casa museo ismael rivera

Not only did Africans and their descendants restructure their lives in oppressive settings, but against the backdrop of subjugation, some, like Ismael Rivera, became iconic figures of their times. These icons generally exhibited certain common characteristics that separated them from their peers and made them true voices of the Diaspora:

  1. Self-identification as African: As part of the African Diaspora, a representative icon must recognize and embrace his or her African heritage and sometimes this may be in the faces of those who look disdainfully upon doing so.

  2. Relays the realities of the disenfranchised: The icon must have a vested and proven interest in being a voice for those who are not in a position to speak for themselves and work towards bringing about change for these oppressed peoples.

  3. Controversial:The icon often publicly challenges conventional means of political expression in social and cultural realms.

It is not that an icon is representative of most if not all men but it is that most, if not all men are happy to have him as their representative. To be a voice for a people, the icon must inspire the people and, in return, the people must recognize this voice as a source of inspiration, one that dreams bigger and endures longer even in the face seemingly insurmountable odds.

Click on the photos below to find out more about these icons.