What Are Social Issues Affecting Puerto Rican?

288 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Puerto rico political history

The Puerto Rican population has been continually experienced death by disease and tribal warfare; this has raised issues dealing with their language use, political affiliation and social construction of race. Due to Puerto Rico being under the control of different countries and nations in the past, they have had issues with continuing their heritage language. When the commonwealth period began in 1948, Spanish was reintroduced as the language of classroom instruction, while English was also required. Many Puerto Ricans feared that if Spanish-speaking traditions weren’t continued, their language would be lost. Thankfully, in the 1980s the popularity of music groups, such as Menudo, showed that Puerto Rican young people still wanted to maintain

Show More
Related

  • Spanish Colonialism and Puerto Rican Identity

    1667 Words  | 4 Pages

    In order to understand the current situation of Puerto Ricans one must look at their history and retrace the sequence of events that led to the current formation of the Puerto Rican people. An important component of this history is the time Puerto Rico spent under Spanish rule. Studying this portion of Puerto Rican history forces us to acknowledge the contribution the Spaniards, European immigrants, and African slaves had on Puerto Rican identity as we consider it today. This also addresses contemporary debates on Puerto Rican identity. An example of this is evident in an essay written by Jose Luis Gonzales entitled "Puerto Rico : Th Four Storied Country". In the article Gonzales points out what he feels is a disregard toward the African contribution to the Puerto Rican identity. He argues that the first Puerto Ricans were black , based on his interpretation that Africans were the first group to come to Puerto Rico and reproduce who did not have ties to a "motherland" because they were slaves. This is unlike the Spaniard elites and Criolles that demonstrated their commitment and loyalty to Spain. Since they had no other place to go, Puerto Rico was their motherland. Gonzalez also points out that the culture of a region is always the culture of the elite, not the popular culture.

    Read More

  • Laura Briggs' Reproducing Empire: Race, Sex, Science, and U.S. Imperialism in Puerto Rico

    1740 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Puerto Rico in a Historical and Cultural Context

    1681 Words  | 4 Pages

    By tracing the roots of Puerto Rican development from the Spanish invasion to today, one can see the influence of the dominant power in the interaction between different races of Puerto Rico, effecting how they viewed each other, and themselves. Isabel’s family, which is composed of Spanish and Corsican immigrants, reflects the attitudes that helped form Puerto Rican racial divisions. While she speaks from the point of view of a member of the upper class, there is a great deal of history behind the attitudes that influence the House on the Lagoon that she only lightly touches upon. Although Puerto Rican society has been racially mixed, issues such as class, imperialism, and outside prejudices have created a split between the different races.

    Read More

  • Family Characteristics Of The Puerto Rican Family In The United States

    598 Words  | 2 Pages

    As you can see in the graph above, family characteristics of US and Puerto Rico families differ in many ways. Families in Puerto Rico can be very large with many generations living in the same home for a great period of time. In the United States, this would seem very strange because we put such an importance on being independent and going out into the world and making something of ourselves. Our families tend to be smaller and family outings are not very common but once a few times a year. In the Puerto Rico, your family is your support system, your friends and whatever you do is for the betterment of the family. The United States puts more emphasis on our friends as our support group and what we do is to further our own personal achievement and status instead of our family. At their core, Puerto Rican families are about support and togetherness, while United States families are about stability until we have a chance to make a name for ourselves. The Puerto Rican family aspect and togetherness is something extremely lacking in the United States and something I personally believe we ...

    Read More

  • The Impact of United States Rule on Puerto Rico

    2264 Words  | 5 Pages

    Puerto Rico spent most of its history under the control of Spain. In the year 1898, the islanders wanted their freedom and welcomed the U.S. invaders as their last hope of liberation from Spanish control. The United States brought the promise of democracy to Puerto Rico, but its true intentions did not include letting go of the island. Although the United States claimed that its intentions were to civilize Puerto Rico and help it become a democratic society, its hypocritical manner of dealing with the island had a great impact on Puerto Rican development. The early years of U.S. colonization affected many aspects of Puerto Rico, including economics, politics, and social relations.

