I presented on my blog findings last week. I talked briefly about the history of Puerto Rico and more in bulk about the ways one can find the African influence in Puerto Rico. One of these ways is by analyzing Bomba music. Bomba music is a combination of Puerto Rican style and Spanish language with West African influence. As I was looking for the perfect video to show on this blog, I found the Sesame Street Bomba episode. It's actually totally accurate. The call and response, the free style West African dancing, the multiple drummers, the connection with the dancer and the drum, it's all there. I recommend watching the entire video. And it's Sesame Street...which is awesome.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Comida de Puerto Rico
This weeks assignment is about food from our places of choice. It's a lot like my last post so I'll try my best to not be repetitive.
Puerto Rican food is completely reflective of Puerto Rican culture. Like the culture, aspects of Puerto Rican food come from all over the world. In a single dish, you'l be able to see influences from Europe, South America, Europe, West Africa, and Taino culture. This is because so many cultures have migrated through Puerto Rico and left aspects of their food and food preparation.
Like I said in my last post, rice and beans are a stable in Puerto Rico. Also, what I love about Puerto Rican food is their ability in incorporate fruit into so many of their dishes. For example, a popular food in Puerto Rico is an empanada or pastellito. Empanadas are flaky pastries usually filled with some type meat and spices. It's pretty unhealthy and extremely tasty. The way Puerto Ricans incorporate food is through the dipping sauce made. Guava is used a lot in Puerto Rican food and that's what the sauce is made from. It's blended with a bit of Puerto Rican rum and serves with empanadas.
Food Network actually has a perfect recipe here.
Some people put the guava inside of the empanada and serve it as a dessert. My favorite restaurant in Los Angeles does just that. Here's what it looks like:
Here are some pictures:
Sources:
Villegas, José L.. Puerto Rico: Grand Cuisine of the Caribbean. San Juan, P.R.: University of Puerto Rico Press, 2004.
Pictures from: "Menu - Mofongos Restaurant - Comida Caribeña." Mofongos Restaurant - Comida Caribeña. http://www.mofongosrestaurant.com/menu.html (accessed April 7, 2012).
Puerto Rican food is completely reflective of Puerto Rican culture. Like the culture, aspects of Puerto Rican food come from all over the world. In a single dish, you'l be able to see influences from Europe, South America, Europe, West Africa, and Taino culture. This is because so many cultures have migrated through Puerto Rico and left aspects of their food and food preparation.
Like I said in my last post, rice and beans are a stable in Puerto Rico. Also, what I love about Puerto Rican food is their ability in incorporate fruit into so many of their dishes. For example, a popular food in Puerto Rico is an empanada or pastellito. Empanadas are flaky pastries usually filled with some type meat and spices. It's pretty unhealthy and extremely tasty. The way Puerto Ricans incorporate food is through the dipping sauce made. Guava is used a lot in Puerto Rican food and that's what the sauce is made from. It's blended with a bit of Puerto Rican rum and serves with empanadas.
Food Network actually has a perfect recipe here.
Some people put the guava inside of the empanada and serve it as a dessert. My favorite restaurant in Los Angeles does just that. Here's what it looks like:
The African influence in Puerto Rican food is vast and that shows just how tied Puerto Rico is to the African Diaspora. Foods and food preparations both came from countries all over Africa.
People from different countries in Africa brought over foods such as coconuts, coffee, okra, yams, sesame seeds, gandules (pigeon peas), plantains, and more. These people included people of Arab descent to people of Ethiopian descent. Enslaved Africans also introduced deep-frying to the island.
Plantains are used a lot in Puerto Rican food. Because the plant grows all over the island, plantains are easily accessible and therefore incorporated in most dishes. They are fried and serves as sides, as well as used in main dishes. One main dish made primarily of plantains is called mofongo. Mofongo is a bowl made of plantains and other ingredients, mashed up and molded into a bowl, then filled with meat most of the time. People fill them with different types of chicken, beef, seafood, and more.Here are some pictures:
 |
| Mofongo with shredded beef and maduros (sweet plantains) |
 |
| Mofongo with shrimp. |
Sources:
Villegas, José L.. Puerto Rico: Grand Cuisine of the Caribbean. San Juan, P.R.: University of Puerto Rico Press, 2004.
