SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – In a controversial move that has ignited fierce debates across the academic and Hispanic communities worldwide, the University of Puerto Rico abruptly canceled a highly anticipated lecture by Argentine historian Marcelo Gullo just hours before it was scheduled to begin.
The lecture, titled “Spain, Motherland of Hispanic America,” was set to kick off a broader conference organized by the Association of Hispanists of Puerto Rico. According to Gullo, the last-minute cancellation came at the directive of Agnes Bosch, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, despite the event being confirmed weeks in advance.
“This is academic censorship, pure and simple,” Gullo said in a statement to Infobae. “I received a warm welcome in Puerto Rico, with people traveling even from the U.S. to hear this lecture. But the Dean personally intervened to stop it.”
Organizers expressed disappointment but swiftly relocated the lecture to an alternative venue to proceed with the event.
Critics are calling the university’s action an act of censorship rooted in ideological discomfort with Gullo’s work, which challenges the “Black Legend” narrative—an interpretation of Spanish colonialism that focuses heavily on atrocities and exploitation. Gullo, known for his Madre Patria trilogy, seeks to reframe Spanish influence in the Americas as foundational rather than purely destructive.
One Puerto Rican professor, Víctor Colón, condemned the cancellation as an attack on cultural identity. “The nobility of our people has survived storms, invasions, and plagues. We will not be silenced,” he said in a passionate social media post.
Social media has since erupted with polarized views. While supporters defend Gullo’s right to free expression and academic inquiry, detractors accuse him of whitewashing colonial brutality. A particularly heated exchange unfolded in the article’s comment section, with some calling Spain a genocidal force and others urging a more nuanced view of history.
Despite the pushback, Gullo remains resolute. His lecture series will continue next Monday at the Iberia Hotel in San Juan.
This developing story continues to spark global dialogue on freedom of speech, historical memory, and the complexities of postcolonial identity.
For more updates on this story and other global academic developments, stay tuned to Newspot Nigeria.
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
