Nelson Antonio Denis is an American attorney, author, film director, and former representative to the New York State Assembly. From 1997 through 2000, Denis represented New York's 68th Assembly district, which includes the East Harlem and Spanish Harlem neighborhoods, both highly populated by Latinos.¿Que Pasa?: Ex-politician takes a role at directing. Robert Dominguez. Daily News. New York. 3 April 2003. p. 1.Alumni Spotlight: The Candidate. Taft Bulletin. The Taft School. Summer 2004. p.5Navarro, Mireya, (2003-5-6), Smile, You're on Candidate Camera: With an Insider's Eye, a Film Skewers Harlem Politics, The New York TimesFor Defeated Incumbents, Shock and an Interest in Want Ads. Jonathan P. Hicks. 30 December 2000.

As the editorial director of El Diario La Prensa, Denis published over 300 editorials and won the "Best Editorial Writing" award from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.Author Biography: Nelson Denis; Hachette Book GroupWashington Times Book Review; Puerto Rico is a US Colony; May 10, 2015Sofrito For Your Soul; War Against All Puerto Ricans by Nelson A. Denis, July 4, 2015

His most recent work is War Against All Puerto Ricans, a non-fiction book, about the life of Puerto Rican independence leader Pedro Albizu Campos, and the treatment of Puerto Rican nationalists by agencies of the United States government.Sam Roberts, "The last Big Colony and the First Suburb," New York Times, August 23, 2015Ray Monell, "Author Nelson Denis releases new book War Against All Puerto Ricans: Revolution and Terror in America's Colony," New York Daily News, February 12, 2015El Nuevo Mundo; May 17, 2015; Historia de Puerto Rico desde la Perspectiva de las Carpetas del FBI

Early life and education Denis was born in New York City borough of Manhattan to Antonio Denis Jordan, a native of Cuba of French descent, and Sarah Denis, originally from Puerto Rico.Mireya Navarro. Smile, You're on Candidate Camera; With an Insider's Eye, a Film Comedy Skewers Harlem Politics. The New York Times. 6 May 2003. After his father was peremptorily deported back to his homeland, when Nelson was eight years old, he was raised by his mother and grandmother.Arif Jamal, "Puerto Rico is a US Colony," Washington Book Review

Denis went on to graduate from Harvard College in 1977, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government, and then received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Yale Law School in 1980. At Harvard, he acted in dramas, portraying lead roles including Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire. He then went to work as an attorney with the New York law firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine.Rising Stars Battle in East Harlem – New York Times. Nytimes.com (1996-08-19). Retrieved on 2012-02-04.Hicks, Jonathan, (2000-8-15) Power of Incumbency Vies With a Household Name, The New York Times

Journalism and writing

Denis's screenplays have won awards from the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and CineFestival.W.T. Whitney, Jr., "New Book Offers No Optimism for a Free Puerto Rico," People's World, Nov. 12, 2015.Visiting Author to Discuss Book on Puerto Rico, California State University Long Beach; September 15, 2015 He also wrote and directed the feature-length film Vote For Me! which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Denis wrote the screenplay adaptation of his own book War Against All Puerto Ricans (Nation Books, 2015). According to The Daily News a feature film of War Against All Puerto Ricans was being planned from this screenplay and several actors, including Luís Guzmán, were interested in the project.This War is Escalating, New York Daily News, June 10, 2016

For several years Denis was the editorial director of El Diario La Prensa, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in New York City, where he published over 300 editorials and received the "Best Editorial Writing" award from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Denis also wrote editorials for the New York Times,Denis, Nelson, (9/25/17), The Jones Act: The law strangling Puerto Rico, New York TimesDenis, Nelson, (8/6/15), Free Puerto Rico, America's Colony, New York Times Publishers Weekly,Denis, Nelson (January 20, 2017) Dear Publishers: Latinos Read Books Too, Publishers Weekly The Nation,Denis, Nelson; "After a Century of US Citizenship, Puerto Ricans Have Little to Show for It"; The Nation; March 2, 2017 Harvard Political Review,Harvard Political Review, Spring 1977, pp.21-24, The Curious Constitution of Puerto Rico Daily News,Denis, Nelson, (9/23/99), History still roils Puerto Rico, New York Daily NewsNew York Daily News, "Puerto Rico Democracy at Risk," Nelson A. Denis, January 19, 2016 New York Newsday,Denis, Nelson, (2007-1-22) Reforming Albany takes more than talk, Orlando SentinelDenis, Nelson, (9/22/2015) Sharks Are Circling Puerto Rico's Assets, Orlando Sentinel and The New York Sun.Denis, Nelson, (2006-12-21) Albany's Political Club, New York Sun

He was also a cultural and political commentator on WNYC,Brian Lehrer Show; WNYC Radio. Retrieved 09-25-2013.WNYC; The Brian Lehrer Show Retrieved 5 July 2013. WADO, and other radio outlets.Nelson Denis on The Perez Notes Retrieved 5 July 2013.

From 2015 onward, Denis's journalism has focused on the economic crisis in Puerto Rico, and the historical and political underpinnings of this crisis. His editorials in this area have appeared in the New York Daily News, New York Times, The Nation,Nelson Denis, "After a Century of American Citizenship Puerto Ricans Have Little to Show For It", Nation; March 2, 2017Nelson Denis, "Orwell in Puerto Rico: Congress 'Promises' a New Dictatorship", Nation; April 15, 2016 Orlando Sentinel, and Truthout.Nelson Denis, "No More Colonialism Disguised as Financial Assistance: The US Must Relinquish Puerto Rico," Truthout; March 20, 2016 Denis has also appeared on ABC TV,Tiempo, WABC TV; October 11, 2016 C-SPAN, New York 1,http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/inside-city-hall/2015/05/15/ny1-online–former-assemblyman-discusses-book—war-against-all-puerto-ricans–revolution-and-terror-in-america-s-colony–.html MSNBC, Al Jazeera TV, and Democracy Now!"War Against All Puerto Ricans: Inside the U.S. Crackdown on Pedro Albizu Campos & Nationalist Party," Democracy Now!, April 21, 2015"PART 2: Nelson Denis on the U.S. Persecution of Puerto Rican Independence Leader Pedro Albizu Campos," Democracy Now!, April 21, 2015 to discuss the history and current fiscal crisis of Puerto Rico.

