BY STUDENT
How have Latinos been struggling for space in society? Latinos have been struggling for space not only in physical living spaces but in politics, education and social platforms where they can be heard. Many Latinx migrate to New York hoping for a better life and hoping to achieve the “American Dream”. The Latinx population continues to grow in the United States for various reasons. Latin American immigrants move to the United States because of financial reasons, in search of a better life, or to achieve “The American Dream”. Lafeb, a Marxist. theorist would argue space is crucial because in order to acquire space you need money and in turn power structures in the United States are reproduced. I will specifically examine Puerto Ricans and how they struggled for space in the United States and in their own society. I will be touching on both conditions on the island of Puerto Rico and condition in NYC for Puerto Rican migrants.
The United States possession of Puerto Rico stripped Puerto Rican residents’ control of their own space. U.S possession of the island resulted in the building of industries, overseeing ports and controlling their laws. According to Korrol Sanchez, after the Spanish-American war, P.R became territory of the United States educational, monetary, economic and political changes occurred (1994). The history Puerto Rican children were learning were not of their own culture but American history. The PR currency began to be undervalued as well as new taxes began to be put in place. The United States possession gave Puerto Ricans little to no say on their circumstances and limited resources were available. Puerto Ricans were struggling in their own space, so they began migrating to New York particularly to the Bronx and Manhattan.
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History History of the Bronx. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2019, from My CMS website: http://yesthebronx.org/about/history-of-the-bronx/
The picture above is the Bronx in the 60’s-70’s when majority of the population was Puerto Rican and Dominican. Puerto Ricans lived in tenements in the South Bronx and Manhattan. The conditions were intolerable but still, they tried to make the best of their space. However urban renewal began, and many Puerto Rican neighborhoods were being destroyed and PRicans were forced to relocate and the space became no longer theirs. The building above says “Falsas Promesas”which means false promises. This highlights that PRicans see that United States wasn’t their space and it was not capable of achieving the American Dream. I believe in resistance, Latinx in United States created transnational communities in attempt to create their own spaces and express their cultures and traditions. This is evident in the South Bronx where you see Hispanic businesses like bodegas and social uprisings like the Young Lords. The 5thpoint of the Young Lords 13-point program is “We want community control of our institutions and land” (1993). The lack of control PRicans have had on their own island and in the United States is the reason why Puerto Ricans constantly have been struggling to find their space. Latinx spatial resistance brought unity within PRican communities but Latinx communities in order to overcome struggles and truly make a space their own.
References:
History of the Bronx. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2019, from My CMS website: http://yesthebronx.org/about/history-of-the-bronx/
Sánchez Korrol, V. E. (1994). From colonia to community : the history of Puerto Ricans in New York City. Retrieved from https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/13769996
13 Point Program and Platform of the Young Lords Party. (1993). Retrieved September 17, 2019, from http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/sixties/HTML_docs/Resources/Primary/Manifestos/Young_Lords_platform.html
I thought your post was really good and it made me think about how not only in New York but Puerto Ricans have been struggling for space in their own land. Which is unfortunate because not even in their own country they can feel like it is their own space and for them to come to America and it still was a struggle and worse conditions. I also like how you included the pictures because the "Falsas Promesas” really shows what they thought of the "American Dream"
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog post. I didn't realize until I read your post how Puerto Ricans struggled for space not only in the United States but in Puerto Rico as well. Puerto Ricans have been struggling to find a space to call their own for a long time and sadly that is something that still happens today. The United States has dictated what happens to them here in the U.S and what happens to them on the island and they have no say in it whatsoever. To not have a place to really call your own is, from what I can imagine, heartbreaking and can be damaging to someone's identity.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you not only included Puerto Ricans struggling for physical space but space in politics, education and in social platforms. The fact that you said all of the effects and reasons why Puerto ricans are coming to America and how the United States is controlling all of the Puerto Ricans politics is crucial towards the reasoning of Puerto ricans struggling for space. Do you think it would be better for Puerto Rico to be independent or not?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, all this conquering of land and this "land is mine is not yours" mentality is an effect of colonialism. It should be up to the people of Puerto Rico and not everyone else outside of that whether they feel comfortable being independent or not.
