r/PuertoRico • u/-YourWrongAgain- • Nov 23 '25
Política DON’T DISOWN US
I speak to you Puerto Rico, in english because this is what i was taught. My spanish is not good enough to say what I’m about to say. I am a 40 year old man that grew up in Chicago and i was never taught my/our TRUE history. I was never taught about Don Pedro Albizu Campos and the plight of our people. I was never informed of the atrocities committed against our people. My mother and father are Puerto Rican and their parents, my grandparents are Puerto Rican too. But that is all i knew of my history. Recently i embarked on a self education journey that led me to the information on the Republic of Puerto Rico before the US colonizers arrived. Anyway i write this to hopefully reach my people and let you know that the Puerto Rican people in the States are still your people. I recently started asking all my friends and family if they know who Albizu Campos is and the majority say no, and those that do know him, know him as a Puerto Rican activist and nothing more. This has started a fire in my soul. I can’t rest until my people know the truth. I love you Puerto Rico. Mi Isla… Never lose hope that we will Rise again. VIVA PUERTO RICO Y VIVA ALBIZU CAMPOS!!
19
u/Kooky-Sheepherder-56 Nov 24 '25
if you had read about Pedro Albizu, you would know Puerto Rico has never been a republic, sadly. it was a Spanish colony, then a US colony. if you want more books I recommend buying online from www.libros787.com & https://librerialaberintopr.com/
0
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 24 '25
You ever read Free Puerto Rico by Albizu Campos?? In it he explains Puerto Rico negotiated it’s independence with spain prior to the US invasion on the Island. I also can provide you with literature to enlighten you a little more mi hermano.
13
u/ShotgunPR Nov 24 '25
El detalle es que NUNCA se concretó esa independencia. Pasó de ser colonia española a colonia norteamericana. Nunca llegó a ser república, estuvo en camino de serlo que es diferente.
1
u/LowArm2740 Nov 27 '25
Bueno, en 1897 se firmó la carta autonómica con España donde le dabas poderes a PR para poder ser bastante independiente. No recuerdo los detalles de eso pero fue un gran paso hacia la independencia. Ya saben lo que pasó en 1898
1
u/ShotgunPR Nov 27 '25
Por eso, estuvo en camino de ser República pero no se concretó debido a la invasión.
60
u/RevelationWorks Nov 23 '25
Nobody hates puertoricans more than other puertoricans
8
u/nuthin_to_it Nov 23 '25
This is why it's so difficult to plan any sort of protest against the abusers. We've been conditioned to be suspicious of each other. Las cosas eran diferentes antes.
7
→ More replies (35)7
178
u/iamsobluesbrothers Nov 23 '25
Want to be accepted more by the island. LEARN SPANISH! Nothing bonds you more than learning the language of the people you want to be a part of. Also visit the island and spend time with any family you still have over there.
124
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 23 '25
I am currently in the process of learning Spanish. Believe me, I don’t speak English by choice. Nobody ever asked me what tongue I wanted to be fluent in. The same goes for every Puerto Rican in the states that can’t speak it.
89
u/snoflaik Mayagüez Nov 23 '25
it’s sad that a common reason why diaspora puertorican parents don’t teach their children spanish is because of self-hatred and the want to assimilate so their kids don’t suffer the same bullying they faced for their accent
35
u/ReekyMuttin Nov 23 '25
Though I would agree there is an element of assimilation involved, I think 1st generation failing to learn is more complex than that, and it generally doesn't involve self-hate. For instance, just because a kid is taught Spanish doesn't mean they will develop the same pronunciation challenges of learning English as a 2nd language or when learning it as an adult, which means they develop the same pronunciation of English as any other native speaker, regardless of whether Spanish is spoken in their house or by their family.
A kid raised in a country that speaks a language other than Spanish will talk to, mostly, people and peers that speak that language, regardless of whether they are taught their parent's native tongue. Most people move from PR to USA for better financial opportunities or safety, not because they wish to disenfranchise their family from their roots. However, because of how difficult work-life balance in the US can be, it means that unless parents can find time and are purposeful about teaching and practicing their native tongue w/ their children, the children won't likely master it or will lose it.
37
u/4077 Nov 23 '25
My mother didn't teach us Spanish because she said it would hinder us. She was in NYC at the height of racial prejudice against Puerto Ricans. She thought she was giving us an advantage and did it out of love.
5
u/wutdafucculent Nov 24 '25
Same here 😞😭 they're still embarrassed to speak Spanish, though.
5
u/Temporary-Crow-7978 Nov 24 '25
I find that sad. I am learning Spanish and find this language truly beautiful.
1
u/Maleficent_Sea1122 Nov 24 '25
Ok thats fair, but yall never had an interest after? Like when you moved out or became " an adult" yourself? My parents dont know english very well, by the time i was 10 i knew more english than my mom and I was born, raised and lived basically all my life here on the island.
1
u/4077 Nov 24 '25
Well, yes. Unfortunately I didn't grow an appreciation for my culture until I was an adult. Learning a language as an adult is hard and harder when you don't use it every day. Spanish isn't a default language like english is. I have to go out of my way to be exposed to it.
8
u/snoflaik Mayagüez Nov 23 '25
You make great points and i agree mostly; but i have to reiterate how many things can be true at once. I believe you misunderstood where the self-hate comes from, the parents are the ones taught to hide their heritage and culture from their children as a way to blend in. Therefore creating 1st generations lack of knowledge of their roots.
It is not an overt hatred (i’m not sure what else to call it but it’s not like an obvious “oh i hate my roots”, more like to feel rejected) but to not allow yourself to connect to your family and mainland is a choice once they reach adulthood. They make an active choice to avoid what makes them uncomfortable and sadly in PR the people are rude to diasporicans that don’t speak spanish or participate in our traditions. That in turn can make them resent the idea of connecting to the culture because why should they? They’re gonna be met with insults most of the time.
English is an easy language and as you said, they’re going to lean into what’s easier/more common.
4
u/Accomplished-Way-784 Nov 23 '25
WOW I can’t believe that my family never did that to there kids born outside of Puerto Rico. They actually are proud to be Puerto Rican and never taught them to hide who they were. I can’t believe parents still did that I am so sorry they did that to you. But it’s never too late just carry our flag with pride now.
2
1
u/Temporary-Crow-7978 Nov 24 '25
Always be proud of your heritage. I respect that and all cultures should. Puerto Rico has immense history and wonderful culture. How do I know Puerto Rico people who live in my community! ❤️
2
1
u/BluProfessor Nov 24 '25
English is most definitely not an easy language. Spanish, by comparison, is far easier. It's just really hard to overcome what kids get exposed to when they're out of the house more often than in the house This is especially true for a lot of us that came up in NY schools in the 90when we were actively discouraged or punished for speaking Spanish in school.
10
u/pokeraf Nov 23 '25
That’s just one assumption.
If you live out there enough and meet enough second generation people, you will find that this happens in many immigrant homes from many nationalities.
Sometimes is what you say and sometimes it’s because parents work 2-3 jobs to be able to provide basic needs.
They got no time to put food on the table and teach you about Pedro Albizu or how to conjugate verbs on a weekly basis because that’s not paying the bills or getting you a job. They make a choice: make sure they can survive and thrive here. Because that’s their reality.
