Thursday, July 30, 2015

Cape Verde Heritage in RI "Working the Boats: Masters of the Craft"

Claire Andrade-Watkins is a Rhode Island filmmaker who has brought us some insightful films that celebrate her Cape Verdean heritage and uplift and enrich our cultural spirits by watching them.

One such film is Some Kind of Funny Porto Rican? A Cape Verdean American Story - a feature-length look at what it was like to grow up in the close-knit Fox Point neighborhood, where neighbors were family who looked out for each other, creating a hard working and resourceful enclave. It also documents the loss of that neighborhood in the name of urban renewal.

On Saturday evening, August 1, at 11 p.m., before we encore Some Kind of Funny Porto Rican? we share another of Claire's insightful pieces. This one is about 10 minutes long and is called, Working the Boats" Masters of the Crafts, the story of the Cape Verdean longshoremen on the Providence waterfront.

Working the Boats will repeat between shows on Rhode Island PBS throughout our schedule, but we want to note the first airing so you can enjoy it with us.

For more information about the filmmaker and the fascinating history of Cape Verde, a group of islands off the coast of West Africa, click here.