La Cultura Negra en el Caribe

José Alicea’s 1978 poster La Cultura Negra en el Caribe was created for a conference series dedicated to examining the African cultural legacy across the Caribbean. During the 1970s, Puerto Rican intellectuals, artists, and cultural institutions—especially the Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y el Caribe—were expanding research into Afro-Caribbean identity, resistance, and diaspora. Alicea’s composition places Afro-descendant figures at the center of the conversation, rejecting their historical marginalization. Their bold facial expressions and monumental presence reflect the resilience and cultural depth of Afro-Caribbean communities.

Visually, Alicea merges figurative portraiture with cartographic symbolism. The map of the Antilles above the figures underscores the widespread impact of African cultural traditions across the region—from music and religion to language, aesthetics, and social movements. Created during a moment when Puerto Rico was redefining its own multicultural identity, this poster marks an important contribution to the broader visual narrative of Caribbean self-awareness and the affirmation of Black heritage.