Born in Manhattan and raised in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, Ivette Romero-Cesareo has always considered herself to be an islander. Her interest in exploring her family’s diverse Caribbean and trans-Atlantic roots, led her to reroute the path of her doctoral studies in French literature (at Cornell University) towards a comparative exploration of Caribbean literatures and cultures. She is professor of Spanish and Director of Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Marist College, where she teaches Latin American literature, cultures, and cinema. Her research interests include Caribbean testimonial narrative, women’s studies, and visual arts. Her work has been published in journals such as Anales del Caribe, Callaloo, Mango Season, Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism, and Sargasso. She has co-edited two volumes with Lisa Paravisini-Gebert, Women at Sea: Travel Writing and the Margins of Caribbean Discourse (2001) and Displacements and Transformations in Caribbean Cultures (2008). Currently, she is writing a book on aesthetic responses to AIDS in the Caribbean.
Lisa Paravisini-Gebert works in the fields of literature and cultural studies, specializing in the multidisciplinary, comparative study of the Caribbean. Growing up in her native Puerto Rico, she became fascinated by the many cultural connections between Caribbean peoples despite our different histories and languages and has made that the subject of her research and teaching. She is based in the Hispanic Studies Department at Vassar College, where she is holds the Randolph Distinguished Professor Chair, and from 2009 to 2011 will direct the Environmental Studies Program. She is also a participating faculty member in the Programs in Latin American Studies, International Studies, and Women’s Studies at Vassar. She is the author of a number of books, among them Phyllis Shand Allfrey: A Caribbean Life (1996), Jamaica Kincaid: A Critical Companion (1999), Creole Religions of the Caribbean (2003, with Margarite Fernández Olmos), and most recently, Literatures of the Caribbean (2008).
Lisa has co-edited a number of collections of essays, most notably Sacred Possessions: Vodou, Santería, Obeah, and the Caribbean (1997) and Women at Sea: Travel Writing and the Margins of Caribbean Discourse (2001). Her most recent edited volume, Displacements and Transformations in Caribbean Cultures, has just been published by the University Press of Florida. Her critical editions of texts by Caribbean women writers include Phyllis Allfrey’s The Orchid House (1997) and It Falls Into Place: The Short Stories of Phyllis Shand Allfrey (2004). Her articles and literary translations have appeared in Callaloo, the Journal of West Indian Literature, the Jean Rhys Review, the Journal of Caribbean Literature, Obsidian, NWIG, Research in African Literatures and the Revista Mexicana del Caribe, among others.
Very nice – and so quick! I know, however, that the idea has been marinating for some time. Congratulations on a very attractive site and already interesting place to visit.
Gordon
By: Gordon Gebert Sr on March 2, 2009
at 12:50 pm
I thought I had become so used to it. But you’ve done it again. Congratulations, Ivette, Lisa, on these repeating islands of excelence, intelligence and warmth.
By: mario cesareo on March 2, 2009
at 2:13 pm
What a marvelous addition to the polyrhythmic dialogue among our repeating islands!
By: Mary Ann Gosser on March 8, 2009
at 3:20 pm
Gracias. This blog is a great resource for teaching and research. It is very attractive and easy to access.
By: Irmary Reyes-Santos on March 31, 2009
at 4:00 pm
I am glad I connected with you again. Nice articles.
By: vivian on April 5, 2009
at 2:49 am
Gracias por darme los datos del blog. No sé hasta qué punto ustedes anuncian charlas sobre literatura caribeña… Estaré en Nueva York para hablar en Graduate Center (Cuny) el 24 de abril, pero no sé la hora…
Rita De Maeseneer “Esas citas citables en “La guaracha del Macho Camacho”
un saludo desde Amberes (Bélgica)
Rita
By: Rita De Maeseneer on April 9, 2009
at 11:51 am
Wonderful new blog. Thanks. It’s great to be able to find out what’s happening in other islands, particularly the non-Anglophone Caribbean.
