106 Street Is Now Julia de Burgos Boulevard
From 5th Avenue to the East River

By William Gerena Rochet

Tiempo New York, March 22-April 4, 2007

The street naming ceremony and the unveiling of the Julia de Burgos would have been held outdoors if it had not been for an ice-rain stormy day just 5 days before the beginning of spring. Despite the inclement weather, a good number of people showed up at Taller Boricua’s Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center on March 16, 2007.

Susana Torruella Leval recounted how, as a teen in Puerto Rico, she discovered the work of Julia de Burgos and was so captivated by her poems that many years later, as Director of El Museo del Barrio the idea of honoring the poet by naming the street after her was born. This was ten years ago and she spoke of the journey, the role of community leaders and institutions along the way resulting in the realization of this dream.

“In a month in which we honor and remember the contributions of extraordinary Women,” said Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito, “El Barrio East Harlem rejoices as we memorialize the life and legacy of Julia de Burgos.”

The councilwoman linked the attributes of the poet by citing from various poems, reflecting the poet’s feminism, love, her African ancestry and towards the end of her life: despair (she died at the age of 39).

The councilwoman further stated “The renaming of 106 Street Julia de Burgos Boulevard is important, not only because it recognizes the life of such an illustrious woman, but because it offers us, our community, the opportunity to commemorate an aspect of our collective history here in El Barrio.”

Councilwoman Viverito also pointed out that the most recognized and immortalized poem “Rio Grande de Loiza” (Big River of Loiza) made it all the more significant and symbolic that the street naming ended at the River.

Mark-Viverito, who is the first elected Puerto Rican women to represent this council district (8), pointed out that this is the first street named after a Puerto Rican, or a Latina woman in El Barrio/East Harlem.

Gloria Quiñones was the Emcee. The Puerto Rico’s national anthem ‘La Borinqueña was sung by Eva de la O. Julián Zugazagoitia Executive Director El Museo Del Barrio, State Senator Jose M. Serrano, Congressman Jose E. Serrano, and State Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV all spoke. Vice-Chair of Board 11 Debbie Quiñones concluded the ceremony before the unveiling took place (One at Lexington and the other on 5th Avenue on 105 Street).

An Evening of Readings at El Museo Del Barrio concluded the festivities with performers Carmen D. Lucca and Alma Villagas.