    Read More

  • Passing for English Fluent: Latino Immigrant Children Masking Language Proficiency

    675 Words  | 2 Pages

    While reading this article one of the most shocking sections were when the students were talking to Monzó and sharing their outlook on their place and their language’s place in society. These students even at this early age are feeling how devalued their first language has been. They feel like they have to speak the right* English, only use English in public places, never their first language, and that they must assimilate to the American culture as much as possible. This reminded me of a chapter in Lippi-Green (2012)’s text. Within this chapter Lippi-Green (2012) discusses how in the United States Spanish speakers are not only expected to learn English but they are expected to learn and utilize the right* English determined by the majority and assimilate entirely to American culture. Throughout Monzó and Rueda (2009)’s text the children in conversations expressed their observation of the social order in relation to language and race. This was surprising to me since they are only in 5th grade. During a conversation with one of the children Monzó and Rueda (2009) recorded an alarming statement, “He said that his mother could not be considered American because she did not...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Internalized Racism In America

    1183 Words  | 3 Pages

    Because of internalized racism, Latinos and Hispanics distance themselves from the Spanish language to support the English only movement. They are embarrassed of their inherited language and rather choose English to complete assimilation. “Almost 40% of Latino/a respondents prefer English as their dominant language…” (Padilla 20). Where I currently live, I always see on the day to day basis Hispanics and Latinos that immigrated to the United States from other countries sounding “white.”

    Read More

  • Latino Dual Identity

    922 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another struggle for identity with Latinos is their struggle with the Spanish and English languages. While some Latinos may speak Spanish in their homes, the language may not be conversationally used in their schools. Some Lat...

    Read More

  • Puerto Rican Migration to the United States

    1525 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Puerto Rican generation Cruz discusses takes more pride as a whole in being Puerto Rican. In a city like Hartford it is important to build a strong Puerto Rican community. Nicholas Carbone an important political figure in Hartford, stressed the need for the spanish speaking comunity to come together and form alliances. Ethnic politics would become an important tool for Puerto Ricans. I think ethnic politics are important in communities such as Hartford but I also think that they must be aware of class politics. I think classs is overlooked in America. If Puerto RIcans can continue to have strong identity politcs the class awareness that of Vega's period will blend into the ethnic politics.

    Read More

  • Im Proud To Be Puerto Rican

    1297 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the experiences I have been through, such as meeting proud Latin kids in school and reading about the experiences of other Latinos, I am proud to say that I am Puerto Rican. I will teach the future generation about our culture, including traditions and customs. My children may not have the opportunity to read about well-known Latinos in school, but I will make sure they learn about prominent scholars, such as Jose Marti and Rigoberta Menchu. Also, speaking Spanish is very important because our culture is based on the language. After all, one day the official language of Puerto Rico might change to English. However, we can't forget our roots, or where we came from. Even though I was born in America, I am Puerto Rican.

    Read More

  • Puerto Rico: A Short Story

    1724 Words  | 4 Pages

    An average night in New Jersey was most likely spent vegging out on the couch watching a movie or show on the television. An average night in Puerto Rico was filled with wonder and excitement. Couples shuffled across the dance floor brushing shoulders but not colliding with perfect grace. Their hips swayed back and forth like a rocking chair and their feet moved quicker than the speed of light. The music never stopped, the recurrent salsa or merengue rhythm flowed through every house and was heard all over the island. For the quieter moments, bachata eased the tension and cooled the fire for a short time. The air was salty and humid from all the sweat and passion, but what better to fill the air with than the smell of an authentic Puerto Rican dinner. The smoky, rich smell of pernil in the smoker or the delectable honeyed aroma of maduros frying in the pan. The food was so good it almost consumed your very soul and controlled you every time you ate it. The food spoke to you, it persuaded you to keep eating. To keep enjoying. To keep indulging. The food can not be simply, described, it must be experienced, it must be appreciated. The food must be loved. Every night was a feast, the joyous cackles of drunk men and flirtatious laughs of tipsy women filled the night air with life. The spirit of the island never slept. The coals of the passionate fire of Puerto Rico never died down completely and

    Read More

  • What do you think is the most serious problem facing the Bahamas today?

