Giannina Braschi facts for kids

Giannina Braschi (born February 5, 1953) is a famous writer from Puerto Rico. She writes poems, novels, and plays. Some of her most well-known books are Empire of Dreams (1988), Yo-Yo Boing! (1998), and United States of Banana (2011).

Braschi writes different kinds of literature. She writes in Spanish, Spanglish (a mix of Spanish and English), and English. Her books combine poetry, stories, plays, and ideas about politics. Her work often talks about the experiences of Hispanic immigrants. She also explores the different political choices for Puerto Rico: being independent, staying a colony, or becoming a state.

Early Life and Education

Giannina Braschi was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her family was well-off and had Italian roots. When she was a teenager, she was a founding member of the San Juan Children's Choir. She also worked as a fashion model and was a tennis champion. Her father, Euripides ("Pilo") Braschi, was also a tennis champion.

In the 1970s, Braschi studied literature and philosophy. She lived in cities like Madrid, Rome, Rouen, and London. Later, she moved to New York City. She says that older Spanish poets helped her start writing poetry. These poets mentored her when she lived in Madrid.

Becoming a Professor

Giannina Braschi earned a PhD in Hispanic Literatures in 1980. She then became a professor at several universities. These included Rutgers University, City University of New York, and Colgate University.

She has received many awards and grants for her work. These include honors from the Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. She also got awards from the New York Foundation for the Arts and PEN.

Her Writing Career

Braschi's writing is part of the Latino avant-garde movement. This means her work is new and experimental. Her books are also seen as part of postcolonial and postmodern writing. She is considered a "revolutionary voice" in modern Latin American literature.

Spanish Works: Empire of Dreams

In the 1980s, Braschi wrote dramatic poetry in Spanish. She lived in New York City at this time. Her postmodern poetry books were published in Barcelona, Spain. These included Asalto al tiempo (Assault on Time, 1980) and La Comedia profana (Profane Comedy, 1985). Her most famous Spanish work is El Imperio de los sueños (Empire of Dreams, 1988).

She was also part of the Nuyorican movement. This was a group of Puerto Rican artists and writers in New York. New York City is a very important place in her poetry. In Empire of Dreams, shepherds take over 5th Avenue during the Puerto Rican Day Parade. They ring the bells of St. Patrick's Cathedral. They also go to the top of the Empire State Building. Characters in her stories often switch names, genders, and identities.

Spanglish Novel: Yo-Yo Boing!

In 1998, Braschi published Yo-Yo Boing!. This was the first full-length novel written in Spanglish. The book explores what life is like for Hispanic people in cities. It shows how people move between different cultures. It also looks at how language changes and adapts.

This book came out when some people wanted "English-only" laws. It also came out during times of ethnic cleansing campaigns. The Boston Globe newspaper noted that Braschi's novel showed a "linguistic revolution." This revolution was led by Dominican and Puerto Rican authors.

English Novel: United States of Banana

Braschi's first book written completely in English was United States of Banana. It came out in 2011. This book is a mix of different writing styles. It starts with the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11.

The book strongly criticizes capitalism and the "global war on terror" in the 21st century. It talks about important topics like immigration and mass incarceration. It also discusses money problems and power differences in the Americas. The book celebrates influences from other countries. Braschi has said she feels connected to many famous writers and artists.

Books and Adaptations

Giannina Braschi's writings have been used in many different ways. Her texts have been adapted for TV comedy and chamber music. They have also been turned into comic books and used in industrial design.

Artists like Michael Zansky have used her texts in their paintings. Michael Somoroff has made short films based on her works. There is a play by Juan Pablo Felix and a graphic novel by Joakim Lindengren based on United States of Banana. A Puerto Rican composer, Gabriel Bouche Caro, has created music using her poems. There is even a chair named "Giannina" designed by Ian Stell. Her books have also been translated into English, Spanish, and Swedish.

Notable Books by Giannina Braschi

• United States of Banana (2011)
• Yo-Yo Boing! (1998)
• Empire of Dreams (1988)

Political Activism

Braschi is a strong supporter of Puerto Rican independence. In her book United States of Banana, she declared Puerto Rico's independence. She has also said in interviews that "Liberty is not an option — it is a human right."

In the 1990s, she protested against the United States Navy's bombing exercises in Vieques. She joined other important people like politicians and singers in these protests. In 2012, she spoke at a festival about "The New Censorship." She criticized how big companies control information and ideas. In July 2019, Braschi led protests in San Juan. She joined singers like Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin. These protests asked for the resignation of Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello, and they succeeded.

Awards and Honors

Giannina Braschi has received many awards and honors for her work. Some of these include:

• Danforth Scholarship
• El Diario La Prensa's Outstanding Women of 1998
• Ford Foundation Fellowship
• National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
• New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship
• PEN American Center's Open Book Award
• Enrique Anderson Imbert, 2022

See also

In Spanish: Giannina Braschi para niños

• Puerto Rican literature
• American literature in Spanish
• American poetry