By: Vanessa on April 18, 2009
at 9:28 am
Congratulations on your Blog. I was amazed when it came up on a google search on “tsunamis” and “Caribbean”. It is clearly working as a space for interdisciplinary discussions on critical issues facing the region.
By: Brian McAdoo on April 30, 2009
at 12:58 pm
Ivette and Lisa,
Just discovered your Blog through my Google alerts on Caribbean art. Thank you for this great initiative of great quality. Your pictures look great, but where can I find more bio-data?
I will be contributing soon !
Greetings from Aruba – Southern Caribbean,
Stan Kuiperi
Art Education Professor
Visual artist
International arts projects
By: Stan Kuiperi on May 2, 2009
at 11:56 am
Let’s connect. Visit me @ Europe in the Americas blog on blogactiv.eu; also Murray-Jones Society (Afrodescendant Women of the Americas) http://murrayjones.org, etc. Peace.
By: Marian on June 2, 2009
at 7:35 pm
I’ll refer to this on sabbatical with UWI friends and colleagues. Nice job.
By: Jill Schneiderman on June 8, 2009
at 8:28 am
Thanks, Jill. I look forward to hearing about your experiences in the Caribbean.
By: lisaparavisini on June 8, 2009
at 8:42 am
Lisa,
I would love a copy of your poster if at all possible
By: Michele G on October 10, 2009
at 4:03 pm
Please put yourself on twitter so we can increase your wonderful blog in the internet universe and better keep up do date with up-dates
By: billy on June 14, 2009
at 11:06 am
Just discovered your blog.
Great job.
Congratulations and very best wishes.
By: M. O'Neal on June 19, 2009
at 4:18 pm
Many thanks. We’re delighted you like it.
By: lisaparavisini on June 19, 2009
at 4:40 pm
Thanks for picking up stories from el-status.com (so far: Rosario Ferré’s water colors at El Pulguero, Nakuru residency)! Interesting topics well presented. Congratulations.
By: Lisa Ladner on June 26, 2009
at 4:03 am
You are very welcome. And thank YOU for your kind observations.
By: ivetteromero on June 26, 2009
at 3:31 pm
Looking for news of the current Cuba festival led me to your ezine…I am in St Vincent and also www,worldtv.com/karinya_svg.
I am compiling resources on Garifuna using a wiki at wikispaces and to finding novel ways to document oral cultures.
By: rudi daniel on July 2, 2009
at 6:40 pm
Correct URL.
By: rudi daniel on July 2, 2009
at 6:42 pm
Thank you. I will check it out. IR
By: ivetteromero on July 2, 2009
at 8:35 pm
Ivette Saludos.. Te felicito por tu blog..espero que estes bien y muchas cosas buenas para el 2010 y gracias por lo del articulo del periodico…
un abrazo,
victor
By: victor VAZQUEZ on January 1, 2010
at 3:43 pm
Hola Ivette y Lisa,
Kevin Meehan, my friend and colleague from UCF, just told me about your site and it is beautiful–super informative and very well done. Felicidades.
I’d like to send you both a copy of my book; please write to me via email and send me your addresses so I can put it in the mail. Tomorrow I’m leaving for NJ/NY. I’ll be doing a book signing and reading in SoHo on Thursday night if you’re in the city. The exact address is on the calendar of events tab on my site; it’s at 7:00 at McNally Jackson on Prince St.
Congrats again on such a great site. Hope to hear from you soon,
Cecilia
By: Cecilia Rodriguez Milanes on July 4, 2009
at 8:12 pm
Dear Lisa Paravisini-Gebert:
Thanks so much for highlighting my Daily Star piece on your website, which is delightful and rich (and very attractive!) I’ve suggested your companion on Ms. Kincaid to friends and students; I was lucky enough to have her as my thesis advisor at Harvard. I look forward to seeing your blog grow this summer.