Pictures from: "Menu - Mofongos Restaurant - Comida Caribeña." Mofongos Restaurant - Comida Caribeña. http://www.mofongosrestaurant.com/menu.html (accessed April 7, 2012).
Friday, March 2, 2012
Tales of the Nostalgic
This week we get to chose out own topic so I thought I would share my nostalgia with you.
Like many students who go to school away from home, most of my nostalgia relates to food. The kinds of food my family eats isn't exactly what one would find in a school dining hall. This goes especially for the Puerto Rican food that I'm used to. I miss the exotic flavoring, the bright colors, that fresh taste. Puerto Rican food reminds me of family, home, and happiness.
What exactly constitutes Puerto Rican food you may ask? Well what's interesting about foods from the Spanish speaking Caribbean is that many of the foods are the same with slight variation. Rice and beans are a staple to almost any meal. Though they're a staple, different countries make them differently and sometimes use different names. For example, in the Dominican Republic when arroz con habichuelas (rice with beans) are made, they typically use white rice with red beans. In Puerto Rico, they typically use yellow rice with red beans. Different Spanish speaking Caribbean countries also make the same items but use different names. For example, do these look familiar?
People typically know of these as Empanadas. But in Puerto Rican culture, they're called pastelillos.
This being said, Spanish speaking Caribbean countries are also known for their foods typical only to them. In Puerto Rico, pasteles are one of these foods. Pasteles are like tamales with a Puerto Rican twist. They're dinner pastries wrapped in banana leaves. They usually contain well seasoned meats, herbs, and plantains. Pasteles are not your typical food. They take a long time to make and are usually only made during holidays. No Puerto Rican Christmas is complete without them. They're honestly the best food to ever be put on this planet. What's so great about them is that their preparation usually takes a lot of people. Because there are many steps in order to prep them, they're usually made in an assembly line. Making pasteles always causes the people in the kitchen to bond for the hours it takes to make them.
In Puerto Rico, the African descent of the people of the island is somewhat of a social taboo. People on the island don't like to talk about their Black heritage there. That's what is so interesting about pasteles. They're known as strictly Puerto Rican food which means they're strictly a part of Puerto Rican culture. What many people don't know about pasteles is that they're actually derived from African women. These women came from all parts of West Africa to Puerto Rico and brought their food culture with them.
That's how they look. Each family makes them differently. Pasteles are basically tamales with a Puerto Rican twist. The easiest way to differentiate tamales from pasteles is the wrapping. Pasteles are wrapped in a green banana leaf while tamales are wrapped in the corn leaf from the corn they're made from. I chose to talk about pasteles because they're a perfect example of African influence in Puerto Rico. And because they're amazing.
Here's how you make them:
From there, you boil them for about an hour. Then you remove the wrapping and enjoy! Thanks for enjoying my nostalgia.
Sources:
"Pasteles Recipe (Puerto Rican savory cakes in banana leaves) | Puerto Rico | Whats4Eats." Whats4Eats | International Recipes and Cooking Around the World. http://www.whats4eats.com/vegetables/pasteles-recipe (accessed March 2, 2012).
Louie, Elaine. "From One Island, a Savory Blend of Three Cultures - New York Times." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. http://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/12/garden/from-one-island-a-savory-blend-of-three-cultures.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm (accessed March 2, 2012).
Like many students who go to school away from home, most of my nostalgia relates to food. The kinds of food my family eats isn't exactly what one would find in a school dining hall. This goes especially for the Puerto Rican food that I'm used to. I miss the exotic flavoring, the bright colors, that fresh taste. Puerto Rican food reminds me of family, home, and happiness.
