The Identity of Puerto Rican People

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The Identity of Puerto Rican People

Race is an inescapable reality of modern American society. It dominates all of our perceptions and divides them into two distinct categories: black and white. Within these two categories, all Americans are lumped together. But what about the people who racially belong to both groups, but ethnically belong to neither? Where do Puerto Ricans fit into this biracial society? How do you classify Puerto Ricans when one brother has light skin with light eyes and straight hair, and the other with dark skin and `kinky' hair?

In identifying what separates Puerto Ricans from other minorities, it is necessary to examine the history and the formation of the Puerto Rican people in order to gain insight into our current identity. We must understand the impact that Spanish colonization had on our forming an identity. In essence, we must find out who we are historically.

Puerto Rican culture has three historical roots: the Taino Indian, the African, and the Spaniard [1]. The first known inhabitants of the Island of Puerto Rico were the Taino Indians. The Taino, which means `peace', were named by the Spanish settlers at the time of their arrival. The beginning of Spanish colonization was marked by gold-mining, and the enslavement of natives to form a body of cheap labor. The Spanish established a feudal type of labor system, which was called `repartimiento' [2]. The settler was assigned a particular village that was under his control and he became a type of landlord. The natives who lived in that particular village therefore became his property which he could do with what he pleased. In 1511, the Taino began to rebel, but proved to be no match for the Spanish. Decimated by disease and depravation fr...

... middle of paper ...

...eir history, there is no way we can truly know who we are.

I am not african. Africa is in me, but I cannot return.

I am not taina. Taino is in me, but there is no way back.

I am not european. Europe lives in me, but I have no home there.

I am new. History made me.

“Child of the Americas” by Aurora Levins Morales

Footnotes

[1] Jose Luis Gonzalez. “Puerto Rico The Four-Storeyed Country”. Markus Wiener

Publishing Inc. Page 9.

[2] Luis Figueroa. Lecture: Early Puerto Rican History. Sept. 17, 1998.

[3] Luis Figueroa. Lecture: Early Puerto Rican History. Sept. 17, 1998.

[4] Luis Figueroa. Lecture: Spanish Colonialism. Sept. 22, 1998.

[5] Scarano. “Sugar and Slavery in Puerto Rico, 1815-1849”. Page 27.

[6] Gonzalez. Page 10.

[7] Clara E. Rodriguez. “Puerto Ricans: Between Black and White.” Ballantine Books.

Page 81.

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