Nationalist
In 1920, Pedreira traveled to New York City with the intention of becoming a medical doctor and enrolled in the school of medicine of Columbia University in that city. He was exposed to the realities of racial discrimination, which was rampant in the city at that time, during his brief stay. This was one of the many factors which influenced Pedreira decision to join the Puerto Rican Nationalist movement while at the same time becoming an open advocate for Puerto Rico's independence. He dropped out of medical school because of financial problems and returned to Puerto Rico.
In Puerto Rico, he was granted a scholarship by the government and attended the University of Puerto Rico once again. In 1925, Pedreira earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He continued his higher education and in 1928 earned a Master's degree in Letters. Pedreria then moved to Spain to pursue a doctorate in Philosophy and Letters at the Central University of Madrid, which he earned in 1932. He returned to his homeland upon graduation.
Read more about this topic: Antonio S. Pedreira
Famous quotes containing the word nationalist:
“The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war.”
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–1986)