What exactly constitutes Puerto Rican food you may ask? Well what's interesting about foods from the Spanish speaking Caribbean is that many of the foods are the same with slight variation. Rice and beans are a staple to almost any meal. Though they're a staple, different countries make them differently and sometimes use different names. For example, in the Dominican Republic when arroz con habichuelas (rice with beans) are made, they typically use white rice with red beans. In Puerto Rico, they typically use yellow rice with red beans. Different Spanish speaking Caribbean countries also make the same items but use different names. For example, do these look familiar?
 | ||||
| Las Canitas Restaurant, http://www.lascanitasdelivery.com/store/product.php?productid=16159 |
This being said, Spanish speaking Caribbean countries are also known for their foods typical only to them. In Puerto Rico, pasteles are one of these foods. Pasteles are like tamales with a Puerto Rican twist. They're dinner pastries wrapped in banana leaves. They usually contain well seasoned meats, herbs, and plantains. Pasteles are not your typical food. They take a long time to make and are usually only made during holidays. No Puerto Rican Christmas is complete without them. They're honestly the best food to ever be put on this planet. What's so great about them is that their preparation usually takes a lot of people. Because there are many steps in order to prep them, they're usually made in an assembly line. Making pasteles always causes the people in the kitchen to bond for the hours it takes to make them.
In Puerto Rico, the African descent of the people of the island is somewhat of a social taboo. People on the island don't like to talk about their Black heritage there. That's what is so interesting about pasteles. They're known as strictly Puerto Rican food which means they're strictly a part of Puerto Rican culture. What many people don't know about pasteles is that they're actually derived from African women. These women came from all parts of West Africa to Puerto Rico and brought their food culture with them.
 |
| The Healthy Dish, http://www.thehealthydish.com/2011/12/20/pasteles-masa/ |
Here's how you make them:
From there, you boil them for about an hour. Then you remove the wrapping and enjoy! Thanks for enjoying my nostalgia.
Sources:
"Pasteles Recipe (Puerto Rican savory cakes in banana leaves) | Puerto Rico | Whats4Eats." Whats4Eats | International Recipes and Cooking Around the World. http://www.whats4eats.com/vegetables/pasteles-recipe (accessed March 2, 2012).
Louie, Elaine. "From One Island, a Savory Blend of Three Cultures - New York Times." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. http://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/12/garden/from-one-island-a-savory-blend-of-three-cultures.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm (accessed March 2, 2012).
Friday, February 24, 2012
Money Doesn't Grow On Trees
Corny title, yes. But the saying is true regardless of the place. Especially in Puerto Rico. That's right, you guessed it. Today, we're going to be talking about the economy. Yay!
So first, a quick overview. To this day, Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economic structures in the entire Caribbean region. Its purchasing power GDP is $64.84 billion (2010). In order to better understand that, let's compare that to the U.S.'s $15.04 trillion and Haiti's $12.44 billion. The majority of their money came from their diverse agriculture, but recently money made from their industrial sector has surpassed the money made from their agriculture sales. This industrial sector also provides many citizens on the island with a source of income. When thinking about their general economy, it is important to remember the connection between the United States and Puerto Rico. For example, the minimum wage laws apply to Puerto Rico. Their currency is also the U.S. dollar, but it's commonly referred to by Puerto Ricans as the peso. They commonly trade with the United States. Lastly, tourism has always been a huge source of income for Puerto Rico.
Luckily, we all have a right to the census, so all of their detailed information is there. So if you want to know more, you're just a click away. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1322.pdf
Unlike many other Latin American places, Puerto Rico does not have completely impoverished cities. Instead, like the United States, Puerto Rico has impoverished neighborhoods. San Juan is an awesome place to look at in order to understand the economy in Puerto Rico. San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, has holds neighborhoods with the wealthiest and poorest people. The wealthier neighborhoods are due to tourism. San Juan holds the most tourists on the entire island. I personally think it's because of the Bacardi Rum Factory. People sure do love their alcohol. My mother even went.
See:
Pictures are worth 1000 words . San Juan has areas like these:
As well as areas like these:
The image above is taken from one of the many caserios in San Juan. Caserios are like United States housing projects. They house families with low incomes. It's interesting that a place with so much money concentrated in one area can have poorer places such as these.
So first, a quick overview. To this day, Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economic structures in the entire Caribbean region. Its purchasing power GDP is $64.84 billion (2010). In order to better understand that, let's compare that to the U.S.'s $15.04 trillion and Haiti's $12.44 billion. The majority of their money came from their diverse agriculture, but recently money made from their industrial sector has surpassed the money made from their agriculture sales. This industrial sector also provides many citizens on the island with a source of income. When thinking about their general economy, it is important to remember the connection between the United States and Puerto Rico. For example, the minimum wage laws apply to Puerto Rico. Their currency is also the U.S. dollar, but it's commonly referred to by Puerto Ricans as the peso. They commonly trade with the United States. Lastly, tourism has always been a huge source of income for Puerto Rico.
