“I know what's enchanting about my beautiful Puerto Rico. That's why I love her so, and I'll always call her Precious”. This verse is part of a song called “Preciosa,” which is cataloged as another anthem of Puerto Rico. I was born and grew up knowing the island of Puerto Rico as Borikén, the island of charm. I had the opportunity to know the rural paths of my blessed island, its culture, and its history. Every year in school, I learned about my roots, the “Indio Taino,” the African slaves, and the Spanish colonizers. As I was part of a folkloric dance group, I was able not only to learn of the Puerto Rican culture and history, but to represent it as well. Along with the Puerto Rican history, I always knew Puerto Rico was a territory of the United States, but I …show more content…
In 2015, my parents decided to jump the puddle and move to Florida. At that point, I clearly understood that Puerto Rico’s decay is because of the relationship with the United States, which has been a common topic among Puerto Ricans for years. The colonial relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico definitely has an impact on the crisis of the island, for which a change in the status of Puerto Rico to statehood can benefit the recovery of the economic crisis and the natural disasters. A song called “Verde Luz”, describes perfectly my feelings towards my island, as it says, “Green light of mount and sea, virgin island of the coral, if I stay away from your exquisite beaches, if I move away from your silent palms, I want to return, want to return”. I might not be able to fix the economic crisis of Puerto Rico, but what can I do and what can everyone else do to help the island and its people live and receive education in a satisfactory place? It is sad to hear my grandfather say that he feels like when he was growing up back in the 1940’s, and my cousin say that there has been no power in their house for almost four
In Reproducing Empire, Laura Briggs provides her readers with a very thorough history of the mainland U.S. and Puerto Rican discourses and its authors surrounding Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans, from Puerto Rico's formation in the mainland elite's "mind" as a model U.S. (not) colony in 1898* to its present status as semi-autonomous U.S.
The historians Lynn Thomas and Laura Briggs explore how the colonial state attempted to control women’s bodies and reproductive capacities in Kenya and Puerto Rico. Thomas focuses on the concern of British colonial officers in Kenya, particularly in the Meru tribe, about low birthrates. The British Empire felt that it was part of their humanitarian obligation as colonizers to ensure the health of women and their babies, discourage abortion, and encourage reproduction. In Puerto Rico, Briggs traces the fear of sexually transmitted diseases, over-population and eventually over-sterilization. The United States was first concerned about various diseases that their soldiers would pick up from prostitutes in Puerto Rico, and then their worry
Puerto Rico's local Taíno population whose hunter and gatherer predecessors settled the island over 1,000 years previously the Spanish arrived called it Borinquén, and referred to themselves as boricua, a term that is as yet utilized today. Amid his second expedition to the Indies in 1493, Christopher Columbus restored a few Taíno prisoners to Borinquén and asserted the island for Spain, calling it San Juan Bautista. In 1508, Juan Ponce de León established the main European settlement, Caparra, close to a bay on the island's northern drift; Caparra was renamed Puerto Rico or "rich port" in 1521.
Pablo Camacho was one of my old family friend who lives in Puerto Rico, since that’s where my family’s from. He used to be my dad’s family accountant who ran all the numbers and did all the financial operations of the business. Since my dad moved away from the island, we still keep in touch because of how close they were. Therefore, I thought this was the perfect person to vex or ask him questions for my interview. I have to disclose that Puerto Rico’s primary language is not English and I had to translate this interview from Spanish. I did my best in translating everything and summarizing it.
The Dominican Republic was explored by Christopher Columbus in 1492. When he first discovered it, he named it ‘La Española.’ It became an official country in 1844. The capital is Santo Domingo and the population is about 10.4 million people. The main language spoken there is Spanish, the main religion is Roman Catholic, and their Independence Day is February 27, 1844, which makes it younger than the United States.
For most of its history, Puerto Rico has been controlled by an outside power, and its people oppressed. While Puerto Rico is currently a U.S. territory, Spanish colonialism has had a significant impact on the island’s development and identity. The history of the island itself is proof of this fact, demonstrating each step Puerto Rico took to reach its current state. By examining the stages of Spanish control that Puerto Rico experienced, we can determine how each stage affected the structure and identity of Puerto Rico.
