Author name: Buffalo Latino Village

Besides being labeled or forced to be called “Hispanics”, we are truly Puerto Ricans, Puertorriqueños, Tainos, and boricua.  We were originally known as Borinquen before we were invaded by Christopher Columbus on November 19, 1493, and claimed the island for the rulers of Spain, at the time, King Ferdinand, and Queen Isabella.  In the American history books, it says that Puerto Rico was discovered, which is far from the truth. In that same year, 1493, they erased the name Borinquen and named it San Juan Bautista, but they changed it to Rich Port (Porto Rico) when they found there was gold in the water. By the way, the meaning of Borinquen means “land of the brave lord, which was what the original natives called their country at the time. Spain continued to own and oppress the people of the colony until the beginning of the Spanish-American war in 1898, and as you should know, Spain lost that war to the US and was forced to give up their rights to Puerto Rico, becoming a possession of the US, and it has been a US colony since then. You should know that during that war, Spain granted independence to all their other colonies in Latin America and was in the discussion of granting Puerto Rico a process leading to their independence, but the United States never honored that agreement. Today, Puerto Rico is a unique country with rich cultural diversity, composed of black, white, and brown faces. The historians and the politicians try to color it as a “beautiful melting pot of cultures due to the influence of different cultures like Spanish, Asian, Taino Indians, and Africa”, but they leave out the slavery, the rape of our women, and the on-going violence imposed on us. We like to say, “we come in all colors”, although there is a percentage of light-skin Puerto Ricans who deny their African heritage. There are also black Puerto Ricans who are beginning to appreciate and speak out celebrating their black roots. Like me, although I look very white, I celebrate my cultural roots and I’m proud to say that I’m not white by the nature of those cultural roots. The United States is about 1,080 times bigger than Puerto Rico, just so you know. Puerto Rico is located on the northeastern side of the Caribbean Sea. The population of Puerto Rico was about 3.4 million before 2019, but it has been decreasing in population due to US control, local government corruption, and the recent Hurricane Maria, finding many Puerto Ricans moving to the mainland, mostly to Florida, where you will find over 1 million living in Orlando. Puerto Rico continues to be the most highly populated of all US territories. Puerto Rico is found in the Caribbean region of North America. It is a popular travel destination for many across the globe. Many say it is the future paradise colony for the rich and large corporations. We are still a territory, a colony of the United States. It is not a state. We do not have all the rights of regular Americans, for example, Puerto Rico does not vote in the presidential elections. They cannot vote for a president, however, Puerto Ricans who are born in Puerto Rico are US citizens. The Puerto Rican flag, designed in 1892, was proclaimed the official flag of Puerto Rico in 1952. The governor at the time was Luis Munoz Marin, at one time he lived on the mainland, as a poet, and writer in New York, but influenced by American politics, and corporations, moved to Puerto Rico, becoming the first “Puerto Rican” governor of the colony. You should know that before becoming the official flag of Puerto Rico, it was a violation or crime to carry or wave the flag in public. The flag is very much like the flag of Cuba, as both were designed at the same time. The red stripes are symbolic of the “blood” that nourishes the three branches of its government: Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary. The white stripes represent individual liberty and the rights that keep the government in balance. The first known incarnation of the symbol was made by Puerto Rican Manuela `Mima’ Besosa. She is our Puerto Rican Betsy Ross. The motion to adopt the flag was approved unanimously by the Puerto Rican revolutionaries. In 1895, Cuba and Puerto Rico were the only two Spanish colonies left in the Western Hemisphere. As a point of fact, and not too many people know this, the Puerto Rican section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party founded by Jose Marti, agreed upon using the Cuban flag as the model for the Puerto Rican flag. The colors of the Puerto Rican flag are: Red Stripes – The blood from the brave warriors of the revolution. White Stripes – Victory and peace after obtaining independence. Blue Triangle – Our sky and sea. White Lone Star – Our beautiful Island. As their first Puerto Rico governor, Luis Munoz Marin was mandated to eliminate the revolutionary movement led by a man named Pedro Albizu Campos, who was a trained lawyer who also served in the US military as a loyal soldier but hated the US treatment of Blacks in the south, resigned his commission, and returned to the colony to fight for its independence, becoming the leader of the Independence Party. He was highly loved and respected. Eventually, he was arrested by the federal government, served time, and released to die a few years later in his homeland. While in prison, he was poisoned or injected with radiation. Today, Pedro Albizu Campos is considered the father of Puerto Rico. Some facts you should know about Puerto Rico: The World’s Largest Single-Dish Radio Telescope is in Puerto Rico. El Yunque is the Only Tropical Rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. Puerto Rico was not discovered by Christopher Columbus, it was invaded Puerto Rico’s Unofficial Mascot Is a Tiny Tree Frog Found Only on the Island, and it makes a