Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States of America which happens to be one of the oldest of its kind. It is one among many islands found in the Caribbean. It is located in the east side of the Dominican Republic and the west side of the British Virgin Islands as well as United States Virgin Islands. Thanks to its location, it enjoys good tropical climate and is also subjected to hurricanes from the Atlantic Ocean.
- POLITICAL CONNECTION WITH THE USA: WHAT IT IS AND WHEN IT STARTED
The Relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States of America dates back to the year 1889 when Spain ceded the country to USA under the treaty of Paris. It is at this time henceforth that the political relations between the two started in which case; Puerto Rico was governed by the US military as well as governors only appointed by the US President (Ayala & Bernabe 2009).
Puerto Rico is also subjected to the plenary powers of the USA Congress under the American constitution. As much to this, the laws applicable to the citizens of the USA are therefore applicable to Puerto Rico notwithstanding the fact that it is not a state of America. Also, the citizens there do not have the powers to vote for any seat in the American constitution and therefore do not have any form of representation in the Congress.
2) RIGHTS OF PUERTO RICANS / RESTRICTIONS ON PUERTO RICANS AS U.S. CITIZENS
At the onset of the 20th century, precisely in the year 1917, thanks to the Jones- Shafroth Act, all people who have been born in Puerto Rico, have been automatically been considered citizens of the United states of America. It is quite ironical though, that on the other hand, any citizen of United States of America decent living in Puerto Rico, whether they are born there or just moved there are not considered to be members of any state (Ayala & Bernabe 2009). This means that they, just like Puerto Ricans cannot participate in federal elections.
Also, only what is considered as fundamental rights recognized in the federal law and constitution of the United States can apply to Puerto Rico. These rights range from freedom of movement across all the states of the United States to the equal protection of all Puerto Ricans just as it applies to any other citizen.
3) OPERATION BOOTSTRAP AND THE FORCE STERILIZATION PROGRAM (LAW 113)
Having been considered one of the poorest islands in the Caribbean by the mid 20th century, the United States sought means of reviving and pushing forth the economy of its colony, Puerto Rico. This is when it introduced the famous Operation Bootstrap in order to boost the economy (Ayala & Bernabe 2009). This is when the administration established factories to counter over dependence in sugarcane farming. US companies were enticed into investing in Puerto Rico by introducing measures such as easy access to US markets and abolition of federal taxation.
Forced sterilization program (Law 113) is considered one of the most egregious population control methods that have dogged Puerto Ricans. This form of coercive population control targeted those people who were deemed socially inadequate and it started in the United States but spilt over to Puerto Rico. In the case of Puerto Rico under Law 113, it was ‘voluntary’ whereby women were not offered any alternative means of birth control but sterilization. They were not even made aware that it was a permanent procedure bearing in mind that it was irreversible (Ayala & Bernabe 2009). The reason why sterilization was done in the first place were absurd because all the US government wanted was a populace that could provide the much needed workforce thereby making women provide labor with the onset of the industrial revolution.
4) THE ISLAND OF VIEQUES AND THE PRESENCE of the U.S. MILITARY
The Island of Vieques is a tiny island which is approximately six miles off the coast of Puerto Rico and which is considered a municipality of Puerto Rico. The military, more so the navy of the United States has been using this island as place for practice since the 1970s. This has been the source of conflict between the people of the Island and the navy because the islanders argue that they have been deprived of their economic, environmental and health rights (McCaffrey 2002). On their part, the navy argues that the island is the best place for their practice.
The presence of the US military does not just stop at training but goes all the way into acquisition of land that initially belonged to the islanders. This led to thousands being left landless and homeless. This forced many of them to move to mainland Puerto Rico and St. Croix. Those who chose to remain behind moved to designated areas where they were not given titles and therefore were not recognized. Through this experience, many of the islanders have carried the pain of being evacuated from their land and homes and this has led them to their present day suffering. The USA military has therefore been a source of their problems to this day.
5) SHORT IDENTIFICATIONS: COQUI, BAROS, BORICUA, BORIQUEN, TAINOS, ARAWAK, YOUNG LORDS [these are terms and names that mean something to Puerto Ricans]
Puerto Ricans have a history and heritage that they boast of that is incomparable to any other heritage in the world. Its subcultures from different ethnic groups within the island make it even more appealing to the outside world. For instance, they have a way of referring themselves as Boricua. When the rest of the world calls them Puerto Ricans, they proudly identify themselves as Boricua or Borinquens (Siegel 2005). Some of the major ethic groups that live there to this day include Tainos and Arawaks among many others. Whenever any of these names are mentioned in the presence of Puerto Ricans, they will definitely proudly tell you who they are.
The beauty of Puerto Rico is also characterized with distinct wildlife and animals. One of the most famous for the island is the coqui, a type of small frogs belonging to different species. Outside Puerto Rico and especially in the United states, this island is identified with other activities and groups of people that trace their roots to it therefore making a mark in the world history. The most notable one was the Young Lords also known as the Young Lords Organization or Party which was formed in the 1960s (Jones 1998). It was a gang that later changed to a human rights group which fought for the rights of Puerto Ricans, as a marginalized group in the United States.
6) PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE IN NEW YORK
The Puerto Rican Day Parade is normally takes place every year on the second Sunday of June. This happens in New York City along Fifth Avenue. This day is held in honor of the people who trace their lineage and heritage to Puerto Rico who live in mainland USA. This parade is symbolic of the rich culture of these people and is always graced by celebrities and other leaders of different backgrounds (Gonzalez 2000).
The Puerto Rican Day Parade begins from the 44th Street of Fifth Avenue all the way to 86th Street. It is normally viewed to be one of the most viewed and largest parades ever to be seen in New York City something which makes it the biggest outdoor even. Very many people come out just to witness. Its origin goes all the way back to 13th April 1958 but as from the year 1995; a lot has changed in regard to it because now smaller parades happen concurrently throughout the United States (Thomas 2010). It is therefore considered an event that Puerto Ricans use to celebrate their heritage and show case their rich culture as well as unity outside Puerto Rico.
References
Ayala, C. J & Bernabe R. (2009). Puerto Rico in the American Century: A history since 1898. Wilmington: Univ. of North Carolina Press.
Gonzalez, M. P. (2000). Puerto Ricans in the United States. Westport: Greenwood
Jones, C. E. (1998). The Black Panther Party. Baltimore: Black Classic press.
McCaffrey, K. T. (2002). Military Power and Popular Protest: The US Navy in Vieques, Puerto Rico. Piscataway: Rutgers University Press.
Siegel, P. E. (2005). Ancient Borinquen. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press.
Thomas, L. (2010). Puerto Rican Citizen: History and Political identity in Twentieth Century. New York. Piscataway: Rutgers University Press
