Entry Question
What things presented in the documentary and/or the essay about the PR-US relationship were new to you? Why they were impactful? What other questions emerged?
Crash History
US imperialism in Puerto Rico began in 1898 when the United States invaded the island during the Spanish-American War. After the war, Puerto Rico became a US territory, and its people were granted US citizenship in 1917. However, despite their citizenship, Puerto Ricans did not have the same rights as US citizens on the mainland, such as the right to vote in presidential elections.
As the documentary presents US government used Puerto Rico for its own economic and military interests, including the establishment of military bases and the exploitation of the island’s natural resources. This exploitation often had negative consequences for the Puerto Rican people, who were often forced to work for low wages in dangerous jobs (in the archipelago and the diaspora) or had their land seized by US corporations (very recently by Airbnb and other Realt State Agencies).
What is transnationalism?
Transnationalism is a term that describes the processes of globalization that have led to the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of people, organizations, and institutions across national borders. It could refer to social, economic, cultural, and political activities and interactions that transcend national boundaries and create new forms of identity and community that are not limited by geographical or political borders.
Both the Nuyorican actress, community activist, author, dancer, and choreographer Rosie Perez and the scholar Jorge Duany depict Puerto Ricans’ strong cultural identity en vaiven, on the move.
They describe circular migration, transnational practices, and how Boricuas present all sorts of tensions and at times open resistance to the prospects of assimilation into mainstream US society.
They highlight the ways Puerto Ricans are creating new forms of identity, community, and power that are not bound by traditional notions of national sovereignty.
In their work, they also refer to the ways in which Puerto Rican people maintain connections to their home countries and cultures while living and working in NYC, other states, and countries.
Nation and Migration- J. Duany
After reading Jorge Duany’s excerpt (pages 53) discuss the following question:
How the notion of transnationalism could help us to better understand the Puerto Rican diaspora? How does Rosie Perez’s portrayal match Duany’s arguments?
Class Presentation(s)
I’m Boricua Just So You Know
What is the context in which the documentary was written and produced?
Using the Puerto Rican Day Parade as a backdrop and questions about the roots of Puerto Rican pride, Nuyorican artist, Rosie Perez, her sister, and cousin embark on personal research about the history of Puerto Rico and its colonial dependency on the United States. The processes of Puerto Rican migration and community building in the U.S. are also discussed in the film.
What is the documentary’s central argument?
Rosie Pérez and her family, argue that to understand Puerto Rican migration to the United States, one has to discuss the history of imperialism and colonialism on the island and comprehend how the United States has benefitted from Puerto Rican land, resources, and people. The film also explores how US imperialism impacted Puerto Rican culture, language, and identity. Many Puerto Ricans faced discrimination and were pressured to assimilate into US culture, causing a loss of traditional customs and language. However, Pérez presents that Puerto Rican culture and identity persisted, and many Puerto Ricans fought back against US imperialism through political activism and cultural expression.
Group Discussions
Discuss how the documentary addresses ONE of the following topics. Refer to specific scenes or sequences:
.US military presence in the archipelago
.Population control and medical experimentation on Puerto Rican women
.Grassroots activism
.Puerto Rican diasporic culture
Expanding on the impact of US imperialism on Puerto Rico:
Agricultural Exploitation: The film discusses how the US government promoted large-scale agriculture in Puerto Rico, which resulted in the displacement of small-scale farmers and the destruction of the island’s natural ecosystems.
Language Suppression: The film also touches on the suppression of the Spanish language and Puerto Rican culture in schools. Many Puerto Ricans were forced to attend English-speaking schools and were punished for speaking Spanish. This policy had a lasting impact on the island’s cultural identity and contributed to a loss of traditional customs and language.
Political Struggle: The film also documents the political struggle of Puerto Ricans against US imperialism. The film argues that the US government’s efforts to suppress this political activism had a lasting impact on the island’s democratic institutions and created an environment of fear and repression.
Military Bases: The film discusses the establishment of US military bases in Puerto Rico, which had a profound impact on the island’s environment and the health of its people, a case in point would be the island municipality of Vieques. The film argues that the military’s use of Agent Orange and other toxic chemicals on the island has led to an increase in cancer and other health problems among Puerto Ricans.
The US has also used Puerto Rico as a testing ground for pharmaceuticals and other industries, often with little regard for the health and well-being of Puerto Rican people. The contraceptive pill is a significant example of this type of practice.
In the exposition Duany explains the distinction between political nationalism and cultural nationalism. He details that the distinction is made for analytical purpose because they both overlap in practice. Cultural practices, experiences and values are all part of the cultural nationalism that he explains. As many immigrants live within the diaspora these values are what keeps people intact. Puerto Ricans defend their cultural legacy and community in the US by the action that they display towards the American Government. One example was when Rosie and other woman protested regarding the Navy using the Island of Vieques for an army base. Another was the way that the Young Lords fought for justice in their communities. Puerto Rico is unique in the fact that the citizens are born with a US passport. This creates an easier way to get back and forth between countries. Duany then explains to us that it creates a transnational approach to contemporary Puerto Rican culture. It creates a unique link between Puerto Ricans living in the diaspora and those who live in the homeland. Since, Puerto Rico is logistically close to Florida and relatively close to NY it makes it easier for people to fall into the “vaiven” movement. I believe that in the world we currently live in with the use of technology and the fact that we have more financial freedom it gives us an opportunity to make the decision to visit our homelands more frequently. Our parents had different challenges then we do today.