Iris Morales

Iris Morales is an activist, educator, author, and attorney whose work centers on social justice, Puerto Rican history, and decolonization.

She is the author of Revisiting Herstories: The Young Lords Party and Through the Eyes of Rebel Women, groundbreaking works on the role of Puerto Ricans in the U.S. social movements of the 1960s and 1970s. These books are the first full-length accounts to center the experiences, leadership, and political vision of women in the New York Young Lords Organization.

Her editorial work includes several anthologies of poetry and prose, including Voices from Puerto Rico: Post-Hurricane Maria, a powerful collection on community activism and survival in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Latinas: Gender, Class & Race brings together the voices of Black, Indigenous, and working-class women navigating the post-COVID era and is the second volume in this acclaimed anthology series.

Most recently, she authored A Flag’s Journey, published in English and Spanish, her first chapter book inspired by the experience of a Puerto Rican child confronting racism for carrying a Puerto Rican flag. She is also the co-author of the bilingual children’s picture book Vicki: A Summer of Change.

Morales is the producer, writer, and co-director of the award-winning documentary ¡Palante, Siempre Palante! now considered a classic in Puerto Rican studies and a pioneering film on the Young Lords movement.

Her work appears in many anthologies, and she is a frequent speaker at universities, conferences, and public forums. She continues to mentor emerging activists and advance historical memory and social change.

Morales holds a JD from New York University School of Law and an MFA in Integrated Media Arts from Hunter College.

Follow her for updates on speaking engagements and ongoing projects.