Librería Samer Atenea
Librería Aciertas (Toledo)
Kálamo Books
Librería Perelló (Valencia)
Librería Elías (Asturias)
Donde los libros
Librería Kolima (Madrid)
Librería Proteo (Málaga)
Have you ever heard of the Black Madonna? Have you ever wondered why she is called Black? Our Lady of Guadalupe, for example, is a Black Madonna, and she is famous for the miracles associated with her. My mother once told me about a Black Madonna in Puerto Rico who was said to be renowned for performing miracles. Growing up in New York City, I did not hear many positive things about Puerto Ricans. However, learning about a miracle-working Black Madonna from my ancestral island made me proud of my culture and curious to know more about her. In this memoir, I share my journey to find the Black Madonna, which took me to many locations, including Puerto Rico, Spain, China, Italy, Portugal, France, and Mexico. This journey also led me on a profound journey of self-discovery. I recount poignant vignettes and heartfelt pantoum poems about my experiences growing up Puerto Rican in New York and the loss of my father. My search for the Black Madonna becomes a powerful metaphor for my quest to forge a positive identity as a Puerto Rican woman. Despite my academic success and professional achievements as a psychologist, the echoes of past separation and betrayal grew louder. I began having vivid visions and dreams of the Black Madonna, and through therapy, I discovered that the Black Madonna is a Jungian archetype that appears in our dreams to guide us toward healing. As I paint and write about the Black Madonnas I encountered on my travels and my experiences growing up Puerto Rican in New York, I find a path to healing. This transformative journey not only heals me but also empowers me to share what I have learned with others. Through this process, I genuinely discover myself and my purpose, and I hope my story will inspire others to embark on their journeys of self-discovery and healing.
