Puerto Rico: The 4-Storied Country Summary
Spanish Colonialism on the History of Puerto Rican People
Spanish Colonialism on the History of Puerto Rican People
"Puerto Rico". The name immediately brings to mind images of a beautiful lush tropical island of enchantment. The name "Puerto Rico" usually does not conjure the image of Taino Indians or African slaves, yet these populations have great importance in laying the foundation for the notion of identity of Puerto Ricans. In contemporary debates of Puerto Rican identity, it is essential to examine the history of the island to determine the effects of Spanish colonialism on Puerto Rican identity. As he demonstrates in his article "Puerto Rico: the Four-Storied Country", Jose L. Gonzalez discusses the notion of identity as a series
…show more content…
22). Here, in the late nineteenth century is where the second storey ends and the third begins. Spain loses Puerto Rico to the United States in 1898, as a result of the Spanish American War, and loses, ultimately its power as a country. No longer does Spain have ties to Puerto Rico, but her occupancy of 400 years has left an indelible mark on the island’s culture, which will cause conflict for the ever-constructing identity of Puerto Rico. Now, Puerto Rico is at the hands of the United States, which essentially helps in forming the third storey, and future storeys of the Puerto Rican identity. The Spanish occupation has had great impact when speaking about Puerto Rican identity. Puerto Rico now yields the Spanish language as its official (and almost only) language. Although the Spaniards came, conquered, and killed the original population, Puerto Ricans take great pride in the fact that they are a Spanish speaking nation. In fact, in a study by Nancy Morris, 85% of those interviewed considered the Spanish language as an important aspect of the Puerto Rican identity (Morris, 1995). To this day there exists a resemblance between the Spanish spoken by Puerto Ricans on the island and the Spanish spoken by those from the region of Andalucia in Southern Spain, where many of the Spanish who occupied Puerto Rico were from (Del Valle …show more content…
When the Spanish arrived, they instantly took over of the island, assuming a hegemony of the people. The Spanish then imported African slaves, while European immigrated to the island (Figueroa, Oct. 6) . As a result of the mixing of Taino blood, Castilian and Andalucian blood and African blood, as well as various streams of European blood, the people of Puerto Rico consider themselves "the rainbow people". Although there are many shades and background, Puerto Ricans unite under the name, the feeling of "Puerto Rico", regardless of the difference, and form their life, and their respect around this heritage of heterogeneous cultures. This rainbow, though, does give way to problems in outside classification of Puerto Ricans, meaning by those who are not Puerto Rican. Because Puerto Ricans cannot fit into one given box of black or white, the identity of a Puerto Rican is often challenged. While others use the rainbow as a way to set them apart, Puerto Ricans use the rainbow as a way to band together. It has been made obvious the importance and effect that the Spanish occupation has on the identity of the Puerto Rican. From issues of language to race, the Spanish has touched and influenced so many areas that would later have importance in constructing the notion of the
22). Here, in the late nineteenth century is where the second storey ends and the third begins. Spain loses Puerto Rico to the United States in 1898, as a result of the Spanish American War, and loses, ultimately its power as a country. No longer does Spain have ties to Puerto Rico, but her occupancy of 400 years has left an indelible mark on the island’s culture, which will cause conflict for the ever-constructing identity of Puerto Rico. Now, Puerto Rico is at the hands of the United States, which essentially helps in forming the third storey, and future storeys of the Puerto Rican identity. The Spanish occupation has had great impact when speaking about Puerto Rican identity. Puerto Rico now yields the Spanish language as its official (and almost only) language. Although the Spaniards came, conquered, and killed the original population, Puerto Ricans take great pride in the fact that they are a Spanish speaking nation. In fact, in a study by Nancy Morris, 85% of those interviewed considered the Spanish language as an important aspect of the Puerto Rican identity (Morris, 1995). To this day there exists a resemblance between the Spanish spoken by Puerto Ricans on the island and the Spanish spoken by those from the region of Andalucia in Southern Spain, where many of the Spanish who occupied Puerto Rico were from (Del Valle …show more content…
When the Spanish arrived, they instantly took over of the island, assuming a hegemony of the people. The Spanish then imported African slaves, while European immigrated to the island (Figueroa, Oct. 6) . As a result of the mixing of Taino blood, Castilian and Andalucian blood and African blood, as well as various streams of European blood, the people of Puerto Rico consider themselves "the rainbow people". Although there are many shades and background, Puerto Ricans unite under the name, the feeling of "Puerto Rico", regardless of the difference, and form their life, and their respect around this heritage of heterogeneous cultures. This rainbow, though, does give way to problems in outside classification of Puerto Ricans, meaning by those who are not Puerto Rican. Because Puerto Ricans cannot fit into one given box of black or white, the identity of a Puerto Rican is often challenged. While others use the rainbow as a way to set them apart, Puerto Ricans use the rainbow as a way to band together. It has been made obvious the importance and effect that the Spanish occupation has on the identity of the Puerto Rican. From issues of language to race, the Spanish has touched and influenced so many areas that would later have importance in constructing the notion of the