Best, Nora Khan
By: Nora Khan on July 5, 2009
at 1:59 pm
This is one of the best blogs in the web. Felicidades from Puerto Rico.
By: Reinaldo Millán on July 13, 2009
at 9:13 pm
Thank you for the encouragement, Reinaldo. That is very kind.
Lisa
By: lisaparavisini on July 14, 2009
at 5:14 am
Hi Ladies,
I have enjoyed reading your blog as part of my pr research on a new book I am promoting on Caribbean architecture. I was hoping we could have an offline email exchange about it?
By: jessica napp on July 15, 2009
at 1:27 pm
Hi, I wanted to express my pleasure at having stumbled upon your blog. What a resource this is. I especially liked the article on the new Diaz-edited collection. I didn’t know he had one coming out, and I wonder if his contribution is the one I’m thinking of that appeared in the New Yorker. The Padura-penned piece on Virgilio Pinera, too; if you’ll allow me a moment of shameless self-promotion, I’ve got a blog I hope you’ll check out called ZafraLit. It publishes translations of new short fiction by contemporary Cuban authors.
Keep up the great work. There certainly aren’t many blogs whose scope is this broad and whose eye for interesting material is this keen.
By: dave iaconangelo on July 17, 2009
at 10:28 pm
Thank you so much for the kind words. Much appreciated. We’ll take a look at your blog. Sounds great.
By: lisaparavisini on July 17, 2009
at 10:58 pm
Please join Twitter guys! You’re doing such an great job it needs to be shared!
By: Tracy on July 31, 2009
at 10:52 pm
Will do, Tracy.
By: lisaparavisini on July 31, 2009
at 10:53 pm
I am looking to buy some of the Michael Jackson Stamps can you tell me if the St Vincents postal service still sell them and how would I go about getting them
thank you
trini living in New Jersey
By: Ann on August 5, 2009
at 5:03 pm
this is just great! Well done!!
mc
By: maria cristina on August 11, 2009
at 4:06 am
Thanks, Maria Cristina. I’m glad you like it.
Lisa
By: lisaparavisini on August 11, 2009
at 11:25 am
Very nice lots of information MY family and I would like to experience carnival. when will
information for 2010 be available
We would like to do st johns or st thomas
please reply
Renee
By: Renee Willis Seymour on August 17, 2009
at 12:45 pm
Dear Renee,
Your best bet is to check out the tourism offices of the particular islands that interest you. There are many of them on-line. For the ones you mention, you may want to see http://www.usvitourism.vi/
Good luck.
IR
By: ivetteromero on August 20, 2009
at 3:21 pm
Great blog and may I add my voice to those urging you to join Twitter? I just posted a link to your post on Marie Chauvet from my @bulldozia account! (And hi Lisa – it was nice to see you again in July!)
By: Alasdair Pettinger on August 23, 2009
at 4:53 am
Hi: I’m glad you like the blog. We will do twitter. It’s time.
Lisa
By: lisaparavisini on August 23, 2009
at 6:08 am
Hi Lisa, It’s lucky for to have logged on to your blog. I have been searching for clues regarding de-colonization. Our Moro homeland of Mindanao and Sulu, representated by the Sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao, which until the early 20th century was still an independent monarchy, have been languishing impoverishly under the yoke of Philippine colonialism officially since 1946.
Our ancestors fought the Spanish conquistadores for some 377 years, the Americans and the Japanese for almost three decades, but they were never subdued. Almost a spent force after the Japanese occupation in mid-1940s, the Moro people and the Sultanate of Sulu tamely agreed to become a protectorate of the U.S. government. However, the latter reneged on two treaties: The Carpenter Agreement and Bates Treaty by giving its colony (Philippines) the prerogative to colonize the Moro Sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao.
Now, may I ask: Does the UN de-colonization programme apply to the case of the Moro people in South Philippines?
Thank you.
