Images of Puerto Rico, accompanied by the sound of Alfredo “Freddy” Medina’s guitar, mark the beginning of the documentary “Boricua no te quites.”
This film explores how nostalgia and adaptation fueled the creation of Puerto Rican cultural events known as "chinchorreos" in North Carolina.
“We didn't like being here, but since the chinchorreos started, our perspective on the state, on the community, on what we're doing here in North Carolina changed significantly. It allowed us to feel like we had a space, a little piece of our culture here,” Medina told Enlace Latino NC.
The chinchorreos not only became social events, but also a connection to the identity and culture of the Puerto Rican diaspora in North Carolina.
The documentary “Boricua no te quis”, produced by Cristián Martin, is available on Youtube.
The genesis of the “Boricuas in North Carolina” movement
Before starting the cultural events, Medina and his wife, Natalia Santiago Medina, co-founded the "Boricuas en North Carolina" movement initially to provide aid to Puerto Rico following the impact of Hurricane Maria.
Through this group, they managed to send 17 containers, equivalent to 100 tons of aid, to Puerto Rico, Medina said. In addition, the group provided assistance to the Island at other critical moments. Two of them during the earthquakes in the south of the country in 2020 and Hurricane Fiona in 2022.
The documentary captures the evolution of this group in North Carolina from 2017 to its last cultural activity in 2022.
During this period, the Facebook group grew from a thousand to 20 thousand members. The movement had a reach that exceeded 380 thousand people on all social networks, Medina said.
The concept of “chinchorreo”
The festivals known as chinchorreos became the central axis of the mission of the group “Boricuas en North Carolina.”
“My original motivation for doing this was my son. He had a situation at school that got to the point where the county had to intervene; it was a bullying situation,” Medina recalled. “He told me, 'Dad, I don't see myself the same as the people here,'” he said.
This experience prompted Medina and Santiago to create a space where their son, as well as other Puerto Rican children and their families, could feel accepted and appreciated for their cultural identity.
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Events in different towns in North Carolina
Inspired by the Puerto Rican chinchorreo, where you go from establishment to establishment around the Island, organized events that toured different towns in North Carolina, offering varied cultural experiences in each one.
“We strategically designed this environment so that if you went to the September event and you went to the October event, they were two completely different events,” Medina said.
Over time, the chinchorreos were not only important to his son, but also to the entire Puerto Rican community in North Carolina.
The event, which began with 100 attendees in 2019, expanded to reach around 8 participants in 2022.
The legacy of “Boricua no tequites”
The documentary "Boricua No Te Quites," which tells the story of the cultural movement in North Carolina, also seeks to inspire others to preserve and celebrate Puerto Rican culture in different communities.
I hope it inspires other people to evaluate what they are doing for their culture and their people, whether in Puerto Rico or here in the United States. Each one of them can contribute their grain of sand to do something wonderful culturally for Puerto Ricans in the communities to which they belong.
Alfredo “Freddy” Medina
Passing the baton
Although Medina will no longer organize the events, he aims to motivate others to continue Puerto Rican festivals in North Carolina.
In his web page, boricuasennc.com, will share details of the preparation of the events, offering guidance and learning opportunities for those who wish to continue this work.
"Boricua No Te Quites" is a tribute to the Puerto Rican diaspora. It's a testament to how love for culture and community can break down barriers and unite people around a shared legacy across generations.
“My goal would be that in some way or another it inspires current and future generations to be able to invest a little time and create relationships that will definitely keep our culture alive here in the Puerto Rican diaspora,” Medina said.
PODCAST
After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.
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