Felipe Luciano and the Power in Words

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This article is part of Pathways through Salsa. Interested in learning more about salsa music and Afro Latin history? Check out Oíste? Listening to the Salsa Stories of Afro Latin Music.

Felipe Luciano, a prominent figure in the Latino community and civil rights movement, had a significant involvement in salsa music. While he is best known as a poet, activist, and journalist, Luciano also played a role in the salsa movement during the 1970s.

View objects and photos associated with Felipe Luciano by exploring the National Museum of African American History & Culture’s collections.

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Felipe Luciano

Flickr Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Luciano was born to Puerto Rican parents in East Harlem on May 23, 1947. During his early years, Luciano was immersed within the vibrant Puerto Rican community that his mother was a part of. He was also exposed to societal issues such as poverty and discrimination. He was also exposed to societal issues such as poverty and discrimination in his community. These issues served as a catalyst for his desire to create positive change.

Luciano found solace and inspiration in poetry and writing. He understood how language allowed him to express his thoughts on the societal injustices witnessed around him. Luciano was also actively engaged in the New York City activist scene and attended Queens College as a political science major.

In 1968, Luciano became one of the founding members of the group, The Last Poets, with Gylan Kain and David Nelson. The Last Poets focused on Black pride by blending elements of poetry, jazz, soul, and Latin music. Luciano spearheaded the fusion of spoken word and music that initiated a new wave of spoken word poetry in salsa. The group would often perform and record alongside salsa musicians, infusing their poetry with clave.

Additionally, Luciano was a founding member of the Young Lords, a Puerto Rican activist group that fought for social justice and equal rights. Most famously, they occupied the First Spanish Methodist Church for 11 days under Luciano’s leadership to demand more social services for the East Harlem Community. The Young Lords also used music, including salsa, as a means of cultural expression and resistance. Through their community activism, they supported the rise of salsa and its connection to the civil rights movements of the time.

After his involvement in the Young Lords, Luciano focused on his radio and television career in the 80s and early 90s. He joined an NBC-TV New York City affiliate news program as a general reporter and later, a weekend anchor. Luciano became the first Puerto Rican news anchor of a major media network station in the United States. He also hosted a weekly radio show called City Rhythms, a Latin music program in English.

Through his involvement with The Last Poets and the Young Lords, Luciano bridged the worlds of poetry, activism, and music, infusing salsa with political and social commentary. Felipe Luciano contributed to salsa’s growth and grew the connection of it to the civil rights movements of the time. Felipe Luciano's legacy continues to inspire artists and advocates striving for social justice and equality.

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This article was researched and written by Melissa Hurtado, Heritage Education Fellow, Cultural Resources Office of Interpretation and Education.

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