Elana Gomes

Dr. Teresita Levy is the chairwoman of Lehman College’s Latin American Studies. She is also the author of Puerto Ricans of the Empire: Tobacco Growers and U.S. Colonialism. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her father was an administrator a government warehouse, and her mother was a secretary. She is the oldest of four children and the only daughter of her family. As a child, she grew up in the city and liked to write and play the piano. She currently resides in New York with her two sons.

Dr. Levy believes that food is the central part of her Puerto Rican and Jewish heritage. Her last name came from her father, and her family knew he had Jewish lineage as “Levy” is not a Puerto Rican name. She chose to convert from Christianity to Judaism. She reworked traditional Puerto Rican foods, like rice and beans, to be kosher-friendly recipes. She negotiated her identity with both heritages and learned the kosher laws to continue her newfound practices all the while incorporating it with traditional recipes.

In her early adulthood, Dr. Levy studied abroad in Cuba. She explained in her interview with me that the experience there was very different especially with food. If there was no cheese available, for instance, then people had to make do and buy what was available to prepare their meals for the day.

She mentioned that everything in Cuba was fresh and organic since there was no embargo system. All the food came straight from the farm to the table, and GMO products were unseen as there were no imports of such produce. Those who were rich; however, may have had better chances at getting certain necessary supplies more easily while the middle and lower class-men had to work with the supply that was available to them. One advice she would give anyone who is interested in studying abroad in Cuba is to get into a good program and expect a simpler lifestyle.

There are changes developing in the literature department of CUNY Colleges are there are more literature courses available that pertain to people of color. As the chief of the department, Dr. Levy believes that diversifying the literature department will require more research and a deeper dive into Black experiences throughout current events and history. She also believes that taking a closer look into the different challenges faced in various Latin nations is important as it will expand the students’ point of view and understanding of cultures from Cuba, Mexico, Argentina ,etc.  

One of the most important life lessons Dr. Levy experienced was to expect the unexpected. She believes going with the flow is the only way to prepare for what is to come. She said in her interview, “Be prepared to work, but not as you may have planned”.

Citation

Photo: Bronx Journal

Phone interview with Dr. Levy, Teresita conducted on 5/19/21.

Power point info: CubaInfo.ppt