PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS, GILBERTO CONCEPCIóN DE GRACIA, AND VITO MARCANTONIO'S COLLABORATION IN THE CAUSE OF PUERTO RICO'S INDEPENDENCE

Pedro Albizu Campos (1891-1965), the leader of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico from 1930 until his death, Gilberto Concepción de Gracia (1909-1968), the founding president of the Puerto Rican Independence Party from 1946 until his death, and Vito Marcantonio (1902 1954), seven-term American Labor Party Congressman from East Harlem from 1934 to 1950 were the three major figures in the movement for Puerto Rico's independence. This essay shows that despite their ideological differences these leaders were able to effectively collaborate in this cause. The story of their partnership uncovers the existence of widespread support for the cause of Puerto Rico's independence both on the Island and in the diaspora, as well as considerable interest in this issue within the North American Left. At every point in this story, the heavy hand of repression and (the oft-times successful) fight-back are present. Albizu Campos, Concepción, and Marcantonio's collaboration also reveals their deep humanity that demands a more nuanced perception of these purportedly fierce radicals.