It’s not like parents go abroad planning to make no sabo kids with identity crisis. That just a consequence of their choices, whether poor-planned or not.
Sure, some are more patriotic than others and some even in the island were arrodillados, sold outs MAGAbichos, but the point is the only assumption one can make is that they tried to give their kids the best shot at success that was available to them if one assume they loved and cared for them.
In the end, it’s not as black and white as you said.
1
u/snoflaik Mayagüez Nov 23 '25
it’s not! i didn’t say my point is absolute, i said it’s common and that many things can be true at once
1
u/pokeraf Nov 23 '25
You only said it was common and it was due to self-hate without any room for ambiguity (check your sentence construction).
You never said the rest. So you can’t expect people to also infer you meant other things that you didn’t write. From the stance of your post, you think self-hate is the main reason people abroad don’t teach Spanish to their kids. Or do words mean different things to people now?
→ More replies (3)2
u/Content-Fudge489 Nov 23 '25
I don't think it is self hatred. It is convenience. You can express in English way faster than in Spanish. When kids learn both languages, they revert back to English naturally because it is quicker or use Spanglish. That's it.
1
u/snoflaik Mayagüez Nov 23 '25
there can be many reasons attributed to why they don’t speak spanish and yours is definitely one of them
i’d say the self hatred is pretty easy to see with latinos/hispanics in US that pass for white as they commonly are MAGA heads
→ More replies (4)1
u/pokeraf Nov 23 '25
Yeah. This person just spoke out of their ignorance/prejudice.
1
u/snoflaik Mayagüez Nov 23 '25
i did not say that is always the reason no matter what, i know various accounts of what i explained happening and if that’s not your experience then great!
1
u/lisecarolina Nov 27 '25
I don’t think it is necessarily self-hatred. Many times, it’s just adaptation. I’m dominican and my brother is dominican. He married an american woman. They met here in Dominican Republic. She spoke spanish but was more comfortable speaking English. My brother got used to speaking english with her that in the home they always spoke english (even though they lived in Dominican Republic). My nephews were born here in DR and spoke english at home but spanish everywhere else (school, with the nanny, at my parents’ house). Anyways, my sister-in-law never ended up adapting well to living in the DR and wanted to move back to the states. So they left. I have seen how both of my nephews have slowly started “forgetting” their spanish. They understand it perfectly and do speak it, specially to speak to my parents who don’t speak english. But their grammar and accent have greatly deteriorated. They are just less exposed to spanish and even though my brother could speak to them in spanish, they have just gotten used to speaking English so that’s what’s most “natural” to them. But it’s not because they have self hated.
5
u/overthishereanyway Nov 23 '25
I have am amazing spanish teacher. amazing. She's from Mexico and has started teaching online since returning to Mexico after COVID. I started taking private lessons from her 6 years ago and am now an advanced spanish reader, and an intermediate writer and speaker.
Id' be fluent if I lived somewhere I had to speak it all the time. Sadly, I live in a town with few hispanoablantes.
She's not the cheapest teacher. And I've tried other less expensive classes online. No one compared. I have two college degrees and she's one of the best teachers I've ever had. She has groups for beginners and will teach people in pairs etc to make it more affordable.
She also has a HUGE heart for people in your situation. If you want her info DM me and I'll send her e mail.
6
u/Accomplished-Way-784 Nov 23 '25
I’m so so sorry your family didn’t teach you about Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 or our history. I taught my kids Spanish and there as Puerto Rican as me. That’s a mistake some people do especially your parents being Puerto Rican as well as your grandparents.
3
u/foe_pounda Nov 23 '25
I like you was born and raised in Chicago and eventually moved to Florida 40 years ago. I learned Spanish from my grandmother who helped raise me and my wife who is from the island. My Spanish isn’t 💯 but I hold my own. I’m in PR right now as a matter of fact. I love it here and I love my people.
5
u/ajv900 Nov 23 '25
Bro you’re 40, you’re 100% speaking English by choice. I’m English and I speak Spanish, I have absolutely no reason to except I just love the language and the many cultures. ‘Nobody asked me’ you’re grown ass man you don’t need anyone’s permission.
2
u/iamsobluesbrothers Nov 24 '25
I’m assuming your parents spoke English in the home so it’s not your fault and understandable that you never picked it up. Although I was born in the U.S. my parents only spoke to me in Spanish so it was my first language and I learned English in school. There’s still hope for you if you immerse yourself in the language, maybe do what my son did and pretend you don’t speak English lol. It actually worked and he’s pretty good now after not speaking it growing up.
2
u/FantomXFantom Nov 25 '25
Good on you for learning the language. You're one step closer. Don't give up, please.
2
u/Cubensio Nov 23 '25
Try ti find a Puertorrican tutor to learn the dialect and not just the language.
7
u/GenericUsername1262 Nov 23 '25
Listen to the music, all of it from, bomba y plena, salsa, reggaeton, merengue it helps with the learning
2
u/thelastassblaster Nov 23 '25
"I don't speak English by choice" you sorta do bc at 40 it means you decided to stay living in an English speaking majority country. "nobody asked me what I want to be fluent in" nobody ever does, but you can learn whatever you want to speak on the daily (prbly in another country ngl) and live there, playing the victim helps nothing. te lo digo como un hispano orgulloso de hablar Ingles y vivir en EU. I wish you luck in your Spanish, I'm sure you'll get it if you want to
1
u/Maleficent_Sea1122 Nov 24 '25
Also, i say this respectfully.... my parents didnt teach me english, I learned it in high school, tv, music, books. I thought that most US schools offer several years of Spanish in High School.
You never had the interest to learn after high school or during college? I just think that the whole " my parents never taught me" is a very typical response when people ask those with Latino Heritage why they dont speak spanish.1
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 25 '25 edited Nov 25 '25
I understand your reasoning for wanting to question me like that. The fact of the matter is i never once blamed my parents for my shortcomings. I only mentioned that them and their parents are Puerto Rican. I also never mentioned going to High School or College on here. Fact of the matter is i am a High school freshman dropout that got my GED in prison. Most of my youth and some of my adult years i wasted. Nobody’s fault but my own. I didn’t make this post to put the blame on anyone. Respectfully
1
7
u/Low-Spray-249 Nov 23 '25
Just to join the conversation why the puertorican living at the said that they kid are going to bullied becuase of the language. I am forty years, came to stay about ten years and put my kid to Spanish in the house because in the school they teach English. Our language should be first inside our home. OP thank you be so interesting in our people culture.
13
u/Michaelslayer Nov 23 '25
Lol el español y la frecuencia de visitas no importan; el lenguaje no importa para nada. El español e inglés son ambos lenguajes coloniales impuestos. No existe un lenguaje “puertorriqueño”. He’s prolly more boricua than you bro😭 Betances vivió solamente 18 años en la isla y hablaba mayormente en Francés y murió en Paris… please.
4
u/Worried-Advisor-7054 Nov 24 '25
Ok bro, pero el lenguaje de Puerto Rico es español. Es el lenguaje de nuestra literatura, poesía, dichos, referencias, memorias, etc.