Luckily, we all have a right to the census, so all of their detailed information is there. So if you want to know more, you're just a click away. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1322.pdf
Unlike many other Latin American places, Puerto Rico does not have completely impoverished cities. Instead, like the United States, Puerto Rico has impoverished neighborhoods. San Juan is an awesome place to look at in order to understand the economy in Puerto Rico. San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, has holds neighborhoods with the wealthiest and poorest people. The wealthier neighborhoods are due to tourism. San Juan holds the most tourists on the entire island. I personally think it's because of the Bacardi Rum Factory. People sure do love their alcohol. My mother even went.
See:
Pictures are worth 1000 words . San Juan has areas like these:
 |
| Zip Line Site. http://www.caribbeanportreviews.com/SanJuanPR.htm |
 |
| Beach Cities Real Estate. http://www.bcre.com/San-Juan-Capistrano.php |
As well as areas like these:
 |
| Google Earth |
Sources:
"Puerto Rico." The World Factbook. www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html (accessed February 24, 2012).
"Puerto Rico Economy." Welcome to Puerto Rico! History, Government, Geography, and Culture. http://www.topuertorico.org/economy.shtml (accessed February 24, 2012).
"The 2012 Statistical Abstract: Puerto Rico & the Island Areas." Census Bureau Homepage. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/puerto_rico_the_island_areas.html (accessed February 24, 2012).
"United States." The World Facebook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html (accessed February 24, 2012).
"Haiti." The World Facebook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html (accessed February 24, 2012).
Friday, February 17, 2012
Behind the White Wigs and Robes: Government in Puerto Rico.
Today, I'll be discussing the current state of government in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico's government is an interesting form of government. Puerto Rico is its own island, but it's not a country, it's a commonwealth. Puerto Rico is self-governing, but many aspects of their government are in association with the United States. Their chief of state is Mr. Obama himself and as United States presidents alternate, so do Puerto Rican chief of states. The head of government in Puerto Rico is an elected governor.
Puerto Rico has authority over all of their internal affairs (unless it's something that involves United States law, like pollution and public health). The United States has authority over...everything else. This includes control over: interstate trade, foreign relations and commerce, customs administration, control of air, land and sea, immigration and emigration, nationality and citizenship, currency, maritime laws, military service, military bases, army, navy and air force, declaration of war, constitutionality of laws, jurisdictions and legal procedures, treaties, radio, television, and all other aspects of communications, agriculture, mining and minerals, highways, postal system, Social Security, and anything else that is generally controlled by the federal government of the United States.
So basically, what differs mainly from Puerto Rico and any of the 50 states is that Puerto Rico has no control over what goes on in the United States government. Citizens have no voting rights in the United States presidential elections. Puerto Rico has one resident commissioner ,who has voice, but no vote, in the Congress of United States.
The United States gives Puerto Rico just enough power to have a bit of control over their island, but not enough to be their own country. Because it's not its own country, many of Puerto Rico's injustices are based on United States law. This largely affects people of African descent in Puerto Rico. Discrimination is alive and prominent in the United States, therefore it's just as prevalent in Puerto Rico. Discrimination towards Puerto Ricans of African descent is even greater because Puerto Rico is such a concentrated area. With the combination between discrimination based on U.S. law and embedded racism on the island from times of African enslavement, discrimination towards Puerto Ricans of African descent is at an all time high.
In order to begin working towards ending discrimination towards Puerto Ricans of African descent on the island, I believe that Puerto Rico needs to become its own country.
While looking up news articles about Puerto Rican's government, I clicked past numerous articles about Sonia Sotomayor's connection to the island and violence towards the Puerto Rican judicial system. Since Sotomayor became a member of the supreme court, many articles have been written about her being of Puerto Rican descent and if that would change government on the island or not. So far, nothing has changed. As for the violence in Puerto Rico, as of today, the courts have granted protection for workers of the Puerto Rican justice system along with their families. Many Puerto Ricans are unhappy with the justice system and are becoming violent. I read about it here. The article is in Spanish, but google translate is an amazing source of assistance.