Since the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898 the United States has proclaim the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico under United States territory. Spain handed Puerto Rico over to the United States as spoil of war and to liquidate its war debts. To this day, the political, economic, and cultural impact of the occupation and subsequent" annexation" of Puerto Rico as an unincorporated territory remains subject to controversy and debate. The real polemic of this idea resides on the influence of the United States to held full responsibility for military, monetary, and foreign affairs. The Popular Democratic Party, led by Luis Muñoz-Marín, and the United States in 1952 adopted Puerto Rico’s current Commonwealth status as a global wave of decolonization. Even if this create the local government and the Constitution that will always be subject to be veto from Congress. In 1950, the U.S. Congressional and Administrative Service reported that the bill establishes that the Commonwealth “would not change Puerto Rico’s fundamental political, social and economic relationship to the
The commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico), known to most Americans as simply Puerto Rico, exists as one of two territories owned by the United States1. Being a territory of the United States, Puerto Ricans possess common citizenship, currency, and defense. However, even though Puerto Ricans are United States citizens they do not pay any kind of federal income taxes. Therefore, they cannot vote in presidential elections. Puerto Rico is under the jurisdiction of the United States customs, and are allowed free movement of people and merchandise with the United States. They have established their own constitution, and have a greater amount of independence than possessions. Although
I will be discussing how the country of Puerto Rico’s impact of resource scarcity, issues with boundary delineation, separatism and sovereignty issues, poverty, migration, legacies of colonialism and imperialism, global climate change and its impact. The once poor nation of Puerto Rico now seems to be a stepping stone for trading in the Caribbean. With its location in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is a major asset for shipping lanes. One of the main reasons the U.S. wanted to take over this land. Its geographical location is important in helping to move resources around the world, as well as keeping an eye on Cuba. The economic system of
The intention of this essay is to demonstrate to a vision rational, concordant political leader to the Puerto Rican, American and worldwide reality. It responds to the necessity that to the statehood it is necessary to imagine it and to expose it with all the evidence available, since many Puerto Ricans, including many political leaders, do not know like defending it or exposing it before the peculiar ones or our adversaries.
Since Puerto Rico was first discovered by Christopher Columbus on November 19, 1493, and Spanish colonization ensued in 1508, Puerto Rico has experienced all of these pressures of identity and culture.
Today is Monday, it's three o’clock in Puerto Rico. It is seventy six degrees outside. Slightly cloudy with the high of eighty degrees celsius. The low is sixty seven ,but the wind span of seven miles per hour. Humidity is ninety four percent. Precipitation is forty five percent. Trade winds keep Puerto Rico climate equable, but at the same time tropical. The lowest day temperature on the island is 4 degrees celsius. Puerto Rico is the easternmost and smallest of the Greater Antilles. Puerto Rico economy developed before the 1950s, is today forgotten due to social change. The island plummeted during the past 100 years from output the represent 71 percent (GDP) in 1914 in 2014. Jobs dropped from a high of 263,577 in 1930 to 19,000 today.
I have a similar experience in high school while I was taking History of Puerto Rico class. We need to learn the 78 cities of the island and point them on a map. Every Friday, he gave us a quiz about the location of these cities. He gave each student five random pieces of paper with the name of a city, and we need to locate all of them in the map at the front of the board. It was awkward at first because every classmate was looking. One technique that I use there was by looking the shape of the city on the map, and relate the name of the city with something like I know. For example, the shape of the city of Guayama looks like a camel; Arecibo and Utuado are together and appears to be the biggest on the island, and so on. Another technique
I would like to have the privilege of participating in this special initiative in Puerto Rico. I went to Puerto Rico recently in January for vacation with my best friends. I noticed that there were some islanders sitting on the sidewalk as we explored San Juan . I asked one woman if she was alright because I took note that she was there for the past two hours in the same spot. She told me, " I sit here and wait for tourist to past by and help me". She explained the storm took her home and now she has nothing. I gave her couple of dollars and my bottle of water. At that moment I realized I could not enjoy my vacation knowing there are unfortunate people around me who needed help. I wanted to help the people of Puerto Rico but knew
When you hear of Puerto Rico what do you think about? Great weather, tropical island, famous spanish food, or maybe even a vacation/getaway. You see the island for all of these things but have you ever thought of how Puerto Rico became what it is today. Well first you have to go back to the beginning of everything we know today, Christopher Colombus and how his voyage help discover Puerto Rico.