Zakaria
By: Zakaria Abdullah on August 31, 2009
at 9:32 am
Dear Zakaria
I’m aware that the history of your country and of many Caribbean islands have things in common when it comes to the colonial past (and present). Under http://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/decolonization/main.htm you might find something about the Philippines but I can’t recall having seen the case of the Moro people in South Philippines mentioned in the reports I examined.
I hope that you will one day find a peaceful solution to your problem – that’s what I also hope for Puerto Rico.
Best,
Lisa
By: Lisa Ladner on August 31, 2009
at 6:13 pm
Dear Friends @ Repeating Islands ~
Perhaps you’d be interested in seeing a copy of Mia Leonin’s “Havana and Other Missing Fathers”? Take a look ~ http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/BOOKS/bid2134.htm ~ and let me know if you’d like to see a copy for review / author interview.
Best wishes,
HS
By: Holly on August 31, 2009
at 1:57 pm
Dear Holly,
Will do! Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I would love to see a copy.
Best regards,
IR
By: ivetteromero on September 7, 2009
at 10:38 am
Dear Ivette,
Could you help us spread the word for a “call for works” for an upcoming photo/art exhibition in St. Croix? We’re especially looking for USVI artists that could contribute to this PR-USVI friendship event. Details: http://www.cmcarts.org/Events/DailyStrife.html Deadline: Sept. 18, 2009!
Thanks and keep up the great blog,
Lisa
By: Lisa Ladner on September 13, 2009
at 1:38 pm
Hello
It’s fantastic to see your work from puerto-rico. Le escribo desde Guadalupe / Martinique / Haïti de donde manejamos desde 10 años el sitio GENS DE LA CARAÏBE , Gente del Caribe, carribean people. Lo siento esta solamente en francès pero espero que eso va a cambiar. We work also on e project of Cultural Guide of our caribbean and I hope we will be able to join our efforts. Kenbé pa lagé !
Kawool
By: Karole Gizolme on September 21, 2009
at 8:13 am
Thank you very much. J’avais déjà remarquée Gens de la Caraïbe et je le trouve très intéressant et utile. Merci beaucoup de nous lire et de nous avoir écrit! Seguiremos en contacto.
IR
By: ivetteromero on September 21, 2009
at 10:37 pm
Thank you for an excellent and thorough blog.
I am from Martinique and always surprised to read comprehensive article on the artists of my island and then so many more about plenty of others from different places in the caribbean.
I hope your blog has a long life ahead!
By: Muriel on September 23, 2009
at 3:10 pm
A multimedia website called “Jamaica: The Glass Closet” just launched.
http://pulitzergateway.org/the-glass-closet
The project includes videos, articles and testimonies from gay Jamaican men and those living in the shadows with HIV.
From a strident Parliamentary figure to an openly gay preacher, we cross class, cultural and social lines to better understand why Jamaica is known to be one of the most violently homophobic societies in the world.
We examine the strict anti-sodomy laws and often violently homophobic social currents that are also skewing Jamaica’s national HIV infection rates.
We also explore the national AIDS program that uses local community leaders to educate people about the country’s free anti-retrioviral medicine program and lessen the stigma surrounding the disease.
PBS Worldfocus and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting report on how Jamaica’s cultural, political and religious traditions are making it difficult for public health officials to contain the epidemic.
More coverage is also available at: http://worldfocus.org/blog/tag/the-glass-closet/
Thank you,
Lisa Biagiotti
By: Lisa Biagiotti on September 23, 2009
at 9:41 pm
Thank you very much on the information about “Jamaica: The Glass Closet.” I am keenly interested in this topic and will add a post about it. Best regards, IR
By: ivetteromero on September 26, 2009
at 10:42 am
HI LIKE TO BE A CONTRIBUTOR
TO THE WEBSITE
ISMAEL
By: ISMAEL NUNEZ on September 30, 2009
at 9:44 am
Dear Ismael:
Thank you very much for your interest. For the moment this is something we’re doing just the two of us. However, if we decide to open it up to other contributoors, we’ll certainly call on you.
