The Story of Puerto Rican Oppression and Resistance

Abstract

Chapter two explores the political, economic, social, and religious history of the USA’s presence on the island of Puerto Rico immediately preceding and since its “annexation” from Spain in 1898; Puerto Rican efforts to resist colonial dependence; and efforts to silence and eliminate the proponents for freedom. Beginning with the author’s family story in relation to the wider sociohistorical account of Puerto Ricans, it describes the migration flux between the island and the continental US, with particular attention to the New York metropolitan area. Comparisons are made regarding the latest census data for Puerto Ricans living in the continental USA and on the island of Puerto Rico. This “history” is critical for understanding how deeply a colonial consciousness of dependence has become embedded in the Puerto Rican spirit. Topics A Snapshot of Puerto Rican Life before 1898 United States Political and Economic Hegemony circa 1898 Resisting US Hegemony—1898 to 1945 Operation Bootstrap and the “exodus effect” Resisting Operation Bootstrap—1946 to 1968 El Barrio at the Center of Current Status Resisting the Barrio—1968 to the Present Young Lords “Nuevo Despertar”: A New Puerto Rican Awakening—Bankruptcy, Oscar Lopez Rivera and the new Puerto Rican Migration