Excerpt from The New Yorker Magazine.

Luciano wrote a poem that he has since performed widely: "Jibaro, My Pretty Nigger." Jibaro refers to a person from Puerto Rico, and Luciano, who grew up in Harlem, calls himself a black Puerto Rican. "I used the word nigger to defuse its negativity," he told us by phone. "When Puerto Ricans call each other the Spanish word 'negro,' it reflects feelings of love. I think New York blacks picked up 'You my nigger' from Puerto Ricans."

Sorry 'Papa'( a slang Nuyorican term of respect.) I Must respond to  his Statement.. Is He Insane when he states 

'I think New York blacks picked up 'You my nigger' from Puerto Ricans.?" Yeah Right!...But I bet you If You ask him the First time someone in ' EL Barrio ' Spanish Harlem or 'Black Harlem ie.West Harlem.Said it or He Heard it, it was From a Brother or a Sister.

 ie. a Black Person.'you my 'Pretty'Niggah is and was a  term used by a Woman who really really digs a man..Her Lover I have used it many times.On Various Flavas of my Boy friends.(colors)

In the Poem Filipe Just does a standard 'Love admiration poem' which I enjoy Very Much...and put the word 'Jebaro'(hick)  and Substtutes PR. Culture with  Black Slang and New Found Liberation./Identity.

And Its all good. But the stetement from him.I think New York blacks picked up 'You my nigger' from Puerto Ricans."  Nah Baby...I  can't let that go.down like that 'Mejo'cause this is What I know.He Joined the 'Last Poets'Late and Not for Very Long.And They had given the 'N'word more Kilidiscope Designs than a 1960s Acid Trip.!


I Know His Poem 'My Pretty  Nigger well .Its a beautiful poem. But I went to school in Spanish Harlem. and That word 'Negreto' was After not before the defusing of nigger or Before the Black Panthers per say.'Liberation' That’s the Era when before Puerto Ricans were calling themselves  P.R. they were'Spanish'. From Sapin.

When they started Following the Black Panthers and letting their Hair grow  out, and delving into their history. They saw the Africano Connection. Then They were Proud to be Puerto Rican ,and Indian and African and Spanish' The Rainbow' People.

When Blacks defused the word in the Early sixties' Nigga' then 'Negreto' and' Negra' was Used ,now it's' 'co-colo' but Hispanics had their own words to over come Long before they accepted their Full Cultural History, and was 'showing love for a 'Brother' Black or Spanish. And the word was 'Spick'. it really doesn’t matter who got to 'Black Pride' 'and Cultural Pride' 'First' Because History Documents it.

But It Stands to reason. Afros were on Blacks and the word 'Nigger' 'was Defused by the People it was intend on .In the USA Blacks are the Leaders in National Liberation. Then Hispanic, Then Gay. When I say Black ,I mean Black Muslims as they were called then as well. Because If Felipe's Reality were True 1. the Last Poets were a group before he was a part of it the Poem DIE NIGGER and Niggas are Scared of Revolution..

..I think came First before His Poem either way I was there. Living it all Im about his age. History speaks for itself. Everybody wants to Follow after The Leaders and the Blood shed. and The only Leaders Killed in The USA was Black and white.ie The Kennedy's.There were No Hispanic Leaders at the Time.Ezcept Santanas Music.

 But all the Minority's suffered. I wish Felipe was Right in his assessment of 'Cultural' Slang and Growth, as we'd have been the Young lords and The Black panthers as ONE Group, as I think that's the  way it was Supposed to go.

 Carolyn Baxter is a Nat’l .Endowment of the arts Recipient for work from her first Book Prison Solitary and Other Free Government Services Her new book Platinum Dreams Lead Reality. short story’s /poems/Essays of Black and Hispanic Rappers, street hustlas ,playas, and Pimps that lost their lives in the street game in Various ways. available at amazon.com