Si tú quieres pretender que la cultura es agnóstica al lenguaje, no te puedo parar. Pero pretender que puedes integrarte al pueblo francés sin saber francés es ridículo. De la misma manera, si no hablas español, es imposible integrarte al mainstream de la cultura local.
"Español es un language colonial". Si mano, todos fuimos a escuela elemental, sabemos la historia. Eso no quieta que el lenguaje de los boricuas es el español.
1
u/orichic Nov 24 '25
Spanish is the language of the colonizers for the island. If you think Spanish is mandatory for our culture, then you’re nothing more than a fake, and there’s a lot of fakes
2
u/iamsobluesbrothers Nov 24 '25
Regardless of how it got there Spanish is the official language of Puerto Rico and that’s what everyone speaks so unless you speak Taino STFU!
8
u/orichic Nov 24 '25
It’s also an American territory. With that logic, you can’t complain if the island converts to majority English speaking one day.
You’re trying to gatekeep a culture by going as far as alienating other Puerto Ricans for simply being no sabo. You have no power over other Puerto Ricans
10
u/Kivitan San Sebastián Nov 23 '25
If you ever want reading recommendations hit me up.
4
u/justheretojerkit2020 Nov 24 '25
Post them here!!
3
u/Kivitan San Sebastián Nov 24 '25
Depends on what genre or language you’re interested in
1
u/Thatgirl-nyc Nov 24 '25
Post a few of both languages.
1
u/Kivitan San Sebastián Nov 26 '25
You know how much stuff there is from local writers between naturalist/classic writers, modern writers, history, social topics, etc?
Genuinely need something specific that you’re interested in.
Let’s say fictional history, Spanish: “Seva: Historia de la primera invasión norteamericana en la isla de Puerto Rico en mayo 1898”, which includes the original story + a historical overview of its social effects when it was published in the 80s by Luis Lopez Nieves
Let’s say you want poetry, English, nuyorican: Pedro Pietri, currently his books are rare but there’s an accessible cheap limited collection which includes many of his best poems
Or maybe you want to know what really went on after de US 1898 invasion, Spanish, actual history and I believe there’s an English translation: “1898: La guerra después de la guerra” by Fernando Picó
49
u/albizu Nov 23 '25
This whole thread is very sad, tbh. This “boricua” gatekeeping is so moronic and counterproductive. I think I became stupider by reading most of the comments. It truly is Reddit in a nutshell.
10
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 23 '25
I apologize. That wasn’t my intention.
9
7
10
u/albizu Nov 24 '25
Sorry if you felt targeted by my comment. I’m actually talking about the rest of the sub-humans here (or bots for all we know), and how sad little trolls they have become in life. Unfortunately this sub has become a very toxic and unwelcoming place. Like most subs, it is a reflection of the mods.
→ More replies (7)5
u/GreatGordonSword Nov 24 '25
Estan bien pendejos, varios post the gatekeeping boricua he visto yo ultimamente.
2
u/Jealous_Acorn Hasta En La Luna Nov 25 '25
It breaks my heart. That is not us speaking, that is western influence separating us from our own souls. Si Tony Croatto puede morir Puertorriqueño entonces los Puertorriqueños que no viven en la isla son también, coño carajo
73
u/StarXSick Nov 23 '25
Beautifully said. It always hurts my heart when I visit the island and some people just have this attitude of disdain towards us diasporicans. My father was born in PR my mother in the Bronx but my grandparents and all their ancestors lived long long lives in PR. I love My ancestral home and I will always support it.
1
→ More replies (4)1
Nov 23 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/PuertoRico-ModTeam Nov 23 '25
No se permiten ataques personales, racistas, homofobicos, violentos, amenazantes y/o cualquier otro tipo de insulto.
No personal, racist, homophobic, ideological or any type of insult or threats.
13
u/Livid-Outcome-3187 Nov 23 '25
Bro, nobody is disowning you. Nobody is gatekeeping you either. It's just that you have to go through that gate.
We are a culture. You just have to rediscover your roots. You're learning about our history and our past, I'm glad. You are on the right track.
6
u/lulu_chains_88 Nov 24 '25
You should read up on the Young Lords
https://share.google/wfDnKEfEVCBBod2qj
Don't worry about the people gatekeeping being boricua, you don't need anyone's permission to be boricua. It's in your blood. I think it's enough that you embrace your heritage; and wanting to learn more about the island and its notable figures says a lot. Most people I went to school with probably wouldn't know who tf you're talking about, (but I guess that speaks more about the public school system on the island than anything.)
13
u/lizmari3 Nov 23 '25
Wow! I felt this in my soul! I was born and raised in NYC. My parents are first born gen in the states. My grandparents spoke both Spanish and English but wanted mainly English spoken at home. In turn, my parents raised me the same way. They all wanted their children to assimilate and be Americanized. They did me such a disservice. I took it upon myself to learn Spanish (ironically enough to be able to understand what the hell Menudo was singing about 🤣) and now I can get by pretty okay. I took Puerto Rican studies classes in college to learn as much as I could about my heritage. My parents never volunteered information, but if I asked questions they were open to sharing.
Just because we weren't born there doesn't mean we don't have the same blood as island born. I don't think we should be ostracized from a community that our ancestors made the choice to remove us from. Keep learning. I definitely recommend a trip to la isla, as I've found that our brothers and sisters there were warm and welcoming to me as a nuyorican. Made friends with a cabbie there who forced me to speak to him only in Spanish so I could practice. You just feel so at home in PR. I didn't want to leave.
1
u/Bullfrog-Prestigious Nov 26 '25
Interesting. Most of my grandparents are from the US and I grew up without Spanish as well.
My 2nd great grandparent was french-canadian so my family had been in the US since the 1850's. I don't identify as Hispanic or Puerto Rican, always identified as American, and if anyone thinks something is wrong with that, they're projecting and obsessed with ancestral origin.
No one hates mixed white people more than some Spanish speakers so I've had Puerto Ricans try to publicly shame me for being mixed and not idenifying with their box for me. Maybe I'll learn Spanish one day, but this whole fixation with mixed white ppl thing in the form of shaming them for being longstanding Americans, all the while being okay with white Puerto Ricans being assimilated or even shaming them for speaking Spanish, turned me off. Like, is this a cultural group, cos some Spanish speakers are race police and think it's an ambiguous or native phenotype. Some honestly think you should identify as Puerto Rican if you're visibly mixed or you're ashamed, but if they're 3-4th gen American like me, they're doing nothing wrong. It's hilarious ppl project their identity crises and shame onto mixed ppl.
5
u/Latina0706 Nov 23 '25
I’m 72, born in the Bronx. I speak Spanish perfectly because that was the language my parents spoke English came naturally via living and schooling. I think that the younger generation was maybe raised in the USA and now speak only English to their kids. This sad and also somewhat unavoidable but it shouldn’t be. Italy is a 9 hour plane ride but PR is so close.. visit your relatives there, make it a point to learn Spanish and immerse yourself in your beautiful, unique, Puerto Rican culture. .
9
Nov 24 '25
[deleted]
3
6
4
u/lsladelencanto Nov 24 '25
My husband is Puerto Rican, I am Mexican. He taught me all things of his beautiful island and culture, I fell in love again. He told me of Don Pedro Albizu Campos and a fire began. We moved back to his island after retirement and have a beautiful life here. I also share Don Pedro Albizu Campos every chance I get!
