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By: Elizabeth Guerrero
José Celso Barbosa was a man who accomplished a great deal with his life. Born in 1857, in
Puerto Rico, Barbosa would experience great amounts of historical events throughout his
lifetime. Spanish colonization, the Spanish-American War, slavery, abolition, and the
emancipation, are just a few major events which occurred during his life. As an Afro-Puerto
Rican during the 19th century, Barbosa faced a lot of ridicule from his teachers and other
authorities. Nevertheless, he made it his goal to succeed and that is exactly what he did.
In 1880, Barbosa earned his medical degree with honors from the University of Michigan making him the first person from Puerto Rico to graduate from a medical school in the United States. Barbosa had just begun his career and was already making grand breakthroughs. This is not to say that everything was a smooth ride for Barbosa.
Upon his return to Puerto Rico, he struggled to have his degree recognized under Spanish rule. Eventually Barbosa was allowed to practice medicine in his home country and used the opportunity to its greatest extent. He served Black communities and disadvantaged people with his talents, and also taught multiple subjects including natural history, midwifery, and anatomy. Barbosa was a man of strong beliefs; he promoted political and social reform, advocated for civil rights and universal suffrage.
Every leader in history looks up to someone from the past. Barbosa admired and sought inspiration from other activists and educators such as Frederick Douglass, W. E. B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and more.
Another contribution came in 1907, when Barbosa established Puerto Rico’s first bilingual
newspaper. El Tiempo became an important news source for the people of the island.
Until his death in 1921, Barbosa dedicated himself to his service, and was also a member of the red cross who tended to soldiers injured amidst the ongoing war. Barbosa’s 11 children carried on his legacy; many of them later became important medical professionals and historians.
Cover Photo: https://prabook.com/web/jose_celso.barbosa/1345559
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/jose-barbosa-1857-1921/
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