Book Talk – Puerto Rico: A National History by Prof. Meléndez-Badillo

Join us Friday, February 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM CST for a powerful and timely in-person Book Talk at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, featuring acclaimed author Jorell Meléndez-Badillo, in conversation with facilitator, award-winning content creator, and historian Anthony Milian.

TO REGISTER FOR THE VIRTUAL OPTION: CLICK HERE

This talk is a culmination of our Boricua Book Club, “Puerto Rico: A National History” by Jorell Meléndez-Badillo, facilitated by Anthony Milián.

This conversation is especially powerful because Jorell Meléndez-Badillo’s scholarship has helped shape how Puerto Rican history is being understood and discussed far beyond academic spaces. His work on colonialism, resistance, and everyday Puerto Rican life has directly influenced the historical and political framing behind Bad Bunny’s most recent album, which intentionally centers Puerto Rico’s past, its unfinished struggles, and its enduring cultural pride. Jorell’s research reminds us that music, like history, is a tool for memory, critique, and survival—and that contemporary cultural moments are deeply rooted in long-standing historical realities.

Facilitating the conversation is Anthony Milian, an award-winning content creator, historian, and cultural educator known for making complex histories accessible, engaging, and relevant to broad audiences. Through his digital platforms, public talks, and community-centered storytelling, Anthony bridges academic history with popular culture, helping people see how the past lives in music, media, and everyday life. His ability to connect scholarship with lived experience makes him the ideal guide for a conversation that moves seamlessly between history, culture, and contemporary Puerto Rican expression.

Together, this dialogue promises to be an illuminating, dynamic exploration of how Puerto Rican history continues to shape global culture—and why understanding that history matters now more than ever.

🔗 Read more about the author, Jorell Meléndez- Badillo https://history.wisc.edu/people/melendez-badillo-jorell/

🔗 Read more about the facilitator, Anthony Milian https://www.engagepr.org/2025-engage-speakers/anthony-milián