“J-Flo in the House!” Reflections of the Legacy and Impact of Juan Flores’s Scholarship on Latin@ Studies and the Academy

• In Event: A Roundtable in Honor of Juan Flores

Abstract

The late Juan Flores, the prolific author, activist, and engaged scholar, was a central figure in developing Puerto Rican and Latin@ Studies. His scholarship, teaching, and administrative leadership helped position the growth and respect of these fields during a critical moment in their history. The purpose of this paper is to offer a preliminary overview of the legacy and impact of Flores’s pioneering scholarship in the field of cultural studies, his ability to serve as an advocate and curator of important artists, issues, and emerging scholars, while also underscoring his commitment to documenting and theorizing the quotidian aspects of Puerto Rican and Diasporican popular culture(s).

Author

• Wilson Valentín-Escobar