Giannina Braschi

Who is Giannina Braschi?

Giannina Braschi is a Puerto Rican writer. She is credited with writing the first Spanglish novel Yo-Yo Boing!, the post-modern poetry trilogy Empire of Dreams and the philosophical fiction United States of Banana, which chronicles the Latin American immigrants' experiences in the United States. "For decades, Dominican and Puerto Rican authors have carried out a linguistic revolution", noted The Boston Globe, "and Giannina Braschi, especially in her novel YO-YO BOING!, testify to it". She is considered an influential and revolutionary voice in contemporary Latin American literature. Her work has been described as a "synergetic fusion that marks in a determinant fashion the lived experiences of U.S. Hispanics." Written in three languages, English, Spanglish, and Spanish, Braschi's work captures the cultural experience of nearly 50 million Hispanic Americans and also seeks to explore the three political options of Puerto Rico: Nation, Colony or Statehood. On the subject of the Island's lack of sovereignty, Braschi stated, "Liberty is not an option — it is a human right."