Echoes of the Asturian Language in the Banks of the Hudson River: A First Person Testimony

Abstract

The presence of Asturian communities in the United States from the end of the 19^th century (in Tampa’s tobacco factories) until the middle of 20^th century (in West Virginia’s zinc mines) has been particularly remarkable. Nevertheless, the Asturian cultural studies within the US academy —unlike what had happened with the Basque, Catalan and Galician cultural studies— is almost non existent. The initiatives in this field of study that were made were done so on a personal basis, most hinging on an important emotional component and without much chance of continuity. In this article I make a first-person review of what my contribution to Asturian studies in New York was from the moment that I come to this city in 1994 and begin to look for and create spaces for the Asturian language, literature and culture until the sudden appearance of this virtual pandemic-generated world. This world opened new roads to collaboration and made it possible for a much more
atomized community to start working together and consolidate those studies that reflect our current and actual presence in this country.