Black Flag Boricuas : Anarchism, Antiauthoritarianism, and Th ELeft in Puerto Rico, 1897-1921

This pathbreaking study examines the radical Left in Puerto Rico from the final years of Spanish colonial rule into the 1920s. Positioning Puerto Rico within the context of a regional anarchist network that stretched from Puerto Rico and Cuba to Tampa, Florida, and New York City, Kirwin R. Shaffer illustrates how anarchists linked their struggle to the broader international anarchist struggles against religion, governments, and industrial capitalism. Their groups, speeches, and press accounts--as well as the newspapers that they published--were central in helping to develop an anarchist vision for Puerto Ricans at a time when the island was a political no-man's-land, neither an official U.S. colony or state nor an independent country. Exploring the rise of artisan and worker-based centers to develop class consciousness, Shaffer follows the island's anarchists as they cautiously joined the AFL-linked Federación Libre de Trabajadores, the largest labor organization in Puerto Rico. Critiquing the union from within, anarchists worked with reformers while continuing to pursue a more radical agenda achieved by direct action rather than parliamentary politics. Shaffer also traces anarchists' alliances with freethinkers seeking to reform education, progressive factions engaged in attacking the Church and organized religion, and the emerging Socialist movement on the island in the 1910s. The most successful anarchist organization to emerge in Puerto Rico, the Bayamón bloc founded El Comunista, the longest-running, most financially successful anarchist newspaper in the island's history. Stridently attacking U.S. militarism and interventionism in the Caribbean Basin, the newspaper found growing distribution throughout and financial backing from Spanish-speaking anarchist groups in the United States. Shaffer demonstrates how the U.S. government targeted the Bayamón anarchists during the Red Scare and forced the closure of their newspaper in 1921, effectively unraveling the anarchist movement on the island. This Pathbreaking Study Examines The Radical Left In Puerto Rico From The Final Years Of Spanish Colonial Rule Into The 1920s. Positioning Puerto Rico Within The Context Of A Regional Anarchist Network That Stretched From Puerto Rico And Cuba To Tampa, Florida, And New York City, Kirwin R. Shaffer Illustrates How Anarchists Linked Their Struggle To The Broader International Anarchist Struggles Against Religion, Governments, And Industrial Capitalism. Their Groups, Plays, Fiction, Speeches, And Press Accounts--as Well As The Newspapers That They Published--were Central In Helping To Develop An Anarchist Vision For Puerto Ricans At A Time When The Island Was A Political No-man's-land, Neither An Official U.s. Colony Or State Nor An Independent Country.^ Exploring The Rise Of Artisan And Worker-based Centers To Develop Class Consciousness, Shaffer Follows The Island's Anarchists As They Cautiously Joined The Afl-linked Federación Libre De Trabajadores, The Largest Labor Organization In Puerto Rico. Critiquing The Union From Within, Anarchists Worked With Reformers While Continuing To Pursue A More Radical Agenda Achieved By Direct Action Rather Than Parliamentary Politics. Shaffer Also Traces Anarchists' Alliances With Freethinkers Seeking To Reform Education, Progressive Factions Engaged In Attacking The Church And Organized Religion, And The Emerging Socialist Movement On The Island In The 1910s. The Most Successful Anarchist Organization To Emerge In Puerto Rico--he Bayamón Bloc--ounded El Comunista, The Longest-running, Most Financially Successful Anarchist Newspaper In The Island's History. Stridently Attacking U.s.^ Militarism And Interventionism In The Caribbean Basin, The Newspaper Found Growing Distribution Throughout And Financial Backing From Spanish-speaking Anarchist Groups In The United States. Shaffer Demonstrates How The U.s. Government Targeted The Bayamón Anarchists During The Red Scare And Forced The Closure Of Their Newspaper In 1921, Effectively Unraveling The Anarchist Movement On The Island.--publisher's Website. Introduction: Cultural Politics And Transnational Anarchism In Puerto Rico -- The Roots Of Anarchism And Radical Labor Politics In Puerto Rico, 1870-1899 -- Radicals And Reformers: Anarchists, Electoral Politics, And The Unions, 1900-1910 -- Anarchist Alliances, Government Repression: Education, Freethinkers, And Cess, 1909-1912 -- Radicalism Imagined: Leftist Culture, Gender, And Revolutionary Violence, 1900-1920 -- Politics Of The Bayamón Bloc And The Partido Socialista: Anarchism And Socialism In The 1910s -- El Comunista: Radical Journalism And Transnational Anarchism, 1920-1921 -- Conclusion And Epilogue: Anarchist Antiauthoritarianism In A U.s. Colony, 1898-2011. Kirwin R. Shaffer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This pathbreaking study examines the radical Left in Puerto Rico from the final years of Spanish colonial rule into the 1920s. Positioning Puerto Rico within the context of a regional anarchist network that stretched from Puerto Rico and Cuba to Tampa, Florida, and New York City, Kirwin R. Shaffer illustrates how anarchists linked their struggle to the broader international anarchist struggles against religion, governments, and industrial capitalism. Their groups, speeches, and press accounts--as well as the newspapers that they published--were central in helping to develop an anarchist vision for Puerto Ricans at a time when the island was a political no-man's-land, neither an official U.S. colony or state nor an independent country.Exploring the rise of artisan and worker-based centers to develop class consciousness, Shaffer follows the island's anarchists as they cautiously joined the AFL-linked Federación Libre de Trabajadores, the largest labor organization in Puerto Rico. Critiquing the union from within, anarchists worked with reformers while continuing to pursue a more radical agenda achieved by direct action rather than parliamentary politics. Shaffer also traces anarchists' alliances with freethinkers seeking to reform education, progressive factions engaged in attacking the Church and organized religion, and the emerging Socialist movement on the island in the 1910s.The most successful anarchist organization to emerge in Puerto Rico, the Bayamón bloc founded __El Comunista,__ the longest-running, most financially successful anarchist newspaper in the island's history. Stridently attacking U.S. militarism and interventionism in the Caribbean Basin, the newspaper found growing distribution throughout and financial backing from Spanish-speaking anarchist groups in the United States. Shaffer demonstrates how the U.S. government targeted the Bayamón anarchists during the Red Scare and forced the closure of their newspaper in 1921, effectively unraveling the anarchist movement on the island. Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Contents 10 Acknowledgments 12 Abbreviations and Style Notes 14 Prologue 16 Introduction: Cultural Politics and Transnational Anarchism in Puerto Rico 20 1. The Roots of Anarchism and Radical Labor Politics in Puerto Rico, 1870s–1899 42 2. Radicals and Reformers: Anarchists, Electoral Politics, and the Unions, 1900–1910 65 3. Anarchist Alliances, Government Repression: Education, Freethinkers, and CESs, 1909–1912 95 4. Anarchists, Freethinkers, and Spiritists: The Progressive Alliance against the Catholic Church, 111 5. Radicalism Imagined: Leftist Culture, Gender, and Revolutionary Violence, 1900–1920 125 6. Politics of the Bayamón Bloc and the Partido Socialista: Anarchism and Socialism in the 1910s 142 7. El Comunista: Radical Journalism and ransnational Anarchism, 1920–1921 160 Conclusion and Epilogue: Anarchist Antiauthoritarianism in a U.S. Colony, 1898–2011 186 Notes 200 Bibliography 218 Index 232