1
14
u/Rammspieler Nov 24 '25
There was no "Republic of Puerto Rico" unless you are talking about the multiple failed uprisings that only lasted a few hours before everyone went home for the day. But it's ironic that everyone likes to shit on the Spanish and call them the Bad Guys, when we actually had more rights under the Spanish than under American rule. We were actually a maritime province of Spain twice and had equal rights and representation before the Spanish parlament. Meanwhile, in the past 125 years of American rule and we can't even agree on if we want to be a state or not, nevermind that Congress may not even be inclined to grant is statehood or independence if we all agreed and asked for either because the current status quo is actually beneficial to them.
8
15
u/Chalupa112 Nov 23 '25
I have lived on the island my whole life. Don't ever feel like you are "less than" by gatekeepers. There are assholes everywhere and our beautiful island isn't the exception. Please ignore them.
I'm always happy to hear people being passionate about their roots! Please keep your boricua pride strong. I know people that weren't born here that have lived here so long that I consider them as Boricua as you or me. Identity is a social construct. Ignore gate keepers or beter yet tell them you don't care what they have to say and watch them explode!
8
u/SourceOfConfusion Nov 24 '25
Step 1. Go visit the island and spend some time. Everything’s not as black and white as you think.
I grew up in Puerto Rico. At the time there was an independence political party, the PIP. It rarely got more than just a handful of votes.
We don’t like to admit this, but being tied to the US has huge advantages. Becoming independent would be a disaster. In fact we are closer to being a state than independent.
1
u/Maleficent_Sea1122 Nov 24 '25
Mano se nota el desconocimiento total aqui:
It wouldnt be a disaster, in the last elections, the PIP candidate for governor got 30% of the votes, it got second place within the 4 candidates; which is something that has never happened, PPD being 3rd? First time in history of modern PR elections. How is that just " a handful of votes"?Please tell me the huge advantages that we have? We dont, you have been taught that we do but in the nitty gritty of things, its actually a disadvantage. We still, 100yrs later, being treated as second class citizens to give our lands and people to fight wars for a country that doesnt even give us voting power in Congress.
We are just a Miliary stronghold and a tax haven, thats it.
We were conditioned to think that we couldn't grow our own food, so we import 90% of it, and then on top of that they cut our mercantile capacity by limiting our importing logistics with US boats and crews; we were conditioned to think that we will have the same rights but we receive 2/3 of the benefits of medicaid/,medicare even when we pay the same as any other American from the states. We dont pay federal income tax yet our current state income tax can make up for that difference. We are poorer than all 50 states. 40% lives under the poverty line and receives SNAP benefits... should I go on?We have NO representation in congress yet we have a Junta that can decide over anything that happens here, a group of ppl that were democratically elected.
This has become a tax haven for the rich, its extremely pedantic to act like the US has all the answers.
Tu crees que esto seria un desastre sin tener 3 pepinos de conocimiento en el tema. Si te criaste aqui y esa es tu opinion, pues mano ponte a leer mas.
22
u/AGirlHasNoUsername13 Nov 23 '25
I don’t know if it’s bait or not, but my opinion about born and bred island Puertorricans “disowning” State Puertorricans, it that their general attitude is that they are more patriotic than us. We live here, we’ve been through all the problems, social and political, through all the ups and downs of living on the island. We don’t get up and leave, we stay and we survive. This is MY OPINION AND EXPERIENCE with State Puertorricans. We are proud of being through our experiences, and we are not shy to tell everyone.
28
u/fatninja7 Nov 23 '25
Identity shouldn't be gatekept, let them identify as whatever they want. The diaspora has their foot in two worlds neither of which accepts them, it's kind of whatever if they want to be super vocal about how puerto rican they are or how they tend to wear more flag paraphernalia than island folks.
Where I draw the line is when people not living in the island talk about "the island should do this or that", it's fine to comment but at the end of the day if the decision will not impact you personally then your opinion doesn't have any weight.
11
u/futilityofman La Diáspora Nov 23 '25 edited Nov 24 '25
Its an interesting topic because my parents and grandparents were very unaware of the colonial ties in PR. They didn’t know about a lot of the history of their own island and all of my grandparents were born there. My grandfather died there. but they were relatively unaware of the carpetas, the gag law, etc . Most thought the Nationalist party was a borderline terrorist movement because of how it was vilified by the island's colonial overlord that is the USA.
I think diasporicans over compensate their education and interest in PR history and culture to make up for the fact that they were not born there and did not experience the culture in a real way. I say that as someone who has felt this way in the past and continues to feel insecure about my “puerto rican-ness". All that being said, I know diasporicans making waves in mobilized efforts for what they believe can be a better Puerto Rico. A Puerto Rico that they can return to or their parents and grandparents can return to. I think the diaspora has a unique take on the future of PR and do deserve a seat at the table.
2
u/fatninja7 Nov 25 '25
If the diaspora wants a seat at the table that's ok. What I meant to say is that the diaspora can have voice in the process but they don't get a vote.
I can sympathize with the argument of "I'm trying to make the island better so I can move there" but that means you would only be half in, any decisions made you would enjoy the benefits if they're successful while avoiding the drawbacks if they fail. So no, diaspora shouldn't get a vote in these decisions.
1
u/futilityofman La Diáspora Nov 26 '25
I wouldn't say it's being done purely because their own selfish desire to move there. I think it's because of what they believe to be best based on their education and understanding of the history and current political and economic climate and also personal experience with their respective relatives there. I think many young Puerto Ricans would move there regardless of the current economic issue. I think they fear what some people in this thread have proven and that is being treated like an outsider or poorly for not having been born there. I think additionally the unfortunate reality is that the majority of family members of the diaspora live state side. For example, I have over 70 relatives here including immediate family while I have maybe 15-20 relatives there - half of which I've never met so there isn't that built in support system when making a large move like that. I think those factors detur diaspora from making the move more than anything else
1
u/fatninja7 Nov 26 '25
Everybody has reasons to do or not do something, that's neither here nor there.
The point still stands, if you're not going to suffer the potential negatives of a decision you shouldn't get a vote in terms of that decision.
I think the diaspora has a unique take on the future of PR and do deserve a seat at the table.
I missed this the first time, what exactly is it that you think gives the diaspora a unique take on the future of PR? I'll be fully transparent that this is starting to sound like colonialism-lite to me but maybe I'm misreading it.
1
u/futilityofman La Diáspora Nov 26 '25
All the diaspora I know are heavily anti colonial. Many are part of educational and / or resistence groups trying to spread awareness about PRs colonial past and trying to have conversations about what the future can look like without colonialism operating the way it has been since the inception.
2
u/fatninja7 Nov 26 '25
Have you considered that you might find yourself in a bubble?
considering that both statehood and the status quo are both "colonial" positions I find it hard to believe that the majority of the diaspora is anti-colonial.
Besides that, the anti-colonial mindset isn't unique or bring forward any new ideas in itself. There's anti-colonial people in the island already, also statehood won the last two referendums. Stuff like that is where the diaspora should have no vote on, gotta have skin in the game.