Lisa
By: lisaparavisini on September 30, 2009
at 6:10 pm
Acabo de leer el articulo sobre la influencia cataluna en el Caribe, y desafortunadamente no discute un asunto muy importante: en terminos proporcinales/numeros, los catalanes tienen mucho mas influencia en la politica de PR que en caulquier otra isla.
By: gerardo on October 5, 2009
at 8:10 am
A very interesting site.Hope you keep it up! Was elated that I could get some info needed for a project.
Thanks
By: Mathurine Emmanuel on October 5, 2009
at 10:46 am
Thank you, Mathurine
By: lisaparavisini on October 5, 2009
at 10:56 am
I found this quite by accident (no such thing as an accident!) as I was researching Divali.
As an expat living I the Caribbean, I find this site so interesting and am pleased I found it.
By: Barbara Lake on October 13, 2009
at 11:37 am
Dear Lisa,
I am a doctoral student at UPR-Rio Piedras. I missed your paper, Bridging the Islands: Ecocritical Theories… at the conference in Mayaguez and was hoping we could discuss it via email. I am very interested in using ecocritical theory to examine Children’s literature in the Caribbean. My email is melissa.garcia4@upr.edu. I hope we can begin a correspondence. Your blog is a wonderful resource and much needed.
Thank you, melissa
By: melissa garcia on October 22, 2009
at 4:20 pm
Happy birthday, Ivette!
And many thanks again to you and Lisa Paravisini-Gebert for “Repeating Islands”, a truly outstanding resource.
Kind regards,
Michael O’Neal
By: M. O'Neal on October 25, 2009
at 12:12 pm
And many thanks to you for your kind words.
Cheers,
Ivette
By: ivetteromero on October 25, 2009
at 6:03 pm
Jamaican culinary superstar, Levi Roots of Dragons’ Den fame won Best New Product at the inaugural World Food Awards on Saturday 31st October at London’s Hilton Park Lane.
I have a full release and images – do get in touch for more information.
By: Puja Vedi, Director LiveStyle Media on November 1, 2009
at 3:37 pm
Jamaican culinary superstar, Levi Roots of Dragons’ Den fame won Best New Product at the inaugural World Food Awards on Saturday 31st October at London’s Hilton Park Lane.
I have a full release and images – do get in touch for more information.
puja@livestylemedia.co.uk
By: Puja Vedi, Director LiveStyle Media on November 1, 2009
at 3:38 pm
Your blog is wonderful! I’d like to reprint your blogs about Schooner Bay and Antonius Roberts in my publication, Abaco Journal Islands Guide. Could you please let me know if that’s okay? I’d be happy to offer you a free subscription in return.
By: Paige Welch on November 3, 2009
at 1:20 pm
Please do. And thanks for your interest and feedback!
By: ivetteromero on November 6, 2009
at 8:13 am
Please go ahead. You are most welcome.
By: lisaparavisini on November 4, 2009
at 7:22 am
Me encanto tu sitio cybernetico. Me encantaria si fueran unirse a un grupo de mujeres conocidas como las comadres. Me gustaria ver algunas de tus libros leidas como parte del club de lectura.
Cotejes el grupo: http://www.lascomadres.org
By: Nimia on November 7, 2009
at 3:16 am
Very nice, informative site. Congratulations! I look forward to reading and learning…
By: Michelle Joan Wilkinson on November 9, 2009
at 10:51 pm
I’ll add my voice to the many congratulations on your very interesting blog. I hope you get a chance to see my comment on the piece about the upcoming Jewish Diaspora in the Caribbean conference, and hope you will be able to bring the photo album (with the 1865 picture of Sidney Levien) to the attention of conference participants, as I was not sure how to contact the organizers directly, but I am sure they would be very interested. I hope to keep reading more here in the future!
