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Every Latino contingent that comes to this country leaves their mark and of late it is the Domicanos astonishing the literary world. In April 2009 I heard Junot Diaz, recent winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his novel The Brief Wondrous World of Oscar Wao, read at Miami University of Ohio, and in May I saw In the Heights the dynamic Broadway musical about Dominican and other Latino immigrants living in the shadow of New York City's George Washington Bridge.
With music and lyrics by Manhattan born Puerto Rican Lin-Manuel Miranda (winner of the 2008 Tony Award for Best Original Score) and book by Quiara Alegría Hudes (a Boricua-Judia), this tale of Dominican immigrants in Washington Heights is the quintessential American dream story.
It revolves around a group of small shop owners and takes place over three days during a hot, sultry summer. Enter the narrator "Usnavi," a bodega store owner rapping about how life in the city isn't so pretty. His parents named him after they saw a ship enter the harbor in Santo Domingo with the words "U.S. Navy," hence "Usnavi." He's in love with Vanessa who works in the hair salon next door run with two other Latina cutíes.
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