    527 Words  | 2 Pages

    Currently, our Bahamian nation suffers greatly from the insufferable influx of illegal immigrants, for as to quote the Bahamian song “They coming by boat, they coming by plane, some coming in wheelchair and walking with cane." For too long, our Bahamian people have improperly viewed illegal immigration as a problem of minority when it stands most serious than any other experiencing problems. Invading our territorial boundaries, the fleeing citizens of our neighboring countries ,Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti all contribute to the draining of our social services, increase of job unemployment, overuse of hospital benefits and in some serious cases the increase of our electricity bills.

    Read More

  • The Identity of an American Puerto Rican

    1869 Words  | 4 Pages

    Am I "American" or "Puerto Rican", a question that wanders along the halls of my mind all the time? Many Puerto Ricans might not agree, but I feel that I am, "American", Puerto Rican American that is. As a child my own parents deprived me of my culture and true identity. They spoke to me in a language that many Puerto Ricans refused or detested to learn, English. The only thing I can actually say that I know about Puerto Rican heritage is the comida we shared during family gatherings. "In Spanish the words are habichuelas con arroz; in English, rice and beans; and in any language they translate into the food staples of island life" (p. 59, Fernandez). I went to Puerto Rico when I was four years old and haven’t been ever since. I remember limbers and roosters crowing and hot floors burning my feet but nothing about my generations past. It’s sad to know nothing about an island that many of my own kind are very proud of. I’m clueless of what my Puerto Rican people have actually been through. Political, economics, social relations and identity issues, what about them, I wonder. All I know about the island’s history is that we are Puerto Ricans from an island in the Caribbean called Puerto Rico. We are Puerto Rican Americans to my knowledge. We are Puerto Rican Americans because we are a commonwealth island being assisted by the American Government so that gives us some affiliation to being American. Those of us who were born and raised in the United States are Puerto Rican Americans whether we want to admit it or not. The majority deny that they are American, maybe because of our historical past with governmental issues and struggles in the early and late eighteenth century. Who knew we w...

    Read More

  • The Bilingual Difference

    1793 Words  | 4 Pages

    Both stories represent both sides of bilingualism as far as Puerto Ricans who live in the United States and then move to Puerto Rico, and Puerto Ricans who move to the United States from Puerto Rico. The linguistic clashes that these girls encountered were frustrating to their new knowledge of the culture and language. Although, these girls are Puerto Rican, it is important to state that they were not all born on the Island.

    Read More

  • Puerto Rico Essay

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    In recent years, there has been a significant importance when studying the governmental life of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is an island in the Caribbean, in which there has been a growing problem when it comes to debt, government, the living cost of the communities, and impoverishment. On September 8, 2015, I attended an event hosted by Teresita Levy, whom is part of the graduate committee of CLACLS (center for Latin American, Caribbean & Latino Studies. This event, “Puerto Rico is not Greece: U.S Colonialism, Debt, And Migration”, largely addressed the debt issue in Puerto Rico, and a little of the history and myths that goes behind it. The three main scholars’ speakers were, Ismael Garcia, whom specializes in the Puerto Rican’s experience in labor in the U.S, Harry Rivera, whom is a Hunter professor and an expert in the History of PR, and Dr Cordero, has an PhD in sociology and it’s a professor. These experts spoke about how the debt in Puerto Rico is over $73 billion, affecting the workers and the poor, ‘forcing them to immigrate in mass to the U.S.’ The economy has

    Read More

More about What Are Social Issues Affecting Puerto Rican?

Open Document