Mimi Sheller
By: msheller on December 22, 2009
at 4:10 pm
Thank you so much for the kind words. And for the reference ot the photograph album, which I just looked at. What a find!
Lisa
By: lisaparavisini on December 22, 2009
at 4:23 pm
Ivette Gracias y felicidades…exito con tu blog esta estupendo
By: victor VAZQUEZ on January 1, 2010
at 3:46 pm
Dear Ivette and Lisa,
I was directed to your blog by a tv producer who saw your translation of my column Candelero, in reference to Tiger Woods and Porfirio Rubirosa. After looking your backgrounds, I would like to talk to you about a project where I think your partipation would be very valuable. I think you would be interested. Could you please email me at beatriz.parga@yahoo.com
Best Regards and I enjoyed seeing my story in English. Thanks also for your great ethics, by giving credit to me as the source of your story.
Beatriz
By: Beatriz Parga on January 12, 2010
at 12:49 pm
Many thanks for the positive feedback. It is much appreciated. We will be in touch.
IR
By: ivetteromero on January 12, 2010
at 2:32 pm
What a wonderfull site and name. Of course Benitez-Rojo and his book come to mind. As a Cuban visual artist and passionate lover of all things Caribbean, I welcome this blog and look forward to reading. Suerte!!.
Maritza Perez
By: Maritza Perez on January 12, 2010
at 1:49 pm
Many thanks for the kind words about the blog, Maritza. It is very kind of you.
Lisa
By: lisaparavisini on January 12, 2010
at 1:53 pm
Dear Lisa and Ivette,
Just came across your blog as I was searching for information about the earthquake in Haiti. What a great resource. I’m looking forward to reading it in more depth, but for now just wanted to say thanks. Lisa, it was great to re-connect with you last year at the American Tropics conference in Essex. Hope all is well. Nicole
By: Nicole King on January 13, 2010
at 6:06 pm
Dear Nicole,
Thank you so much for the feedback.
IR
By: ivetteromero on January 13, 2010
at 8:54 pm
Dear Nicole:
How kind of you to write to us about the blog. It had offered us a wonderful way to reach out to our community of Caribbean-philes. It was great seeing you in Essex. Do stay in touch.
Lisa
By: lisaparavisini on January 14, 2010
at 1:51 am
will be following closely your blogs. cheers!
By: bonvito on January 15, 2010
at 1:01 am
Thanks so much!
By: ivetteromero on January 15, 2010
at 2:57 pm
Excellent news on an excellent blog.. bueno y xevere.. gracias..
By: roberto ortiz feliciano on January 18, 2010
at 2:02 pm
Dear Livette and Lisa,
Please look up wednesday’s (1/20) CAW (Caribbean Art World online magazine) interview. This article is of interest for the visual arts/archeology in the Caribbean. The current “Guadirikiri” art exhibition in Aruba, based on original indigenous rock paintings, would be especially fitting for Repeating Islands.
By: Stan Kuiperi on January 19, 2010
at 10:49 pm
WIll do. Many thanks, Stan.
Lisa
By: lisaparavisini on January 19, 2010
at 11:06 pm
How can I get this blog?
By: maritza Perez on January 31, 2010
at 3:16 pm
Dear Livette and Lisa,
The CAW article took a little longer to upload than I expected, but it’s online now. Please visit http://www.cawmagazine.com, Gracias!
Greetings from Aruba,
Stan Kuiperi
By: Stan Kuiperi on January 31, 2010
at 11:30 pm
Dear Lisa and Ivette, I just discovered your wonderful blog, which I am going to link in ours: http://etnocuba.ucr.edu/
I hope that you will be interested in also adding us to your blogroll as well as inaugurating a dialogue!
Regards,
ariana h-r
(Sorry to post this as a comment but I couldn’t find a contact email on you rpage)
By: Ariana Hernandez on February 6, 2010
at 12:37 pm