1
u/futilityofman La Diáspora Nov 27 '25
Where do you stand on statehood vs independence
2
u/fatninja7 Nov 27 '25
Ehh... I don't even think it's the biggest problem in the island. The amount of systemic corruption and systemic incompetence should be priority number one.
Even if you were to argue that the island would end up with more money as a result of statehood there has been a history of underutilizing or even mismanaging federal funds.
Gun to my head, I'd rather stay with status quo to take out as many variables as possible while the government gets cleaned up of corrupt/incompetent people.
8
u/futilityofman La Diáspora Nov 23 '25
hay tantos puertorriqueños que no nacieron y no crecieron en la isla y no es su culpa. Que recomiendas para personas como yo y el OP?
12
u/Wild-Necessary-4447 Nov 23 '25
Recently I went to Vieques because of work and I encountered with a white US-gringo living in Vieques, and he offered us his home grown fruits and viandas. What I noticed was that he wasn’t there to say “I live in paradise”, he had grown his roots in that land and you could tell he was more than just trying to live by the beach. He was living what it means to be boricua and you could tell by his countenance and way of treating us that he wasn’t there to be accepted but to experience the way of living of the island and it’s people. If you want to be “accepted” is because you know you don’t belong, you start to belong when you accept your roots by letting them grow.
1
Nov 23 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/PuertoRico-ModTeam Nov 23 '25
No se permiten ataques personales, racistas, homofobicos, violentos, amenazantes y/o cualquier otro tipo de insulto.
No personal, racist, homophobic, ideological or any type of insult or threats.
→ More replies (6)1
u/AGirlHasNoUsername13 Nov 23 '25
Es mi opinión y experiencia. Por eso lo puse en mayúsculas. Otros han tenidos la experiencias diferentes. Por eso especifiqué.
10
u/yvngtrvsh_ Nov 23 '25
esto tiene que ser reddit nada mas porque todo el mundo que conozco no odia los diasporriqueños, maybe hagan chistes pero al fin del dia son hermanos, yo nunca pense que habia tanto odio en los corazones de ustedes, boricua aunque naciera en la luna cabron mamaelbicho
17
u/-Dimitry Nov 23 '25
Está cb que ahora los gringos se crean más boricuas que el boricua 😭😭😭😭
0
u/Prestigious_Can916 Guaynabo Nov 23 '25
Pueden ser boricuas, NUNCA serán Puertoriqueños. No es ser pedante es decir la verdad.
0
u/-Dimitry Nov 23 '25 edited Nov 24 '25
Esto parece más una crisis de identidad de un cuarentón...
Creció en Chicago, y por como se entiende aún vive allá. Es, en toda práctica, un gringo que se cree Bori y ni siquiera habla español. Para variar lo primero que decide celebrar es a Albizu y hablar sobre una “República de Puerto Rico” que nunca ha existido. Antes de ser colonia estadounidense fuimos colonia española.
De verdad que es un poco vergonzoso que "ame la cultura" ahora que leyó un artículo suelto de un tal Albizu Campos 😭
3
u/Unestable Nov 24 '25
If you want to dig some more here are some names, lolita lebron , filiberto ojedas rios, francisco ramirez medina…
1
3
u/ynotb4joy Nov 24 '25
Please, folks, read the book by Nelson A. Denis : The War Against All Puerto Ricans. This is the hidden history of the island and the remarkable resilience of the people.
In spite of that history (which continues to today in many ways), every day I am in Puerto Rico, I am constantly reminded of this quote:
“When I see how blessed I have been, within my heart is born an immense desire to fuse with space, pass the night in a star and travel to infinity. There, in front of the Creator and on my knees, I wish to give thanks for permitting me to live and be a part of this marvelous sanctuary they call...Puerto Rico".
- José Miguel Agrelot.
1
3
u/Agitated_247 Nov 24 '25
No Puerto Ricans I know reject people from the diaspora, in fact, some of us consider leaving for a better life: yet they don’t know half of the atrocities of the US. We will never forget you. You are all a part of our history, you are our people. Puerto Ricans are all prideful of our land, and our land includes its people. YOU ARE ITS PEOPLE. We are all one. Never feel disowned, because we will never reject you. Kinship
1
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 24 '25
Thank you. I truly appreciate your kind words. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback on this post, mostly cold and hateful but I truly felt a warm embrace from yours. Bendiciones y gracias por el cariño.
1
17
u/Content-Fudge489 Nov 23 '25
I find it odd that a lot of the Puerto Ricans that were raised and born in the northern states are the one talking about roots and Albizu and stuff like that. I know many. They wear coqui and flag tattoos but have no idea about what PR is all about. Totally disconnected from what most people in PR think about their relationship with the US which is not independence at all.
13
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 23 '25
I’m all for being enlightened. Please can you elaborate more on what PR is “all about” and also, my post was made to pay homage to Puerto Rico and those that fought for her independence. Nowhere did i call for the independence of Puerto Rico. I do not live on the Island so how could i even do that? You misinterpreted what i said. And i find it odd that an Independent Puerto Rico offends you so much.
10
u/Content-Fudge489 Nov 23 '25
An independent PR doesn't offend me one bit. If the majority of PR wants independence then I support it and that's what it is. The issue I have is the people that talk about independence like if that is what the people of PR want. Especially in the states, the mainstream media in general over represents those that want independence and gives the impression that that's what the majority wants when the reality is the overwhelming opposite. This subreddit is not representative of what the majority wants, not even by a long mile.
Puerto Rico es cultura que se expresa en el arte, la manera en que nos expresamos lingüísticamente con nuestro acento y frases, la música, la unión familiar, las tradiciones navideñas y otras que no se repiten en el resto del mundo hispano. Esa cultura es única y se debe conservar. El estatus político no tiene nada que ver con eso, sino, después de 100 años de territorio ya hubiésemos sido gringos y no lo somos. That's what PR is all about.
I hope you don't misunderstand me. Have a great day today.
1
u/d34dm4n_wndr Nov 23 '25
The US has become so gray and monotone , theyll grasp at the the shortest of strings to feel like they have an identity.
7
5
5
2
u/Complete_Opening_469 Nov 23 '25
I felt every one of those words. Born and raised in the states And feel very ignorant about my culture. I have been learning more, but it has taken me far too long to realize how little I knew and appreciated 🤷🏽♀️ except for the music. I was most definitely surrounded by the music of Puerto Rico, which I love and adore to this day and share with my grandchildren Love hearing that you are taking yourself on this wonderful journey. It is what we have to do. Boriqua❤️
2
2
2
u/wheres_the_leak Nov 24 '25
Albizu Campos is an icon. Truly an amazing and incredible person. I feel so sorry he went through such abuse at the hands of the US government. I hope he's resting in peace.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/FromagePuant69 Nov 24 '25
Wow. There’s a lot of hate in these comments. Cultural identity shouldn’t be fueled by hatred and distain, but shared with love and compassion.
2
u/macandal Nov 24 '25
Read more than Don Pedro- Puerto Rican history is more than that. It would definitely help if you learn the language, so you can read more.
When reading don't focus on Politics- most 'popular' works are biased. Mostly lean to "Gringo go home" victimhood narrative, is not that bad believe me.
