La Brega

2. Levittown, Where The Good Life Begins

Alana Casanova-Burgess traces back the story of the boom and bust of Levittown, a massive suburb that was founded on the idea of bringing the American middle-class lifestyle to Puerto Rico during a time of great change on the island. Casanova-Burgess (herself the granddaughter of an early Levittown resident) explores what the presence of a Levittown in Puerto Rico tells us about the promises of the American Dream in Puerto Rico.

Check out photos and archival material about the boricua Levittown here. 

Cezanne Cardona Morales' book of short stories set in the suburb is called Levittown, Mon Amour. Silvia Alvarez Curbelo's book, Un País del Porvenir, is here. 

Hilda and Paula and Sixto, who share their experiences in this episode, also talked about Levittown in this episode of "Nuestro Podcast."

To read more about this period of time in Puerto Rico, we recommend Concrete and Countryside: The Urban and the Rural in 1950s Puerto Rican Culture, written by Carmelo Esterrich.