Denis also gave radio interviews around the US to discuss conditions on the island: including the Brian Lehrer Show in New York,When Puerto Rico Rebelled, WNYC, April 15, 2015 WBEZ Worldview in Chicago,History of US Intervention in Puerto Rico, WBEZ, April 6, 2015 WNPR Connecticut,The Untold History Between the US and Puerto Rico, WNPR Connecticut, April 9, 2015 WBAI/The Jordan Journal,War Against All Puerto Ricans, The Jordan Journal, Feb. 27, 2015 and WGBH/The Takeaway.The Secret War for Puerto Rico, WGBH/WNYC, April 13, 2015

He is a strong proponent of Puerto Rican independence because of the "rigged capitalism the United States has forced on its Caribbean colony."New York Times: "Free Puerto Rico, America's Colony" by Nelson A. Denis August 6, 2015 He has also written extensively about the Jones Act, and its economic impact on Puerto Rico.

His article on the status of Latino publishing in the U.S. was the second most-read editorial in Publishers Weekly for the year of 2017.Publishers Weekly (December 29, 2017) Most Read PW Opinion Pieces 2017

Advocacy and New York State Assembly

Before and during his years as an assemblyman, Denis conducted a neighborhood legal clinic that provided advocacy, advice, and free legal services to the residents of East Harlem.Hicks, Jonathan P. (2005-08-16) With Incumbent Out of Race, an Unpredictable District – New York Times. Nytimes.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.Political Notes; Once More, Powell Ponders Harlem Race – New York Times. Nytimes.com (1998-04-20). Retrieved on 2012-02-04.

Denis majored in government at Harvard, and was involved in New York State government for fourteen years.

In 1995, as deputy director of Yucahu Inc., an East Harlem community group, Denis opposed the merger of Chemical Bank and Chase Manhattan due to inadequate service to the community.Lavan, Rosemary Metzler, (1995-11-17) Chase/Chem Face Music at Hearing, New York Daily NewsHarrigan, Susan (1995-11-17) Minority Lending at Issue in Chemical-Chase Merger, New York Newsday

Denis was a member of the East Harlem Community Board (C.B. 11), the Area Policy Board, and the director of strategic planning for the Harlem Community Development Corporation.State Senate District 28 – East Harlem. Gotham Gazette (2004-04-22). Retrieved on 2012-02-04.

In 1996 Denis won a seat in the New York State Assembly, where he served as a Democrat from 1997 to 2000, and developed a reputation as a reformer.The Village Voice; The Prodigal Son Returns, 08-22-2000. Retrieved October 10, 2013. He was also a New York State Democratic District Leader from 1995 to 2001.

The press noted that his mother, Sarah Denis, worked 12-hour days on the campaign trail and that Denis was himself an untiring campaigner who was "often seen throughout the neighborhood campaigning on the back of a blue bus."THE 1994 CAMPAIGN: EAST HARLEM; Legislative Candidate Turns to Gang for Help – New York Times. Nytimes.com (1994-09-13). Retrieved on 4 February 2012.

Latin Kings controversy

In 1994, Denis entered into a controversial relationship with the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation. While jogging along the FDR Drive, he ran into a group of 500 Latin Kings and recruited them into his campaign for the State Assembly.

Denis and the Latin Kings cleaned up several parks in East Harlem, and attended community board meetings together. Denis also pledged that, if he won, he would help the Latin Kings to create a community non-profit corporation, a leadership training course, and a construction apprenticeship program to rehabilitate roughly 800 abandoned buildings in East Harlem.

Denis maintained that "the Kings are the product of 20 years of neglect. These are the youth that Reagan forgot." However, others did not agree. His opponent, the incumbent Assemblyman Angelo Del Toro, said "they're gangsters and a threat."

Another early skeptic was Denis's mother. She laid down rules that included no beepers or babies in the office, but she gradually learned to work with them.

Despite this controversy, the New York Times endorsed Denis for the State Assembly that year.New York City Primary Choices – New York Times. Nytimes.com (1994-09-13). Retrieved on 2012-02-04.

Works

Vote For Me! Prior to serving in the New York State Assembly, Denis directed TV commercials and several short films, and wrote eight screenplays.Navarro, Mireya, (2003-5-6) Smile, You're on Candidate Camera: With an Insider's Eye, a Film Skewers Harlem Politics , The New York Times His screenplays won awards from the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and CineFestival.

Denis also wrote and directed the feature film Vote For Me! which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. It also won the Best Picture Award at the 2009 Staten Island Film Festival, and a Feature Film Award at the 2009 Orlando Hispanic Film Festival.That's a wrap for Staten Island's SINY Film Festival. SILive.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.Orlando Hispanic Film Festival Announces 2009 Audience Award. PRLog. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.

Starring Malik Yoba (New York Undercover, Soul Food, Cool Runnings); Chi Chi Salazar (Scarface (1983 film), Carlito's Way); Ricardo Barber (The Feast of the Goat); Vote For Me! was a comedy about a 75-year-old Puerto Rican super who runs for the United States Congress.