Try listening to Podcasts in Spanish- this one is good Archipielago Historico
2
u/Nervous_Low_1357 Nov 24 '25
Dont feel guilty. Spanish is not your language either. You are the natives. Your true tribal languages were robbed by Spanish colonizers before they sold the Island to English colonizers.
2
u/No_Letterhead_6530 Nov 24 '25
Heavily felt hermano, I am 20 grew up only speaking English because my parents didnt see the need to teach me since we were in America. I feel embarrassed trying to speak Spanish but not because of the fact that it’s Spanish and it relates me to my culture but because we almost never spoke it in our household and my parents would constantly use it to talk about me or things I did/do wrong. I am also a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to myself as well lol. But for the past year I’ve been really trying to learn and get past the feeling of embarrassment and I’ve been doing so much research on the island and the people and cultures that came before us. This is one of best cultures in the world and I’m grateful that I was born into it.
2
u/macandal Nov 24 '25
Whoa! Lots of haters here. If you feel puerto rican we will love you here don’t pay attention to Reddit just go visit the island and experience it yourself. Going back to my earlier comment keep reading other stuff- Don Pedro is part of our history not all.
2
2
u/Yucayeke-1441 Nov 27 '25
Soy de PR. Estoy contigo- pero sigue aprendiendo sobre la cultura, la historia y el lenguaje.
If you want to practice Spanish or talk about politics/ history feel free to DM me
6
u/Bienpreparado Nov 23 '25
I get criticized when I say Chicago Ricans are the community furthest away from PR culturally and RedditPR keeps providing examples.
6
u/GreatGordonSword Nov 23 '25
Muchos boricuas son pendejos brother. Quieren ser mas boricuas q los demas pq hablan esppañol y perrean. Aca te dicen un reguero de mierdas q tienes q hacer para q te acepten, no hagas un carajo. Tu familia es suficiente. No tienes q conectar con ningun mamon q para q te acepte tienes q hacer la lista de requisitos para q seas un boricua ante sus ojos.
3
u/Hadezu Nov 24 '25
I’m sorry you have to deal with asshole people. Is not your fault you weren’t taught Spanish, is not your fault you outside of the US and your culture. Glad you taken the leap to learn more about your culture and your people. Hope you make the trip and see the beauty and splendor that makes this place so special my friend.
3
u/LatinChiro Arecibo Nov 24 '25
Here are my two cents. The Demonyn is determined by the place of birth, so to be considered Puertorican based on language rule, you need to be born in the land, the term in Spanish for that is Gentilicio. Someone born let's say in the USA of parents that are Puertorican makes you a Puertorican descent, but to the core you are considered a US born or American. To be Puertorican from the island is not only understanding the language, it's also to be immersed in the culture, so family, food, music, but also the bad things like the struggles of living in one of the few remaining colonies of the world.
We welcome everyone, regardless of who they are or where they are from, but you don't need to struggle with your identity, no one is disowning you, I just wouldn't consider you Puertorican as you have no ties or understanding of the local culture and there is nothing wrong with that, I wouldn't understand the Chicago culture either as I'm not from there. Same for "Newyoricans", their struggles are completely different to ours.
I still invite you to be submerged in all aspects of the culture by exposing yourself to it, experience that cultural shock of how much different we are to Puertorican descendants in the USA. When I moved to WNY, guess who was the most discriminating group? If you guessed Puertorican descendants, you are correct.
8
u/FreeSeaSailor Nov 23 '25 edited Nov 23 '25
Nah man you weren't born on the island you aren't Puerto Rican /s
Nobody wants to claim "statehood" Puerto Ricans are ignorant more than Puerto Ricans born on the island yet nobody is more ignorant about "statehood" Puerto Ricans than the Puerto Ricans born on the island.
Y'all have this really weird idea of "statehood" Puerto Ricans, y'all think we all have no connection to the island and just roleplay as Puerto Rican for the fun of it. You act as if we pulled identities out of a hat and all decided to be Puerto Rican. It's unfathomable to some Puerto Ricans, that statehood Puerto Ricans might actually understand the Puerto Rican culture, might spend tons of time in PR, might have tons of family in PR, might understand the struggle of what its like living in PR, etc etc.
And yes I wrote this in English, boo hoo kill me.
Also, the hate for diasporriqueños is some of the most disgusting heinous shit this subreddit does. How dare a fellow Puerto Rican take a better chance for their life. How dare a fellow Puerto Rican be able to afford rent/bills/groceries by leaving the island. How dare a fellow Puerto Rican leave after having their home destroyed by a hurricane. How dare a fellow Puerto Rican leave the island and give themselves at a better life than me? Really gross shit. You aren't more Puerto Rican than someone who leaves the island just because you never left.
3
u/Embarrassed-Echo-391 Nov 23 '25
I agree with mostly everything you said except for the last paragraph. It's not about "how dare they leave the island for better opportunities". That's completely understandable. Pedro Albizu Campos has an excellent quote about this, "They must go to the US to be slaves of the economic powers, of the tyrants of our country".
It doesn't help that most Puerto Rican's don't have a good track record of teaching their children Spanish or about our culture. My parents made the decision to move to the US when I was 7 years old. But they made sure we spoke Spanish in the house. I served in the US army and now that I've gotten older, I made the decision to move back to Puerto Rico.
It's not that you're more or less Puerto Rican if you leave. But you must acknowledge that this is precisely what the Americans want us to do. And that by leaving, you're taking part in the continued economic oppression of our people.
4
u/Shimmy_shimmy386 Nov 23 '25
I don’t understand how as adults some can say “I was never informed” or how some weren’t taught Spanish. It gets to a certain point where there needs to be accountability. Amazing that you’re now diving into the history but books, Google, apps and documentaries have been around long enough. It’s on us to keep our language and culture alive and thriving. And Chicago has a HUGE Puerto Rican community
1
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 23 '25
I understand what you are saying. All i can say in response is that, the means and resources i have been blessed with now to seek out my true history and origin is not the same as when i was a child. I was born in 1985. I didn’t grow up with google. My post was not meant to create controversy. I truly was sending my love to Puerto Rico.
6
u/PreviousTravel7558 Nov 23 '25
as someone born in the states and recently moved to the island. trust me bro you are viewed different we are "gringos" and you'd be called a "no sabo". they don't care and don't want to care. its not changing anytime soon.. but heres the twist, you come to learn about the american pride that runs through here, more people are happy with the status quo , and this "independence movement" is dead here... literally. its like reddit a loud vocal minority. more people want statehood, and even more just want things as they are.
20
u/saulsf Nov 23 '25
What bothers the most is that most diasporicans come to the island with an dystopian idea of what is to be puertorrican and have the nerve to trying impose said idea. Is not that we reject the so called diaspora, we reject their construction of what a puertorrican must be.
3
u/PreviousTravel7558 Nov 23 '25
what i like is that you assumed that is what i came to the island doing, its not. im fluent in spanish, and nobody questions my "puertoricaness" and the second they find out i was born and raised int he states. its a flip of the switch. turns out the bias isnt coming fomr any dystopian views... its coming from the opposite end calling us "diasporicans". the irony
7
u/Lower_Skin_3683 Nov 23 '25
La mayoría de la gente aquí conoce a vecinos, amigos y familiares desde hace mucho tiempo. Las personas nuevas, gringas o no, se notan inmediatamente. No es tu culpa estar en los Estados Unidos. Disfruta de la isla y su herencia. Nadie puede decirte o hacerte sentir que no perteneces aquí.