The article that surprised me the most was a fox news article about Puerto Rico now being considered a "narco-state" because of it's involvement with drugs. Government officials are doing everything they can in order to deny these statements. Officials claim that drugs need to be embedded in Puerto Rican government in order for Puerto Rico to be considered a "narco-state." So as of now, that's a big government priority. They're trying to protect the integrity of the island.
Don't believe me? See for yourself here.
Sources:
"Puerto Rico Government." Welcome to Puerto Rico! History, Government, Geography, and Culture. . http://www.topuertorico.org/government.shtml (accessed February 17, 2012).
"Exjueces del Supremo aseguran que alguaciles también deben proteger a su familia - El Nuevo Día." El Nuevo Día - Noticias de Puerto Rico, información de última hora y multimedia - El Nuevo Día. http://www.elnuevodia.com/exjuecesdelsupremoaseguranquealguacilestambiendebenprotegerasufamilia-1192229.html (accessed February 17, 2012).
"Puerto Rico Government Denies Island Is 'Narco-State'." Fox News Latino. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2011/12/13/puerto-rican-govt-denies-island-is-narco-state/ (accessed February 17, 2012).
Puerto Rico's government is an interesting form of government. Puerto Rico is its own island, but it's not a country, it's a commonwealth. Puerto Rico is self-governing, but many aspects of their government are in association with the United States. Their chief of state is Mr. Obama himself and as United States presidents alternate, so do Puerto Rican chief of states. The head of government in Puerto Rico is an elected governor.
Puerto Rico has authority over all of their internal affairs (unless it's something that involves United States law, like pollution and public health). The United States has authority over...everything else. This includes control over: interstate trade, foreign relations and commerce, customs administration, control of air, land and sea, immigration and emigration, nationality and citizenship, currency, maritime laws, military service, military bases, army, navy and air force, declaration of war, constitutionality of laws, jurisdictions and legal procedures, treaties, radio, television, and all other aspects of communications, agriculture, mining and minerals, highways, postal system, Social Security, and anything else that is generally controlled by the federal government of the United States.
So basically, what differs mainly from Puerto Rico and any of the 50 states is that Puerto Rico has no control over what goes on in the United States government. Citizens have no voting rights in the United States presidential elections. Puerto Rico has one resident commissioner ,who has voice, but no vote, in the Congress of United States.
The United States gives Puerto Rico just enough power to have a bit of control over their island, but not enough to be their own country. Because it's not its own country, many of Puerto Rico's injustices are based on United States law. This largely affects people of African descent in Puerto Rico. Discrimination is alive and prominent in the United States, therefore it's just as prevalent in Puerto Rico. Discrimination towards Puerto Ricans of African descent is even greater because Puerto Rico is such a concentrated area. With the combination between discrimination based on U.S. law and embedded racism on the island from times of African enslavement, discrimination towards Puerto Ricans of African descent is at an all time high.
In order to begin working towards ending discrimination towards Puerto Ricans of African descent on the island, I believe that Puerto Rico needs to become its own country.
While looking up news articles about Puerto Rican's government, I clicked past numerous articles about Sonia Sotomayor's connection to the island and violence towards the Puerto Rican judicial system. Since Sotomayor became a member of the supreme court, many articles have been written about her being of Puerto Rican descent and if that would change government on the island or not. So far, nothing has changed. As for the violence in Puerto Rico, as of today, the courts have granted protection for workers of the Puerto Rican justice system along with their families. Many Puerto Ricans are unhappy with the justice system and are becoming violent. I read about it here. The article is in Spanish, but google translate is an amazing source of assistance.
The article that surprised me the most was a fox news article about Puerto Rico now being considered a "narco-state" because of it's involvement with drugs. Government officials are doing everything they can in order to deny these statements. Officials claim that drugs need to be embedded in Puerto Rican government in order for Puerto Rico to be considered a "narco-state." So as of now, that's a big government priority. They're trying to protect the integrity of the island.
Don't believe me? See for yourself here.
Sources:
"Puerto Rico Government." Welcome to Puerto Rico! History, Government, Geography, and Culture. . http://www.topuertorico.org/government.shtml (accessed February 17, 2012).
