ^ Raul A. Reyes, "With ICE chase and laughs, filmmaker Nelson A. Denis puts human face on immigration," NBC News, Feb. 28, 2018
- ^ Dave Gil de Rubio, "Immigrant Woes At Heart Of Make America Great Again", Long Island Weekly, 2/21/2018
- ^ "Make America Great Again: La Pelicula!," El Diario/La Prensa, 2/28/2018
- ^ Howard Jordan, "The Jordan Journal on WBAI," 12/15/2017
- ^ El Diario La Prensa, Oct. 18, 2018, "Make America Great Again" te Hara Reir y Pensar
- ^ El Diario La Prensa, Feb. 28, 2018, "Make America Great Again" La Pelicula!
- ^ Caribbean Cinemas: "Make America Great Again"
- ^ Patricia Vargas Casiano, "El director Nelson Denis Estrena la pelicula Make America Great Again," El Nuevo Dia, 4/23/2019
- ^ Jorge Rodriguez, "La Denuncia Tras la Comedia," El Vocero, 4/25/2019
- ^ Giancarlo Vasquez Lopez, "Make America Great Again segun Nelson Denis," Claridad, 5/2/2019
- ^ Rosalina Marrero-Rodriguez, "Comedia de algo serio," Primera Hora, 4/22/2019
- ^ a b Kirkus Reviews; War Against All Puerto Ricans; 1/22/15
- ^ a b NY Daily News, "Author Nelson Denis releases new book War Against All Puerto Ricans," 2/12/15
- ^ Julio Varela, War Against All Puerto Ricans Earns "Instant Classic" Status, Latino Rebels, April 8, 2015
- ^ a b The Lost History of Puerto Rico's Independence Movement, by AJ Vicens, Mother Jones, April 21, 2015
- ^ Bianca Salvant, Boricua pride shines, but "War Against All Puerto Ricans" continues, VIBE Magazine, June 17, 2016.
- ^ Book Review: War Against All Puerto Ricans, Kirkus Reviews, January 22, 2015
- ^ Andre Lee Muñiz, "The War Against All Puerto Ricans Exposed," La Respuesta, April 7, 2015
- ^ Hector Luis Alamo, Book Review: War Against All Puerto Ricans, Gozamos, April 10, 2015
- ^ Former Assemblyman discusses book -- War Against All Puerto Ricans: Revolution and Terror in America's Colony, "Inside City Hall," NY1
- ^ How the United States Economically and Politically Strangled Puerto Rico, by Mark Karlin, Truthout, May 24, 2015
- ^ Historia de Puerto Rico Desde la Perspectiva de las Carpetas del FBI, by José Delgado, El Nuevo Dia, May 17, 2015
- ^ a b War Book is Escalating, by Ray Monell, New York Daily News, June 11, 2015
- ^ Spencer Dew, War Against All Puerto Ricans: Terror in America's Colony, Rain Taxi, Spring 2016
- ^ Ferrao, Luis (2015-09-24). "29 Lies (and more to come) in the fictitious War Against All Puerto Ricans". Diálogo. University of Puerto Rico. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
- ^ Santiago Ríos, Miguel (2015-08-19). "Nelson Denis, y el espía que surgió de…¿dónde?". Diálogo. University of Puerto Rico. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
- ^ Nelson Denis, "The Many Lies of Luis Ferrao," UPR-Dialogo, October 2, 2015 Retrieved 2015-12-20.
- ^ Rosalina Marrero Rodríguez,"Lo que se está leyendo en Puerto Rico," El Nuevo Dia, March 2, 2016 Retrieved 2015-5-13.