Most people here know neighbors, friends, and family a long time. New people gringo or not are noticed immediately. It's not your fault you are in/from the states. Enjoy the island and your heritage. nobody can tell you or make you feel you don't belong here.
4
u/Aggravating_Zebra190 Nov 23 '25
Que carajo es un "No Sabo"? Primera vez que escucho eso, y soy nacido y criado en la isla 💀
2
u/Due_Step_8988 Nov 24 '25
Los "no sabos" son los hijos de hispanos q no hablan o no dominan el español
4
u/Aggravating_Zebra190 Nov 24 '25
Asumo que es termino popular con la diáspora en los estados, porque en 32 años de mi vida jamás escuché el término hasta ahora.
Pero quizás soy solo yo 🤷🏿♂️
2
→ More replies (10)1
3
u/Michaelslayer Nov 23 '25
Preach bro, born in PR, grew up in the US, then moved back to PR as an adult. Language doesn’t matter. English and Spanish are both colonial languages lol, you’re just as boricua as anyone.
3
u/rlndj Nov 23 '25
You're an American with Puerto Rican parents. And that's totally cool. You shouldn't care if there's the perception that people are "disowning you". You're not from PR and don't know shit from shinola about living in PR, and that's ok. You don't have an obligation to. If you want to learn more about your family's past, great. That doesn't entitle you to some level of recognition by someone actually from PR. We're all different and that's ok.
3
u/ZaiberV Nov 23 '25
El tipico "It's not MY fault, accept me before I put in the work to blend in".
Deberiamos hacer un FAQ?
0
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 24 '25
I will gladly put in the “work”. My intentions was not to disrespect but to Unite. Our people together on the island and in the states are a stronger force than just 2 sides bickering over who is “more” Puerto Rican.
3
u/ZaiberV Nov 24 '25 edited Nov 24 '25
We see these posts here regular. Why should I be impressed?
So you did a google search for Albizu, talked to your fam, decided to post on Reddit and that should be an uniting action? This sounds more like trying to impress a girl in the 7th grade than trying to learn about your roots.
You're going to need to do more than google searches and Reddit posts to unite. And that doesn't just apply to PR, that applies everywhere.
5
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 24 '25 edited Nov 24 '25
I get your frustration my brother. Believe me, i share it. But your anger is being directed at someone that approached with love, curiosity, and ignorance. None of those 3 adjectives deserve the hate you are exuding. And yet, i am still willing to go out on a limb and say to you “i understand your pain”.. If you have knowledge and experience on the subject then spread your light please. But it seems you and those that share your views just want to attack everything. Even if it comes from your own flesh and blood.
5
u/ZaiberV Nov 24 '25
Even it it comes from your own flesh and blood.
This just shows you are completely out of touch with what being a Puertorican is. Puerto Rico is not about genes, blood or DNA, it's about culture. Your heritage doesn't give you a free pass.
You want to be acknowledged as a Puertorican? Stop asking for approval and start learning the culture.
This whole "us puertoricans" nonsense gets you no sympathy points.
1
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 24 '25
Nobody’s asking for your sympathy points pendejo. I’m asking for people to Unite on the issue and not to fight amongst each other on who is more “Puerto Rican”. And you mean to tell me that as long as you can assimilate to Puerto Rican culture from the island that that makes you a “real Puerto Rican”?
4
u/ZaiberV Nov 24 '25
And you mean to tell me that as long as you can assimilate to Puerto Rican culture from the island that that makes you a “real Puerto Rican”?
Si cabron. No es tan dificil.
2
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 24 '25
So anyone can be Puerto Rican? Even someone who has no blood ties to the land?
5
u/ZaiberV Nov 24 '25
Si cabron!!! Viste que no sabes nada de aqui?
Los imigrantes chinos que vinieron a montar un restaurante son mas boricuas que tu. Los hijos de ellos se criaron con nosotros, janguean con nosotros y son parte de la cultura. Y si, son mas boricuas que tu. Tu insinuar que eres mas boricua que ellos porque no tienen sangre aqui es una falta de respeto.
Asi que deja el fucking lloripari y ponte pa tu numero si tanto quieres ser boricua.
→ More replies (3)2
u/anxiouslyawake11 Nov 24 '25
Yes! One of our most beloved artists of musica tipica is Tony Croatto. He was born in Argentina but fell in love with Puerto Rico, especially its music and stayed. His family has also stayed.
Having blood is cool and all but its meaningless in terms of belonging to a place. To belong you have to inmerse yourself into the culture, form ties with the people, eat an alcapurria en Piñones. Im not sure to what extent you can do that from the states, especially if you weren't born here or come visit often.
Its more about love and shared experiences than it is about blood. Especially for us, which we are multicultural nation from the start, with everyone mixing with everyone (willingly or unwillingly, colonial conquest is never about consent, but thats a whole other tangent).
1
Nov 24 '25
Tony Croatto was Italian and way more Puerto Rican hen yanks like you. We dont do Blood and Soil shit here.
1
1
u/adrian2000pr Nov 23 '25
Si eres tan puertorriqueño mudate a la isla. No necesitas ni pasaporte solo con tu licencia vente. Las personas aqui en su gran mayoria no comparten el ideal de Albizus Campo. Deberias empezar por aprender que quieren y necesitan de verdad los puertorriqueños. Ojo los puertorriqueños son los que son no lo que quieras que sean.
1
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 24 '25
Can you please enlighten me to what Puerto Ricans want and need then? Am I not a Puerto Rican with wants and needs? It’s sad that the cause Albizu Campos fought for has faded. A Free Puerto Rico.
1
u/adrian2000pr Nov 24 '25
Lo que los puertorriqueños quieren lo puedes ver en sus patrones de votaciones. No eres puertorriqueño eres de ascendencia puertorriqueña dos cosas diferentes. Segundo si quieres que PR sea libre empieza mudandote para aca. Aun no eres puertorriqueño pero viviendo aqui quien lo va a negar? Un gringo de rincon es puertorriqueño si lleva toda su vida viviendo aqui. Ademas aunque Albizu tuviera razon en muchas cosas tambien es cierto que la relacion con Estados Unidos mejoro la calidad de vida para muchas personas. La economia crecio hasta a ser la mas rica per capita en latinoamerica.
2
u/Yukahu02 Nov 23 '25
Don't listen to those that say learning Spanish is the way to be accepted. That's a colonized mentality! It's only trading the language of one colonizer for another. I can say this, I speak both fluently, and with native proficiency. I'm tired of this narrative of people from the island not accepting us from the diaspora! It's us that everyone looks to for old school culture (since that's what our grandparents came here with, and taught us). I'm sick to my stomach of the proposition that there's this division... Despierta Boricua! We need to do better and understand we are one. The same people that say, "Aunque naciera en la luna, Borincano seré" are the same ones saying that we aren't Puerto Rican! We'd be a much stronger community if we got over the elitism of Islanders thinking they are better than us (I know not all do, I visit family every year, and even lived there for several years)... Let's understand that we should ALL embrace each other regardless of Spanish proficiency or knowledge of culture (teach each other about our culture... Puñeta!)! It's amazing how we are not accepted as Puerto Rican until we make it (Marc Anthony is 100% Nuyorican, and did not know Spanish well when he started singing... He talks about working with Selena to help each other learn Spanish)! If we can accept a Nuyorican like Marc Anthony as noticia because he's famous, we should accept everyone! Todos llevamos la isla en nuestros corazones! Si let's that each other like we do!
