In an effort to claim a dignified place in the United States as American citizens, "Boricua" leaders developed core political skills from African American grassroots organizations: established networks, adapted strategies of community activism, and found a path towards social justice. Individuals, such as Arturo Schomburg and Pura Belpre, played a crucial role in moments that marked the two "histories" of Puerto Ricans in the US: the official one--written by the System about them--, and the other--that had to be written by them. Historical facts, film highlights, newspaper articles, and popular music also evidence how events were conceived by the media, and by those few protagonists who bore a name, and had credentials to support it. In the end, Puerto Ricans and African Americans crossed along racial, political, and cultural lines, revealing a transcendental association that brought conflict, social transformation, but ended up in a stronger democracy for the American nation. [Keywords: Puerto Ricans, African Americans, Interracial collaboration, Civil Rights]