DeletePuerto Ricans struggle for space in their homeland as well as in the United States and I think you modeled that perfectly. The concept of broken promises written on the building in New York shows a physical representation of Puerto Ricans struggles. By hoping to gain awareness of their inability to achieve the same opportunities as the typical American, their art speaks out. You touched on all the significant aspects Puerto Ricans strive to fight for regarding the struggle for space and I genuinely enjoyed reading this blog.
ReplyDeleteThe Puerto Rican struggle for space is a unique one because even on their own land, they cannot feel like it is completely theirs. As you've stated, their struggle is multidimensional. It is strange that Puerto Ricans don't receive the same rights (like voting) as the rest of the country. Puerto Ricans are often left out of the conversation and ignored. This blogpost made me think about When Hurricane Maria occurred and how Puerto Rico did not receive the aid that they should have and as fast as it should have. As an American territory, you would think that this would be a pressing matter. Even today, there are still mission trips occuring that are accomplishing the work that the American government failed to do. I wonder how long it will take for Puerto Rico to finally receive the freedom it deserves.
ReplyDeleteYour blogpost was great! We studied the struggle of Puerto Ricans in New York in great depth, but I love how you focused on the struggle Puerto Ricans face within their own space. It really puts into perspective the way that Puerto Ricans have been stripped of their own safe place. They have little control of their homeland and are not recognized as “real Americans” in the continental U.S. Puerto Rico is hardly taken seriously by the government, which was observed when a large hurricane destroyed much of the island and little aid was sent. What are some ways that Puerto Ricans on the island have fought to have their voices heard? Why is the U.S. failing to provide proper care to Puerto Rico?
ReplyDeleteYour blog post was very good and i enjoyed reading it. We have studied and took tests on puerto rico and the struggles faced from migration. The puerto rican struggle for space is very insightful and telling as to what the difference in rights and privilege look like. lies and struggle stain the puerto Rican migration movement and it seems unfair that their is still a struggle that goes noticed yet the question remains if Puerto Rico will ever receive the freedom they so rightfully fight for and deserve.
ReplyDeleteYour post was very knowledgeable, before this I never knew Puerto ricans had struggles for space within their own country. It makes you think that they struggle so much within their home just to come to New York in hopes of the "American Dream" just to be let down by high rent, gentrification, and the struggle of having a voice. You would think that with the government utilization puerto rican land for their benefit they would provide some incentive.
ReplyDeleteI think you mentioned an important point when you spoke on the fact that Puerto Ricans aren’t being taught their history; they are being taught basic American history. They were robbed of their land and their education which you emphasize in your blog post. I feel like that just causes an even bigger struggle of space, which forces them to implement everything about their culture in these unkept neighborhoods and try their best to feel at home with bodegas and putting up Puerto Rican flags everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that you bring up the "American dream." I feel that for the Latinx community it is still very much alive, we all want the white-picket fenced house, that we pass down to future generations. We believe it cn be achieved by going to college and getting a degree. Yet non-Latinx and conservatives don't see t that way.
ReplyDeleteI also find it interesting that you bring up the Puerto Rican experience. The U.S. fails to include PR in its history and that is just not right. We have all learned about PR's role now in college but had been deprived of it beforehand.
It’s sad to realize that Puerto Ricans have not only been struggling for space in the United States but also in their own homeland. I really liked that you included this in your blog post. The picture was a great addition because it clearly shows how The American Dream is false hope for the Latino community. It is even worse for Puerto Ricans because many would argue having Puerto Rico as a US territory benefits them because they get most of the same rights as US citizens. However, the truth is the US just exploits PR for their goods.
ReplyDeleteGreat post to read (even though, I am definitely being bias since it has to do with Puerto Rico). In regards to the reeducation and in many way indoctrination of Puerto Rican people, can we say the same about Puerto Rican's today? How has education and cultural knowledge shifted not only in Puerto Rico but for the many generations residing in the United States?
ReplyDelete