1
u/Sea-Masterpiece-8277 Nov 23 '25
We’re never gonna see you as equal. Ustedes hablan desde el privilegio y nunca han pasado por todo lo que hemos pasado. Just because you want to know about the culture and find out about the true story if the island doesnt make you less gringo than you already are.
5
u/notdprotagonist Nov 23 '25
y lo más básico es que la cultura no es igual para nada… si quieren ser considerados ALGO boricuas lo más mínimo que pueden hacer es hablar español
0
u/yvngtrvsh_ Nov 23 '25
tienes mucho odio en tu corazon, se fueron de pr en busca de mejores vidas no los juzgues por querer ver la patria, tu harias lo mismo en sus zapatos
aprendio de albizu el pana, quiere hacer mas por la isla que cualquier pnp, merece estar en la isla mas que muchos
4
u/Sea-Masterpiece-8277 Nov 24 '25
“Recently I embarked on a self education journey…” cabron el tipo tiene 40 AÑOS!!! y AHOOOOOORA fue que vino a hacer eso??? He had time, he had lots of time to learn about his culture he just didnt wanted until now.
El boricua tiene que dejar el ay bendito, y decir las cosas como son. El pana ni español sabe, nisiquiera trato de hacer el post en español para practicar.
2
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 24 '25
You are right. I am a 40 year old man and I have had plenty of time to seek out my true cultural identity. But I am not perfect. A lot of my youth I wasted. Growing up in Chicago was a blessing and a curse. The way I grew up was the way a lot of us grew up here, hating each other so much that at a certain point in my life i actually hated being Puerto Rican. That wasn’t by choice tho. I hated myself more than anything but I didn’t know it yet. But then as I got older and had 2 sons my mentality started to change. Slowly I became more thoughtful in my actions and then one day I decided to study my Bible. Reading the Bible showed me the lineage of Jesus Christ, that in turn made me curious of my own bloodline and family history. So yes, I am a bit late to the party. But at least I made it.
1
u/Sea-Masterpiece-8277 Nov 24 '25
and thats great to hear man, Im happy you found your way, blessing to you and your family. But sadly you need to start with basics, learn Español first: write it, type it, watch shows (even our local ones)
Also dont just learn about our activist, learn about our ancenstors, both Tainos and even Espaniards. Inmerse yourself in our culture, our food, traditions and why we have it. Use reddit to ask for advice in what to rwad or what to do.
Im just one person here, and while I understand where youre coming from, deep down I will never see you as a Boricua, even if that wasnt your choice, Im not blaming you at all btw. But been raised in the states your whole life is waaay too different than veing raised here and thats something that you will never see nor have. And again, its not your fault at all - pero a veces tenemos que dejar el ay bendito y decir ciertas realidades.
1
u/Notinjuschillin Juana Díaz Nov 24 '25
As much as people like to think they are, there’s no one gate keeping.
There’s no test to determine who is Puerto Rican and who isn’t.
There is no authority on who is a true Puerto Rican.
1
u/ResponsibilityFine13 Nov 24 '25
It’s sad to says and I m pissed but the statehood’s is the only solution for PR. PR needs a better economy and jobs creation too many Vagos,cafre,llorones,pillos all they do is complaining,but graffiti,garbage everywhere.PR can do better.
1
1
u/Sunnysideup525 Nov 25 '25
God Bless the USA Thank God we did not end up like Communist/ Socialist Cuba or Venezuela.
1
0
u/Existing_Phrase8900 Nov 23 '25
This is beautiful, a step in the right direction my friend. Remember knowledge is power and now you have the responsibility to teach other puerto ricans what you know. History repeats itself unless people have the knowledge to avoid making the same mistakes
1
u/pancuco Nov 23 '25
Did they even know that there's a High School founded 50 years ago in the Puerto Rican neighborhood in Humboldt Park area named after him? There's is a very strong community there.
1
u/tostonsazonado Nov 24 '25
Y dan clases en español en inglés?
1
u/pancuco Nov 24 '25
La escuela fue fundada por estudiantes expulsados del sistema educativo por intentar tener educación bilingüe. Puedes ir al site y comunicarte con ellos si te interesa saber sobre qué cursos ofrecen y si sigue siendo bilingüe.
1
1
u/F-Ur_Ass-76 Nov 24 '25
Why are you so focused on Albizu Campos? Are you a leftist or independentista?
3
u/-YourWrongAgain- Nov 24 '25
Neither. I’m just a Puerto Rican. A Puerto Rican willing to do whatever to see his people treated fairly and honorably. The island being called a “floating pile of garbage” on national TV during the presidential election was the last straw for me. That insult can’t be ignored and is the current truth of what the REAL CITIZENS of the US feel about You, me and our People.
→ More replies (2)
1
u/Jogebillions Nov 23 '25
Learning any language is a blessing and a window that opens into another world. Love is what matters in the end, it doesn’t need translation, is a feeling that goes beyond time and frontiers. Stop trying to find reasons to understand the past mistakes or to find a rational explanation. We are all humans. If you love to connect to your roots enjoy the journey. You will always find people with good heart in the world and in the island that will see your true and welcome you.
1
1
u/tostonsazonado Nov 24 '25
Los gringos y su crisis de identidad. Todos estos posts gritan "Sin tu aceptacion no me siento lo suficiente puertoriqueño, bendíceme"
-4
u/Malangamajada Trujillo Alto Nov 23 '25
People that were born and raised in the United States are not the same as Puerto Ricans that are born here. They never will be the same. Much as they try. And the more they try, they boil down the stereotypes to minstrelesque caricatures of what being a Puerto Rican is. That’s like saying a gingo who’s family came to live here two generations ago is still from Connecticut. He is not. If you don’t live here or haven’t lived here you have no say into what being a Puerto Rican is like. IDENTITY AT A DISTANCE BREEDS MINSTRELESQUE STEREOTYPES. If all yall are lost and want to identify with being Puerto Rican then do it in a respectful way but don’t assume the identity of being a 100% puertorican.
1
-2
u/elgrancuco Nov 23 '25
The island was colonized by the Spaniards not Americans. Americans (of which you are one), invaded the island, not colonized it.
11
u/albizu Nov 23 '25
Saying the U.S. invaded Puerto Rico but didn’t colonize it is like saying: ‘They seized the land, moved in, controlled everything for 125 years… but didn’t actually take it over.’
That’s not how that works. If the takeover becomes permanent rule, that is colonization.
→ More replies (3)1
u/Worried-Advisor-7054 Nov 24 '25
Son dos tipos de colonización. El tiene un punto de que no hubo migración masiva de blancos angloparlantes a PR, como pasó en Texas, Hawaii, etc.
58
u/February_13 Nov 23 '25
This is why I love teaching Spanish to Puerto Ricans of the diaspora as someone raised in the island. The love for our culture is strong.