"Exjueces del Supremo aseguran que alguaciles también deben proteger a su familia - El Nuevo Día." El Nuevo Día - Noticias de Puerto Rico, información de última hora y multimedia - El Nuevo Día. http://www.elnuevodia.com/exjuecesdelsupremoaseguranquealguacilestambiendebenprotegerasufamilia-1192229.html (accessed February 17, 2012).
"Puerto Rico Government Denies Island Is 'Narco-State'." Fox News Latino. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2011/12/13/puerto-rican-govt-denies-island-is-narco-state/ (accessed February 17, 2012).
Friday, February 10, 2012
Intro to Puerto Rico
Hey everyone,
Welcome to my blog. I figured I'd officially welcome you because my first post isn't one that actually pertains to my blog. It was just a silly tester (though my professor is actually great). Attempts for brownie points aside, this blog will be exploring Puerto Rico and it's role in the African Diaspora. Though the island is small, its history is not.
I'm doing this blog for my Africa in Diaspora class. Each student chose a country that has ties to the African Diaspora. Each week this semester, we're given a topic and we have to respond to it with information pertaining to our country. I know, I know, Puerto Rico is a commonwealth (but don't ever tell a Puerto Rican that). Puerto Rican ideals are strong and many believe that their island is just as much a country as any place else. Their ideals are partly why I chose Puerto Rico for my blog. Many of their embedded ideals are influenced by their long history, the African Diaspora in particular. Similar to the United States, racial hierarchies are embedded in Puerto Rican culture. Social scientists describe embedded racial hierarchy as "pigmentocracy." This term describes societies in which wealth and social status are determined by skin color. I chose Puerto Rico because I've always been interested in how the diaspora relates to how Puerto Ricans think.
Despite contrary belief, African enslavement was very much a part of Puerto Rico during the most common African Diaspora. In fact, it was abolished in 1873, eight years after slavery was abolished in the United States. Enslaved Africans were introduced to Puerto Rico in 1513, back when Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony before it was ceded to the United States in 1898. Spain refused to see Puerto Rico as anything else but a military outpost, though they had ample sugar. Puerto Rico would've been classified as a society with slaves as opposed to a slave society. Enslaved Africans tended to the sugar production on the island while Spain handled their feuds with other places such as Britain. Native Puerto Ricans, (the indigenous Tainos, mixed races citizens, and enslaved Africans) were never in a position of power after Spain conquered Puerto Rico. Africans have always been at the lowest point in the racial ladder. Though many Puerto Ricans deny their African ancestry in order to climb the social ladder, Puerto Rican culture shows that the cultures of various African tribes are prominent in the Puerto Rican lifestyle. Various crops (such as plantains and their unique preparations in mofongos, tostones and pasteles), religions (Santería), dances (bomba and plena), and instruments (congas, bongos) reveal Puerto Rico's unmistakable ties to the African diaspora. There's no denying it.
By the way, pasteles are the best food known to man kind.
I found this interesting video that I think explains racial issues, as well as the history of slavery, in Puerto Rico well:
Negative ideals aside, I also chose Puerto Rico because throughout my life, I've always admired the beauty of the island and its culture. Puerto Rican culture has been in my life for as long as I can remember. My family isn't so good at talking about themselves and their pasts, so they would speak about what a wonderful place it is. I also want to explore the culture in order to learn about the positive aspects of it in terms of the diaspora.
I mean come on, it's just a beautiful place.
Here are some pictures my mom took when she went last fall (without me....):
Sources (Giving credit is always great):
Richard, Lynn. Pigmentocracy: Racial Hierarchies in the Caribbean and Latin America. Augusta: University of Ulster, 2008.
"Black Studies Center: Information Site." Black Studies Center: Information Site. http://bsc.chadwyck.com/search/displayMultiTimelineItem.do?Multi=yes&ResultsID=134CF672BBF&fromPage=search&ItemNumber=1&QueryName=events (accessed February 10, 2012).
Briggs Kent, Jacquelyn, and Jorge Chinea. "Puerto Rico." In Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. Detriot: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008. 408-415.
