Being Boricua is Complicated

“I’m Puerto Rican. We’re complicated in the best way possible.” – Unknown

Being Puerto Rican is complicated, but for a good reason. There are many layers to what makes Boricuas different from other cultures in America and around the world.

Let’s unpack some of these differences and what makes Puerto Ricans unique, while also addressing the idea of whether or nto “Puerto Rican” is an ethnicity or a nationality.

What Makes Puerto Rico Unique?

Puerto Rico is a beautiful island with rich history. For many people, Puerto Rico is more than just a place. La “Isla del Encanto” (Enchanted Island) is a dream. Puertorriqueños are proud to call themselves by this name because it represents their culture and identity as the people of Puerto Rico.

The mainland United States seems to think puertorriqueños don’t have a specific ethnicity, but they do.

Ethnicity

Puerto Ricans make up their own distinct Hispanic ethnic group that speak Spanish as their primary language. They often identify themselves as puertorriqueños or boricuas rather than Hispanics or Latinos.

Puerto Ricans can be found among the five largest Hispanic groups in the United States.

Flags

Many people don’t know that there are two flags for Puerto Rico right now. The U.S. uses one and flag representing their country of origin under Spanish rule. It cannot be evident because most puertorriqueños identify themselves with both flags rather than just one.

Being Boricua is Complicated: The History of Puerto Rico

In 1493, Christopher Columbus arrived in Puerto Rico. He named the island San Juan Bautista at first, but due to the gold in the river, it became known as Puerto Rico, or “rich port,” and the central city was renamed San Juan. Puerto Rico soon became a Spanish colony on its path to becoming a vital military station.

Puerto Rico began to produce cattle, sugar cane, coffee, and tobacco, resulting in the immigration of African slaves. Because of the mingling of Spanish, African, and indigenous Taíno and Carib Indian races that shared the island, Puerto Rican lineages and culture evolved. Many Puerto Rican municipalities, such as Utuado, Mayagüez, and Caguas, also bear Taíno names today.

Becoming Part of U.S. Territory

A military administration was established under the United States, and it controlled the territory until April 12, 1900, when the Foraker Act established a civilian government. Before the twentieth century, the United States gave statehood to areas it acquired as it expanded primarily westward and southward across the American continent. Puerto Rico, on the other hand, was recognized as an “unincorporated territory.”

Why Is Puerto Rico Not a U.S. State?

Puerto Rico is not a state, which begs the question of why. Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since 1898, or more than 120 years. Domains generally become states faster than that.

Territories must have a stable administration in place before being considered for statehood. They require a large enough population: 60,000 has been set as the upper limit.

Federal law, enacted by a simple majority of both chambers of Congress, grants statehood. The president then signed the law, and it’s time to pop the cork and add another star to the flag.

Some states took longer than others to get statehood. Here are a few examples of laggards:

• 59 years in New Mexico
• 47 years in Utah
• Arkansas is 33 years old.

New Mexico was a Spanish-speaking region, and some Americans were worried about its cultural distinctions. Religious prejudice existed in Utah.

Arkansas was a wild and woolly section of Missouri Territory. Missouri let Arkansas go in its quest for statehood, and it took Arkansas another 15 years to calm down sufficiently to gain statehood on its own.

For more than 120 years, Puerto Rico has been a territory. Congress ratified its constitution over 70 years ago. It has grown larger, more populated, and more interwoven into the nation’s economic and political life than any preceding area.

Puerto Rico Needs to Become a State

Puerto Rico has voted three times for statehood. Polls demonstrate that most Americans, both in Puerto Rico and on the mainland, support statehood for Puerto Rico.

It’s time to admit that Puerto Rico can either be a state or a country, not some hybrid of the two.

It would benefit Puerto Rico economically, enable Puerto Ricans to keep their U.S. citizenship, and relieve the U.S. of the uncomfortable situation of being a colonial power in the twenty-first century.

So, being Boricua is complicated on the political side, but here are some other reasons why we love Puerto Rico:

Puerto Rican Traditions

Traditional Dishes

Mofongo, asopao, and tostones may be considered unusual by tourists to the island, but for Puerto Ricans, these traditional foods are everyday fare. Their ingredients and recipes reflect aspects of Puerto Rican culinary heritage and the cultures that inspired it. Furthermore, many of them are very tasty and a fantastic opportunity to experience Puerto Rican living.

Clapping on the Plane

Anyone who has flown to Puerto Rico may have witnessed firsthand how Puerto Ricans occasionally clap when the plane touches down on the airport runway.

Clapping isn’t uncommon, though its popularity has undoubtedly declined in recent years. If you’re wondering what it signifies, clapping is an expression of gratitude that the plane has successfully landed on the island.

San Juan Noche (St. John’s Eve)

Noche de San Juan is a June 23 festival in which people from all around the island commemorate the birth of Saint John the Baptist. Puerto Ricans go to beaches or adjacent bodies of water (including pools) around midnight and walk backward into the water, falling back 3-7 times. They do it to have “good luck” for the rest of the year.

This is not a Puerto Rican festivity. However, how it is observed is! We don’t celebrate it at our house, but a lot of others in our neighborhood do.

The neighborhood pool is frequently overcrowded. This is more of a Catholic celebration, in my opinion.

15th Birthday Party a.k.a. Quinceañera

This practice is akin to the sweet sixteen, in which a senorita (young woman) is introduced into society at the age of 15. A big party is arranged in commemoration of the quinceanera (the young lady who just turned 15 years old).

All relatives and friends are invited to the celebration held in a social club or a local community center. The quinceañera and her father do a unique dance, and then everyone else joins in.

Of course, this is not a Puerto Rican fiesta. However, it is unquestionably a part of our society and is still highly cherished.

Puerto Rican Day Parade

A popular event is the Puerto Rican day parade. It’s basically like any other city’s pride celebrations, but people dress up in traditional attire and dance to Latin music throughout New York City.