Cafecito con… Víctor Fragoso: ser islas

4/23/2026 Victor Fragoso (1944-1982), a Puerto Rican writer, made his mark in poetry, playwriting, and essays. His work traversed disciplines and boundaries, leaving an indelible impact on the Puerto Rican and queer communities in New York and beyond. Originally published in 1976, this latest edition of ser islas/being islands delicately interwines images from Fragoso’s personal archival collections, elegantly capturing the nostalgic and intimate nature of his work with new essays by Archivist Herbert Duran and Gustavo Quintero Vera. “In Fragoso, the intimate and the political do not clash; there is a poiesis of encounter, a queer gaze upon the always-queer experience of being human” (Ángel Antonio Ruiz Laboy). Founded in 1973 by a coalition of students, faculty, and activists, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College (CENTRO) is the largest university-based research institute, library, and archive dedicated to the Puerto Rican experience in the United States. Learn more at centropr.hunter.cuny.edu Follow us on social media! Instagram: instagram.com/centropr Facebook: facebook.com/centropr Threads: threads.net/@centropr TikTok: tiktok.com/@centropr Support our work by donating today at community.hunter.cuny.edu/supportcentro