Welcome to my blog. I figured I'd officially welcome you because my first post isn't one that actually pertains to my blog. It was just a silly tester (though my professor is actually great). Attempts for brownie points aside, this blog will be exploring Puerto Rico and it's role in the African Diaspora. Though the island is small, its history is not.
I'm doing this blog for my Africa in Diaspora class. Each student chose a country that has ties to the African Diaspora. Each week this semester, we're given a topic and we have to respond to it with information pertaining to our country. I know, I know, Puerto Rico is a commonwealth (but don't ever tell a Puerto Rican that). Puerto Rican ideals are strong and many believe that their island is just as much a country as any place else. Their ideals are partly why I chose Puerto Rico for my blog. Many of their embedded ideals are influenced by their long history, the African Diaspora in particular. Similar to the United States, racial hierarchies are embedded in Puerto Rican culture. Social scientists describe embedded racial hierarchy as "pigmentocracy." This term describes societies in which wealth and social status are determined by skin color. I chose Puerto Rico because I've always been interested in how the diaspora relates to how Puerto Ricans think.
| From the Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture |
Despite contrary belief, African enslavement was very much a part of Puerto Rico during the most common African Diaspora. In fact, it was abolished in 1873, eight years after slavery was abolished in the United States. Enslaved Africans were introduced to Puerto Rico in 1513, back when Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony before it was ceded to the United States in 1898. Spain refused to see Puerto Rico as anything else but a military outpost, though they had ample sugar. Puerto Rico would've been classified as a society with slaves as opposed to a slave society. Enslaved Africans tended to the sugar production on the island while Spain handled their feuds with other places such as Britain. Native Puerto Ricans, (the indigenous Tainos, mixed races citizens, and enslaved Africans) were never in a position of power after Spain conquered Puerto Rico. Africans have always been at the lowest point in the racial ladder. Though many Puerto Ricans deny their African ancestry in order to climb the social ladder, Puerto Rican culture shows that the cultures of various African tribes are prominent in the Puerto Rican lifestyle. Various crops (such as plantains and their unique preparations in mofongos, tostones and pasteles), religions (Santería), dances (bomba and plena), and instruments (congas, bongos) reveal Puerto Rico's unmistakable ties to the African diaspora. There's no denying it.
By the way, pasteles are the best food known to man kind.
I found this interesting video that I think explains racial issues, as well as the history of slavery, in Puerto Rico well:
Negative ideals aside, I also chose Puerto Rico because throughout my life, I've always admired the beauty of the island and its culture. Puerto Rican culture has been in my life for as long as I can remember. My family isn't so good at talking about themselves and their pasts, so they would speak about what a wonderful place it is. I also want to explore the culture in order to learn about the positive aspects of it in terms of the diaspora.
I mean come on, it's just a beautiful place.
Here are some pictures my mom took when she went last fall (without me....):
 |
| Collier, Josie. September 2011. San Juan. |
 |
| Collier, Josie. September 2011. San Juan. |
 |
| Collier, Josie. September 2011. San Juan. |
Sources (Giving credit is always great):
Richard, Lynn. Pigmentocracy: Racial Hierarchies in the Caribbean and Latin America. Augusta: University of Ulster, 2008.
"Black Studies Center: Information Site." Black Studies Center: Information Site. http://bsc.chadwyck.com/search/displayMultiTimelineItem.do?Multi=yes&ResultsID=134CF672BBF&fromPage=search&ItemNumber=1&QueryName=events (accessed February 10, 2012).
Briggs Kent, Jacquelyn, and Jorge Chinea. "Puerto Rico." In Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. Detriot: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008. 408-415.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Bienvenido
Hey everyone,
Wepa is a term of excitement used by many Puerto Ricans. My blog will be exploring areas beyond the wepa. This blog is for my Africa in Diaspora class. I'll be exploring Puerto Rico's role in the African Diaspora.
Puerto Rico is great.
Puerto Rico is great.
Puerto Rico is great.
P.S. My professor is great.
Wepa is a term of excitement used by many Puerto Ricans. My blog will be exploring areas beyond the wepa. This blog is for my Africa in Diaspora class. I'll be exploring Puerto Rico's role in the African Diaspora.
Puerto Rico is great.
Puerto Rico is great.
Puerto Rico is great.
P.S. My professor is great.
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