El Museo del Barrio — Attraction in New York

Since its inception "El Museo", museum in Spanish, is the pre-eminant art exhibition venue of Puerto Rican/Latin American art, certainly in NYC, if not also the country. Its theater is also state-of-the-art. Located in the geographic neighborhood of East Harlem, home to over 38 different working-class ethnic groups at one time or another, the Puerto Rican community settled there in 1900, just two years after tje Cuban War for Independence, which is taught in the U.S. as the "Spanish-American War". Post WWII, "White Flight" to the suburbs brought about it becoming a ghetto/slum & with it all the trappings of impoverishment reaching a zenith in 1960. By then, "El Barrio", the Neighborhood, had been coined & it became the cradle (la cuna) of the Puerto Rican community. The decade of the 1960s brought about heroic establishment of many institutions with a focus of Puerto Ricans & other non-European communities in NYC who were also neglected & doing without adequate social services, education, & medical attention. El Museo del Barrio is among them. In 2021, there is a renewed interest from Whites to live closer to their jobs. This has brought about unwanted changes, encroachment, and displacement. Housing once abandoned and unkept, but inhabited, were torned down. Their replacements are above the means of most living in the decrepit conditions for more than 4 decades. The cultural identity of El Museo continues to be at risk as funders, developers, government, & corporate industry all work in tandem to appease incoming middle-class professionals who are following the trend of ridding institutions of their ties to the ethnic groups that created them and the need to have them. There is no diversity in homogeneity nor the "melting pot". Diversity comes as an "ensalada", a salad (bowl),...

On Saturday, September 16, 2023 I visited El Museo del Barrio on Super Sabado! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the day’s events. Two highlights were: the theater performances, and the tour. All the performances were special, but in particular, standing out for me was the performance by Arturo O’Farrill's and ALJA; and the tour given by guide Carlos Jesus Martinez Dominguez. The musical performances were magnificent, a full-on concert with superb musicians. And the tour of the indigenous Caribbean and Taino contributions, was excellently executed by the tour guide. He shared his knowledge of the Caribbean culture and diaspora. I am Dominican born and his elucidation caused me to recall things I heard/knew, and identified with; and he also imparted new knowledge. So much so, it left me wanting to hear/learn more. I am inspired to take a class on the indigenous people of the Caribbean and all that they have contributed to history and the culture. El Museo, keep on doing what you are doing! It...

I attended Super Sabado at the Museo Del Barrio. September 16, 2023 The tour was fantastic! 'Indigenous Caribbean and Our Taino Roots ' The tour / exhibit guide was Carlos. The tour was educational, stimulating and thought provoking. Carlos gave insight to the exhibits. This provided the group with such a good perspective and history. It made one think about and feel more of the past and the present . Instead of just moving on to the next exhibit thinking "oh that's a interesting print, painting or sculpture" we saw and looked closer and longer and gave and received understanding. The knowledge, passion, humor and delivery was outstanding. We were left wanting, needing more and more!! To educate a diverse group and not wanting the tour not to end is an amazing gift. If the purpose of Museo Del Barrio is to educate you have correct person in the position. We were educated!. I am left wondering /hoping there will be more tours or a series of continuing...